In Love With the Old Widow... Veuve Clicquot

For those who enjoy Champagne, I think each of us has our favorite, and if not a favorite label, we have a favorite style. Like all foods and beverages, we also have our own preferences for taste and flavor. Thankfully there is a wide variety of choices from which we can choose.

For me the first style of champagne I look for is Brut Champagne. Brut is the second driest style of Champagne, with Extra Brut being the driest. Don't let the term Extra Dry fool you. Extra Dry is slightly less dry that Brut, despite what you might think reading the name.

My next step is to select the brand of Brut Champagne I wish to buy. For the past 20 years, that choice has been simple. Veuve Clicquot.

In 1772, Philippe Clicquot-Muiron established the original winery which, in time, would become Veuve Clicquot. In 1775, it was first Champagne house to produce a rosé Champagne, using the method of adding red wine during production. Philippe's son, François Clicquot, married Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin in 1798, but died in 1805, leaving his widow in control of a company involved in banking, wool trading, and Champagne production. Veuve is the French word for widow. Madam Cliquot became the first woman to take over a Champagne house. Under her guidance, the firm focused entirely on the champagne production, to great success. By the time she died in 1866 Veuve Clicquot had become both a substantial Champagne house and a respected brand.

Easily recognized by its distinctive bright yellow labels, the wine holds a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth. And since 1987 the Veuve Clicquot company has been part of the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy group of luxury brands, where its distinctive yellow label can be seen at various social events worldwide.

Veuve Clicquot is a yeasty style of champagne and is tightly knit, focused by racy acidity and a streak of minerals. It offers subtle notes of white peach, anise, biscuit and kumquat with a refined finish.

Champagne might not be for everyone, but if you enjoy a yeasty style of champagne, this is definitely one which you should try if you have not already done so. Cheers!

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