Limited Stocks. Price £275.00. Introduction: La Grande Dame 2006 is an exclusive blend of our eight classic Grands Crus: Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzy and Verzenay for the Pinot Noir (53%); Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger for the Chardonnay (47%). Tasting Notes: An intense colour with copper glints. Shimmery, very thin bubbles. Saline and mineral on the nose with red fruits & toasted notes In the mouth, it is plump and full of substance. The texture is crisp and silky. The tannins are still present, calling for a cuisine with texture to bring out the best in this wine. The finish is long and coats the palate. The tannins are already very well integrated and can be expected to blend in still further over the coming years. The Grape Harvest of 2006: The winter was particularly cold and long. The spring was mixed, but with good conditions for budding.  The flowers opened in late June, in what was unseasonally hot weather. The summer was chaotic, with an August worthy of late autumn.  Fortunately, the vines were able to draw on their reserves, to produce an abundant yield of superb quality. Therefore, between 14 and 29 September, we harvested a very fine crop of grapes. At the very end of picking, Botrytis struck, though it had no impact on the quality of the harvest. An effective sorting operation was carried out. The Pinot Noir wines are fruity and full-bodied; the Chardonnay wines are of considerable distinction. The red wines of Clos Colin in Bouzy offer a superb balance, with a rich, crisp fleshiness. Food Pairing Suggestions: Lobster, Mushrooms, Lamb, Pasta negra ham, Langoustine, Sea urchins Serving Temperature: 10-12 °C Ageing Potential: From now until 2025 Background Information: In 1772, Philippe Clicquot founded a wine-making business under the name Clicquot. In 1798, his son François, who had taken over the family enterprise, married Barbe Nicole Ponsardin. At the time of François’ death in 1805, the young 27-year-old widow decided to continue her husband’s legacy. A woman of vision, she became the driving force behind the prestige and success of the brand, which in 1810 was renamed Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. Ever in pursuit of excellence and innovation, in 1816 Madame Clicquot invented the riddling table with the aim of obtaining clarified champagnes of unrivalled quality. She became known by her contemporaries as the “Grand Dame of Champagne”, in recognition of her audacity and determination. Row by row, Madame Clicquot used her skills to develop an exceptional wine-growing territory, consisting of 515 hectares in the heart of the Champagne region’s finest vineyard estates. Today, both in France and abroad, the Veuve Clicquot brand continues to embody the values held dear by Madame Clicquot: modernity and audacity blended together with an emphasis on quality and expertise that are second to none. La Grande Dame Rose subtly adapts the style of La Grand Dame from which it is made. The blend, including 15% of red wine, made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes from the Bouzy vineyard, brings a new facet to the complexity and richness of this cuvee. All the grapes come from Clos Colin, one of our best plots located in the heart of this Grand Cru. With an excellent cellaring potential it will reach its peak after being cellared for several years.