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Champagne André Clouet, Grande Réserve, Grand Cru Brut

Champagne, France NV (750mL)
$45.00
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Body
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Champagne André Clouet, Grande Réserve, Grand Cru Brut

As Mark Twain once advised, “too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.” This exquisite, small production Champagne, Andre Clouet “Grande Reserve” Grand Cru Brut NV is one of the best Champagnes I have had at its price in years, and is exactly what I want too much of.
This 100% Pinot Noir Champagne, sourced from two of the most famous Grand Cru villages (Bouzy and Ambonnay), delivers a near perfect drinking experience - full and opulent texture combined with freshness and precise minerality that we search for in top bottlings.
The villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay in Montagne de Reims can claim some of the best Pinot Noir in the region as their own, although small amounts of Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay are grown here as well. Both classified as grand cru villages, Bouzy and Ambonnay sit in a slight dip that protects the two choice villages from harsh winds and allows slightly warmer temperatures. The result is a full-bodied wine with richness, bold concentration of fruit and luscious viscosity. The village of Bouzy, where most of Clouet’s fruit is located, is best known for its tantalizing minerality derived from the immense depth of its chalky subsoil; this minerality is crucial to balance the richness in the wines. The Clouet’s 8-hectare property is situated on the coveted mid-slopes, enjoying perfect sun exposure, soil and drainage. The result is a pristine,  full-bodied, balanced Champagne.
 
The Clouets were once the official printers to Louis XV’s Royal Court at Versailles, hence the beauty of this bottle’s label. Jean-François Clouet enjoys a family lineage in Bouzy that reaches back for centuries; he still resides in the family’s 17th century home of his birth. True to family legacy, Clouet respectfully draws from tradition and time-honored techniques of the past while embracing modern technology that will advance the quality of his wines. Comprised of 100% Pinot Noir, the Grand Reserve is aged sur lie in bottle for between 5-6 years before it receives a low 6-grams/liter dosage.
 
This wine enjoys incredibly delicate bubbles and has a light golden yellow core that moves to green and gold reflections on the rim. Aromas leap from the glass with a bouquet of dried yellow apple, red currants, dried pineapple, preserved lemon, freshly-baked croissant, white mushrooms, honey and white flowers. The concentrated palate evolves to deliver more presence of red fruits alongside lemon curd, hazelnut and brioche. The opulent yet balanced palate masterfully walks a high wire between the full-bodied, rich mouthfeel and crisp acidity coupled with the trademark minerality that we all crave from the best champagnes. To allow the magnificent aromatics of this champagne to truly speak to you, avoid serving in a narrow, traditional champagne flute. Opt instead for a white wine stem or a tulip shaped champagne stem. Here is additional info on glassware choice for Champagne

Serve this wine at just below cellar temperature (50F) and be bold when pairing; this champagne can handle heartier fare and will pretty much crush delicate food. I would (as I have before) recommend Thomas Keller’s fried chicken recipe. It may sound bizarre to some of you, but rich champagne of this nature alongside well-executed fried chicken can be one of life’s great pleasures. If you have never experienced, it this will change the way you think of food and wine pairing.
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Country
France
Region
Champagne
Sub-Region
FranceBouzy and Ambonnay
Soil
Chalk
Farming
Organic
Blend
100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol
12.5
OAK
None

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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