With a legacy dating back to 1772, Maison Veuve Clicquot is known for its iconic yellow label and the inspiring true story of Madame Clicquot — an audacious widow who dared to follow her dream and pioneered a career path no woman had done before. In turn, her name has been synonymous with prestigious champagne for centuries.
At the pinnacle of the house are its La Grande Dame vintages. Coinciding with its 200th anniversary in 1972, Veuve Clicquot introduced its first La Grande Dame release with a 1962 vintage. A tribute to “the Grand Dame of Champagne” herself (meaning “The Great Lady,” as Madame Clicquot was referred to by her peers), these limited bottles are the crème de la crème, culled from vintage years with exceptional sunshine and exquisite harvests.
This month, Veuve Clicquot unveils its next highly anticipated La Grande Dame vintage, an especially exciting release of the 2018 cuvée. This unique blend of 90 percent Pinot Noir and 10 percent Chardonnay grapes is grown on Veuve Clicquot’s historic Grand Cru vineyards on the outskirts of Reims, France. The final product is a brut that honors Madame Clicquot’s original vision for the house’s signature L’Art du Pinot Noir, in which these black-skinned grapes create the finest white wines.
Similar to Madame Clicquot, award-winning sommelier Amy Racine is a trailblazer in her own right. Amy is the beverage director and partner at JF Restaurants, the New York-based hospitality group led by Michelin-starred Chef John Fraser. Racine spearheads more than a dozen bar programs, from the acclaimed Iris restaurant in Midtown West to North Fork Table & Inn on Long Island’s East End to several EDITION hotels across the country.
Here, Racine shares her expert insights into what makes Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame 2018 well worth the splurge, and why it brings an air of sophistication and savoir faire to any day.
What is your first impression of La Grande Dame 2018?
The first impression is precision. There’s a purity and brightness to the fruit that feels both focused and uplifting. It’s elegant without being delicate, assertive without being flashy. It hits a rare balance that immediately tells you it’s something special.
What comes to mind when you hear the name Veuve Clicquot?
Two words come to mind when I think of Veuve Clicquot: legacy and style. I think of it as a house that has always stood right at that intersection of tradition and moving forward. Madame Clicquot herself is such a powerful symbol of that for me, and for the brand’s identity.
There’s also this undeniable sense of confidence attached to the name; to me, it’s a champagne that really shows up with purpose.
From your perspective, what makes La Grande Dame 2018 so prestigious?
It’s the culmination of specific selection, artistry in blending, and the kind of vintage conditions that only come around every so often. It isn’t just about producing a “good” champagne; it’s about expressing the full identity of Pinot Noir through a lens of depth in that vintage. The 2018 does that beautifully.
How would you describe the champagne, from the flavor to the bubbles?
It’s driven by structure. The Pinot gives you this backbone of chalky minerality and red fruit — think wild strawberry, blood orange, even a bit of white pepper. There’s a creamy texture here, but the bubbles are precise and energetic. It lingers with a kind of savory finesse that makes you want to keep discovering it.
How does La Grande Dame 2018 compare or differ from other vintages you have tried before?
The 2018 shows more generosity and open-knit fruit early on than some past vintages. There’s a warmth to it that feels inviting. At the same time, the wine has a lot of tension, which tells me it’s only just beginning to show what it’s capable of. It’s approachable now, but it will evolve beautifully.
What food pairings do you suggest for La Grande Dame 2018?
Focus on elegant seafood dishes. Think of pairings like lightly seared scallops, delicately prepared white fish, such as sole or turbot, or fresh lobster and crab. These should be prepared simply, poached or pan-fried with minimal sauce. The wine would truly shine alongside subtle elements like a light butter sauce, a delicate hint of citrus zest, fresh herbs like tarragon or chervil, or a subtle vegetable purée. The wine’s structure and brightness beautifully complement the richness of these styles of seafood while highlighting its fine flavors.
When would you recommend someone try La Grande Dame 2018?
Any occasion where you’re honoring something or someone. It doesn’t have to be formal, but it should be meaningful — a celebration of effort, achievement, or simply a moment you want to mark with intention.
The beauty of La Grande Dame is that it’s not just a wine; it’s art that opens the door to a conversation about time, place, and intention. This bottle captures all of that in a way that’s both powerful and poetic.
This article is sponsored by Veuve Clicquot.
