VeuveClicquotVintageRose2012

Founded in 1772, Veuve Clicquot is a House steeped in rich history that owes its success largely to one woman, Barbe-Nicole Clicquot-Ponsardin. Madame Clicquot also invented the riddling rack on her kitchen table, an apparatus that removes the sediment from the bottle after second fermentation still used in the region today. Veuve Clicquot own a respectable 382 hectares of vineyards with an emphasis on Pinot Noir. The House maintains the largest collection of old reserve wines in Champagne, these help give Yellow Label its complexity while ensuring the high quality is maintained in the world’s second bestselling Champagne brand. In 2008 Dominique Demarville joined as Cellar Master, he “refreshed the brandâ€?including increasing the proportion of Pinot Noir in La Grande Dame to 90%+ and with blending shifts he brought a new freshness in Yellow Label. In 2019 Didier Mariotti took over as Cellar Master.rrAs with every Veuve Clicquot champagne, Pinot Noir dominates the blend (51%) exclusively from Grands and Premiers Crus from the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de la Marne (Verzy, Verzenay, Ludes, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Tauxières, Avenay and Aÿ). Then 15% of Meunier from the Montagne de Reims (Ludes) and the Vallée de la Marne (Dizy) brings roundness to this cuvée. The uniqueness of the Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2012 remains in the addition of 11% wines aged in large oak casks (foudres), bringing strength and aromatic intensity. The Vintage Rosé 2012 blend is elaborated with 13% of red still wine, exclusively from the Pinot Noir of Bouzy. The dominance of Pinot Noir and the wooden touch deliver structure and character, trademark of the Veuve Clicquot style.rrVeuve Clicquot Vintage Rosé 2012 is the expression of a prodigious harvest, despite an extremely challenging climate.rIn spring, the region faced a heavy rainfall of 60% above the average of the season, followed by late frost, finally, a series of severe hailstorms ruined more than 1,000 hectares of the overall Champagne vineyard. Then, summer came around mid-August and brought ideal sunny conditions, very dry weather and high temperatures until the end of the harvest. Despite those damages which led to a relatively modest harvest, quality was optimum, revealing a great aging potential for the wines.rrWeather: The 2012 weather has been hallmarked by many as very challenging but has created some stunning Champagne. Relatively low yields due to various weather conditions throughout the year. The winter months brought some frosts and hail which damaged the early stages of bud burst. August and September were very warm and this helped rescue and give the grapes a stunning maturity.rrTechnical Information:rGrape Varieties: 51% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay, 15% MeunierrAgeing: 6 years on the leesrDosage: 8 g/lrDrink: Now to 2030rrTasting Note:In the glass, the Rosé has deep rose colours and copper hues. The nose has aromas of red fruit and wild strawberry. The palate is powerful which opens up to more red fruit, strawberr and morello cherry. A well rounded Rosé with a silky mouthfeel.