Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne La Grande Dame 1996

95 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Deep, highly complex aromas of citrus skin, nutmeg, porcini mushroom, toasted almond and clove. Rich, dry and impressively deep; superconcentrated and oily. A chewy, spicy Champagne that seemed to grow fresher as it opened in the glass. Really explosive on the aftertaste, finishing with a clinging quality and powerful spicy, nutty flavors. A major mouthful of Champagne, at its best at the dinner table. Displays the combination of high ripeness and high acidity of this vintage at its best. This thick, rich, very powerful wine is still a bit youthfully disorganized and will be even better for a few years of additional aging. One of the standouts of my recent tastings."

95 points Robert Parker: "Tightly-packed with notes of citrus oil, orange rind, white peach, honeysuckle, and brioche, the medium to full-bodied 1996 La Grande Dame Brut should age well for 15-20 years. Crisp, fresh, and backward, it is another brilliant example from the exquisite 1996 vintage. Drink: 2005-2025. (Dec 2005)"

93-95 points Essi Avellan, MW: "I have come across several corked La Grande Dame 1996s, hopefully this has been mere bad luck. The proper bottles come with a complex and fragrant nose of great personality. Red fruit, tangerine, leather, toffee and spice. Wide, vinous and even a little fat palate. Massively concentrated with a fresh finish. A great lady. (Oct 2010)"

94 points Richard Juhlin: "(64% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay). A surprisingly tranquil, high-octane, elegant La Grande Dame that will probably develop into one of the greatest vintages of this wine ever made. The balance is extraordinary and the wine has a silky appearance, devoid of both sharp edges and an exaggeratedly chocolaty, muscular body. Hints of hazelnut and white chocolate are present, but for the moment handsome fruit and fine mineral notes from Oger and Le Mesnil dominate. A uniquely long aftertaste that should convince doubters that something big is happening here. (Jun 2021)"

93+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The ’96 Grande Dame is one of the most reassuringly fine bottles of bubbly that I have tasted in quite some time from Veuve Clicquot. The bouquet is deep, complex and very refined, as it wafts from the glass in a yeasty mix of grapefruit, lemon, bread dough, complex minerality and a touch of the toastiness to come. On the palate the wine is medium-full, long and beautifully focused, with a solid kernel of fruit at the core, bright acids, elegant mousse, and excellent length and grip on the youthful finish. Impressive juice. (Drink between 2007-2025. (May/Jun 2008)"

93 points John Kapon (Vintage Tastings): "I liked the Grande Dame a lot for drinking now, but I felt it won’t get any better. Its musk and fireplace qualities blended into its bready and fat personality, but its tasty fruit was maturing fast, a sentiment that RJ seconded. It was fairly consistent with the bottle he had the week prior, although actually a bit better on this night. (1/11/12)"