Clicquot: Best In Its Class of Mid Price Champagnes

Champagne is a sparkling wine made from grapes grown in the region of Champagne, France, following the strict rules of Champagne AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée). The AOC is the French system of controlling and protecting the geography and the quality of wines, liquors, and cheeses. All sparkling wines with the "AOC" designation are highly sought after.

According to the official Champagne website: champagne is made from a blend of grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a more rare variety called Pinot Meunier. These grapes are made into wine, and then blended to create a "house" style wine. The blend is then bottled with the addition of a small amount of a mixture of sugar and yeast, causing a second fermentation in the individual bottles. A byproduct of this fermentation is carbon dioxide, which is trapped in the bottles and creates the bubbles that make the wine sparkle.

Why the name Veuve Clicquot (the Widow Clicquot)?

Barbe Nicole Ponsardin married François Clicquot in 1798, at the age of 21. Her husband was the son of a wine merchant in Champagne who owned vineyards in Bouzy. François Clicquot took over the family business, but died at a young age in 1805. At 28 years of age, Barbe found herself a widow ("veuve" in French), but she knew how to read and write, and being a woman of strong character, she convinced her father-in-law to let her manage the business, and thus the House of Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin was born!

A Visionary and Modern Business Woman!

The early 1800's saw the emergence of many champagne companies such as Ruinart, Moët, and Roederer. The competition among these companies was said to be fierce, but the widow was not one to be intimidated by her competitors, and she aggressively promoted her champagne by sending salesmen all over the Continent.

In 1814, Napoleon imposed trade embargos throughout Europe, but not one to let obstacles get in her way, the young widow Clicquot shipped 12,870 bottles of champagne to Russia on the news that "the Tsarina was soon to be a first-time mother, and the widow wanted her champagne to flow through the streets of St. Petersburg when the baby arrived."

In spite of the numerous setbacks, such as the ship being held up in the Baltic Sea and bottles leaking and exploding, the bulk of the "widow's bubbly" arrived safely and it was well-received by the royals. As a result, Russia became the company's most successful market, and 75% of the company's sales were made to Russia.

The widow Clicquot was a bold and daring woman, and she was not afraid to explore new markets or techniques to improve her wines. Always striving for perfection, the widow invented a technique exclusive to champagne production called "riddling", a process of turning the bottles while they rest at an angle so that all sediments rest on the neck of the bottle and can be removed later on. So remarkable was this invention, that she was hailed as "The Great Lady of Champagne."

The Yellow Label and Symbolism

In the year of 1811, it is said that the grape harvest was exceptional, and this phenomenon was attributed to a comet that shot through the Champagne sky that year. The "the star or comet" together with a ship's anchor became the brand's insignia.

The champagne's bright yellow label has endured the test of time, and thanks to the consistent product quality, Veuve Clicquot has earned the reputation of being best in its class and is probably the most popular champagne throughout the world. Today, the Louis Vuitton-Moët Hennessy group owns the Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin brand. The brand is so popular that 90% of production is sold overseas, just as the widow Clicquot envisioned!

Taste Test

Not a wine-snob or a wine-connoisseur, I let my taste buds guide me when tasting a new sparkling wine. Veuve Clicquot non-vintage is a dry champagne consisting of a blend of two-thirds black grapes (Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) for body, and one-third Chardonnay for elegance. I love Chardonnay wines, and as such, I find Veuve Clicquot quite pleasing.

This delicious champagne has a fine and consistent sparkle that tickles but does not overpower the tongue; the fine and delicate bubbles linger a while. The color is rich-golden, and its bouquet is reminiscent of citrus, apples, pears, and caramel; the taste is not as acidic as other brands I've tasted. This champagne is quite enjoyable, definitely one of my favorite and most affordable champagnes.

This is excellent champagne pairs up beautifully with grilled fish, sushi, and certain desserts; it is absolutely divine paired up with chocolate-covered strawberries!

Handle with care

Opening a bottle of champagne can be a hazardous activity and you could break a window pane or harm someone in the process of opening a bottle! So, to minimize injury when opening a bottle of champagne, always hold on to the cork with the towel in one hand while slowly turning the bottle with the other hand. Ideally, the cork should come out quietly, with a soft pop, instead of the big bang!

Price

Veuve Clicquot remains one of the best mid-price champagnes sold in the U.S., averaging around $45 per bottle. Being a great fan of Veuve Clicquot, I tend to buy several bottles at once, storing them in a dark cool place until ready to chill, and always keeping a bottle in the fridge because champagne should be enjoyed whenever "the mood for bubbly" strikes, and not just on special occasions.

Unfortunately for the consumer, Veuve Clicquot tends to be overpriced when sold at restaurants and lounges, ranging anywhere from $100 to $120, but is that surprising?

Conclusion:

Veuve Clicquot has it all: a lovely bouquet, tiny bubbles that don't fizzle-out, and a consistently elegant taste. This champagne is perfect as an aperitif, with a meal, and desserts.

Drink it for a special occasion or just because you're in the mood for bubbly... after all, the price is right!!