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SommSelect

André Clouet, Grande Réserve, Grand Cru Brut

Other, France NV (750mL)
$40.00
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Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
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Alcohol
SommSelect

André Clouet, Grande Réserve, Grand Cru Brut

Since the birth of SommSelect, we’ve enthusiastically championed this incredibly well-priced and (ironically) rich Champagne. Around this time last year, we released our remaining supply of André Clouet’s flagship Grande Réserve Brut, and as the final bottle left our warehouse, a quiet fell upon us. We were told stocks were depleted everywhere, so we’ve patiently waited for this day: The new release has arrived and it still comes in at a mesmerizing price—despite containing 100% Pinot Noir from the spectacular Grand Cru villages of Ambonnay and Bouzy.
This is always a powerful, expressive sparkler and a value-for-dollar benchmark for us—a wine that exemplifies everything we’re trying to accomplish at SommSelect—and a trusted go-to for our customers. Skyrocketing demand is, of course, great for André Clouet, but it comes with some distressing news: We obtained roughly half of last year’s allocation, so we must limit everyone to six bottles today. The few that haven’t experienced this dream of a Champagne must be given a fighting chance because it’s safe to assume everyone already privy to André Clouet will take their full share. Don’t miss your chance!
The Clouet family first found the spotlight after becoming the official printers for the Royal Court at Versailles in the mid-18th century (hence the beauty of their wine labels). Their estate in Bouzy, which current owner Jean-François Clouet still calls home, dates back even further! Beneath this historic site lies their labyrinthine chalk cellar, which still contains partial false walls that hid precious bottles during Nazi invasion in World War II. With all this historic grandeur surrounding him, Jean-François draws from tradition and time-honored techniques while respectively embracing modern technology into the mix. Clouet is a Pinot Noir specialist—Bouzy is widely regarded as one of Champagne’s greatest sites for Pinot Noir—and his wines are bold, soil-expressive, sumptuous Champagnes that demand to be enjoyed with food. 

Their vineyard holdings, all Grand Cru, are spread across just eight hectares in Bouzy and its similarly Pinot-focused neighbor, Ambonnay. Grapes are hand picked and then sent to the winery where they ferment, both alcoholic and malolactic, in stainless steel vessels. It is then bottled and aged in their cellar for several years before disgorgement. This bottle was topped off with a low dosage of six grams of sugar (technically qualifying it for the Extra-Brut category). With incredible terroir, extended lees aging, and meticulous winemaking, this offers an incredibly balanced combination of creamy complexity, rich fruit, and minerality that is nearly unrivalled in this generous price range. 

This wine features incredibly delicate bubbles and has a golden-yellow core that moves to green reflections on the rim. Aromas of dried yellow apple, dried pineapple, preserved lemon, freshly-baked croissant, white mushrooms, honeysuckle, and gardenia jump from the glass. The concentrated palate evolves to deliver red fruits with hints of red currant alongside lemon curd, hazelnut, and brioche. It’s a wine that masterfully walks a high wire between the full-bodied, rich mouthfeel and the crisp acidity and stony minerality we all crave from the best Champagnes. To allow the magnificent aromatics of this Champagne to really flourish, avoid serving in thin traditional flutes. Opt instead for a white wine stem or a tulip Champagne stem and serve just below cellar temperature (about 50 degrees). And, by all means, pair it with a variety of food. Whip up some tapas and make sure these two dishes make it into your rotation: lamb tartare and duck fat steak fries. Enjoy!
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Country
France
Region
Other
Sub-Region
FranceGrand Crus Bouzy & Ambonnay
Soil
Chalk & Clay
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Pinot Noir 100%
Alcohol
12.0
OAK
None
TEMP.
45-50
Glassware
All-Purpose White
Drinking
Now-2028
Pairing
Lamb Tartare Crostini

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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