Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne La Grande Dame 2015

95 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(tasted in 2023 in Australia; 90% pinot noir and 10% chardonnay from 8 grand crus: pinot noir mostly from Verzy and Verzenay, also Aÿ, Bouzy and Ambonnay, chardonnay mostly from Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and a little from Oger; some parcels with no malolactic fermentation ('to uphold freshness in the presence of global warming'); disgorged October 2021; 6g/L dosage). The mastery of Dominque Demarville in crafting elegance and beauty has arguably never been more pronounced than it is here, set starkly against the contrast of the turbulence of the heat of 2015. He has worked his magic in extracting a beautifully and surprisingly pure, fresh and crunchy expression of the season that captures the elegance of Verzenay and Verzy first and tensions it beautifully with the cut of Le Mesnil and Avize. The zing of morello cherry and strawberry hull provide well-defined tension and structure, with a long, clean and crisp finish textured prominently and gloriously with the fine chalk minerality of these fabled crus. A beautifully vibrant crystalline minerality and saline texture mark out a confidently defined finish of assured persistence and longevity. The phenolic grip inherent to the 2015 season has been well toned, though still present in an apple skin and fine-ground coffee bean dry extract grip. True to the enduring spirit of La Grande Dame, this is a rare 2015 for the long-haul, and demands until at least 2030 if not 2035 to break forth from its brittle shell. (Edition VII; 2024)"

95 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "It had been a few months since I last tasted a bottle of the 2015 La Grande Dame, which I tasted as it was being released. The wine is settling in beautifully and is now drinking with impressive precision and complexity. As I mentioned four months ago, the wine is crafted from a It is composed from a cépages of ninety percent pinot noir and ten percent chardonnay. The 2015 was disgorged in October of 2021 and finished with a dosage of six grams per liter. The wine’s aromatic constellation is deep and complex, wafting from the glass in a refined blend of peach, apple, warm bread, a lovely foundation of soil tones, gentle smokiness and a distinctive note of caraway seed in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, complex and full, with a beautiful core of fruit, lovely soil inflection and grip, very elegant mousse and a long, focused, complex and impeccably balanced finish. Just an outstanding vintage of La Grande Dame! 2023- 2065. (May/Jun 2023)"

95 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2015 La Grande Dame is bright and nicely focused. There’s good energy driving a core of Pinot Noir fruit. Pear, white flowers, mint, white pepper and lime are nicely delineated. The 2015 is not the most complex Grande Dame I have ever tasted, but it offers plenty of immediacy with no vegetal notes or hard contours that have proven so challenging elsewhere. This is an expertly made Champagne by any measure. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: October, 2021. Drink: 2023-2030. (Nov 2023)"

95 points Wine Spectator: "This graceful Champagne offers hints of smoke and toasted brioche that transition to patisserie apple and blackberry fruit, candied ginger and mandarin orange peel notes. Seamlessly knit and mouthwatering, with a minerally underpinning and a finely detailed, dotted bead. Lush and creamy on the vibrant, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2035. (3/31/23)"

95 points Falstaff Guide: "Medium golden yellow, silver reflections, fine, persistent mousse. Fine nuances of baked goods and almonds are underpinned by yellow tropical fruit, ripe ringed limes, nuances of acacia honey and mandarin zest. Complex and full-bodied on the palate, silky texture, nuances of plums point to the Pinot Noir dominance of the cuvée, delicate blossom honey, mineral and persistent on the finish, good freshness in the aftertaste, a balanced, already accessible food companion. (Deg. 10/22) (10/6/23)"

95 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "[$220 list] This fine Champagne is rich and beautifully structured. It is full with fine maturity, boasting layers of ripeness against the generous texture. Drink this impressive wine now. Alcohol 12.5%. (Dec 2023)"

94 points Tom Hewson (Decanter): "2015 shows off the sunny fruits of the year with more grip and intensity than the 2008 and 2012. Fleshy orange, red pear, dried pineapple and chewy grapefruit peel build on a firmly structured frame, although there is a suppleness of nougat and acacia honey lurking in the middle that promises to emerge with a little patience. The bustling energy of the vintage is sitting proud for now, bitter almond and fruit skin building to an energising close despite the moderate acidity. An edition that will perform especially well at the table. 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay from 8 Grand Cru villages. Dosage 6 g/L.. Drinking Window: 2023-2033. (3/2/23)"

93 points James Suckling: "This is sleek and vivid with aromas of green apples, lemon peel, lime blossom, salted almonds and pastries on the nose. Medium-bodied and refreshing with lively acidity throughout and tiny bubbles. 90% pinot noir and 10% chardonnay. Drink or hold. (9/2/23)"

Producer notes: "90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay. Blend of 8 grand crus. Held up to the light, La Grande Dame 2015 reveals a beautiful, golden robe that sparkles brightly. This solar vintage, while elegant and precise, offers fresh minerality with light floral notes of jasmine and acacia on the nose, which evolve into fruity notes of pear and clementine. As for the first sip, it envelops the palate with a delightfully subtle, silky texture. Dosage 6g/L."