André Clouet Grande Réserve Brut NV – 93 Points James Suckling

93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! 100% GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR! 36 MONTHS ON LEES! THE EXTRAORDINARY ANDRÉ CLOUET GRANDE RÉSERVE – ONE OF THE GREAT GROWER CHAMPAGNES FOR JUST $105!

93 Points – JamesSuckling.com

André Clouet Grande Réserve Brut NV – Champagne, France

RRP $105 per bottle

NOW THIS IS WHAT WE CALL SERIOUSLY GOOD CHAMPAGNE!

There are Champagnes that impress because of their famous names.

There are Champagnes that impress because of their expensive marketing campaigns.

And then there are Champagnes that impress because of what's actually inside the bottle.

ANDRÉ CLOUET GRANDE RÉSERVE IS FIRMLY IN THAT FINAL CATEGORY!

From the legendary Grand Cru village of Bouzy comes one of the most compelling introductions to the extraordinary world of grower Champagne.

Not a blend of three grape varieties.

Not a Champagne assembled from fruit sourced across dozens of villages.

But something altogether more distinctive.

100% PINOT NOIR!

100% GRAND CRU FRUIT!

From two of the most celebrated Pinot Noir villages in the entire Champagne region.

BOUZY AND AMBONNAY!

A Champagne that combines the power and richness of great Pinot Noir with the elegance, freshness and chalky minerality that make Champagne so special.

Think ripe pear.

Golden apple.

Fresh strawberries.

Candied citrus.

Toasted brioche.

Roasted hazelnuts.

And a magnificent, creamy palate with wonderfully fine bubbles.

93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

92 POINTS DECANTER!

100% GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR!

36 MONTHS ON LEES!

30% RESERVE WINES!

JUST $105 A BOTTLE!

This is exactly the sort of Champagne we love discovering at Liquid Vibe.

A magnificent producer.

Exceptional vineyards.

Traditional winemaking.

And genuine character in every glass.

André Clouet – A Remarkable Family History in Champagne

The story of André Clouet is one of the most fascinating in the world of grower Champagne.

Based in Bouzy, in the Montagne de Reims, the Clouet family has deep roots in this extraordinary village.

The family's historic home dates from the seventeenth century.

And its history includes a remarkable connection to the French royal court.

An ancestor of the family worked as a printer for the royal court at Versailles.

That heritage is reflected in the distinctive, ornate presentation of André Clouet Champagne.

But behind the beautiful labels is something even more important.

EXCEPTIONAL GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR!

Today, the house is associated with Jean-François Clouet, whose approach combines respect for Champagne tradition with a determination to express the distinctive character of Bouzy and Ambonnay.

Rather than chasing a generic house style, the focus is on wines with genuine personality.

Concentration.

Texture.

Freshness.

And an unmistakable sense of place.

A historic Champagne family producing wines with extraordinary character.

Grower Champagne – Why It Matters

One of the most exciting developments in Champagne has been the growing appreciation of small, vineyard-focused producers.

These are the growers who cultivate their own vineyards and make wines that reflect their particular terroirs.

And André Clouet is a wonderful example.

Unlike the large Champagne houses, which may source grapes from vineyards throughout the region, André Clouet concentrates on its own Grand Cru vineyard holdings.

This creates a very different proposition.

A more focused expression of place.

A stronger connection between vineyard and bottle.

And an opportunity to experience the distinctive character of some of Champagne's greatest villages.

THIS IS WHAT MAKES GROWER CHAMPAGNE SO EXCITING!

And the Grande Réserve is a magnificent introduction.

Bouzy and Ambonnay – Two of Champagne's Greatest Pinot Noir Villages

Now here's where this wine becomes particularly interesting.

BOUZY GRAND CRU!

AMBONNAY GRAND CRU!

These are two of the most celebrated Pinot Noir villages in Champagne.

Both are located in the Montagne de Reims.

Both have a long history of producing exceptional Pinot Noir.

And both are renowned for wines with impressive concentration, structure and complexity.

Bouzy is particularly famous for the generosity and power of its Pinot Noir.

Ripe red fruits.

Depth.

Richness.

And a beautifully expansive palate.

Ambonnay is equally celebrated.

Its Pinot Noir can bring remarkable structure, finesse and mineral precision.

Both villages benefit from the chalk-rich soils that are so important to the character of great Champagne.

These soils help preserve freshness and contribute to the distinctive mineral character of the wines.

TWO GRAND CRU VILLAGES. ONE EXTRAORDINARY EXPRESSION OF PINOT NOIR.

100% Pinot Noir – The Beauty of Blanc de Noirs Champagne

One of the most important details about this wine is its grape variety.

100% PINOT NOIR!

That makes André Clouet Grande Réserve a Blanc de Noirs Champagne.

Blanc de Noirs means a white wine made from dark-skinned grapes.

In this case, the wine is made entirely from Pinot Noir.

The grapes are gently pressed to extract pale juice without significant colour from the skins.

The result is a white Champagne with the depth, structure and fruit character associated with Pinot Noir.

And this is exactly what makes the wine so appealing.

There is wonderful richness.

Beautiful orchard fruit.

Subtle red-berry complexity.

And a generosity of texture that makes it particularly enjoyable with food.

But this isn't simply a rich Champagne.

It has the freshness and mineral precision to balance that concentration.

THE POWER OF GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR WITH THE FINESSE OF GREAT CHAMPAGNE!

36 Months on Lees – The Secret to the Complexity

Now here's another detail that makes this wine particularly impressive.

36 MONTHS ON LEES!

According to the producer's technical information, the Grande Réserve spends approximately three years ageing on its lees.

During this time, the wine develops additional complexity.

Fresh fruit becomes beautifully integrated.

The mousse becomes finer.

And the Champagne develops those wonderful savoury characters associated with extended bottle maturation.

Toasted brioche.

Fresh bread.

Roasted nuts.

And delicate pastry.

This is what helps create the wine's beautifully creamy texture.

And it is one of the reasons the Grande Réserve delivers such satisfying drinking.

THREE YEARS OF PATIENT MATURATION – AND YOU CAN TASTE THE DIFFERENCE!

30% Reserve Wines – Extraordinary Depth and Consistency

Another important feature of the Grande Réserve is its use of reserve wines.

The producer's current specification includes approximately 30% reserve wines.

These are wines from earlier harvests, retained to bring additional depth and complexity to the final blend.

The reserve wines are generally between two and five years old.

They contribute maturity.

Texture.

Consistency.

And additional aromatic complexity.

The balance is particularly appealing.

The younger wine brings freshness and vibrant fruit.

The reserve wines contribute richness and developed character.

Together, they create a Champagne with both energy and depth.

70% BASE WINE. 30% RESERVE WINES. ONE MAGNIFICENT CHAMPAGNE.

Meticulous Winemaking – A Little Oak and Plenty of Precision

André Clouet takes a careful approach to preserving the character of its Grand Cru Pinot Noir.

According to the current technical specification, approximately 95% of the wine is raised in tank, with 5% in barrel.

The small proportion of oak contributes subtle texture without overwhelming the purity of the fruit.

The wine undergoes traditional bottle fermentation to develop its fine bubbles.

It then spends approximately 36 months on lees before disgorgement.

The dosage in the current specification is approximately 4.8–5.6 grams per litre.

That is relatively restrained for a Brut Champagne.

It helps preserve freshness while allowing the natural generosity of the Pinot Noir to shine.

The result is a wine with wonderful balance.

Richness without heaviness.

Creaminess without excess.

And a beautifully clean, chalky finish.

93 Points – James Suckling

A wonderful endorsement of this magnificent Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs.

92 Points – Decanter

92 POINTS – DECANTER!

Decanter recognises the extraordinary appeal of this 100% Pinot Noir grower Champagne.

Stone fruit.

Citrus.

Fresh strawberries.

And complex brioche characters.

The wine combines generous fruit with elegance and a long, refined finish.

Ripe Pear, Golden Apple, Strawberries and Toasted Brioche

Now this is where André Clouet Grande Réserve really comes into its own.

In the glass, it displays a beautiful pale-gold colour.

The bubbles are fine and persistent.

And the aromas are wonderfully inviting.

Ripe pear.

Golden apple.

Fresh strawberries.

And candied lemon.

Then come the more complex characters.

Toasted brioche.

Roasted hazelnuts.

Fresh bread.

And delicate pastry.

On the palate, the wine is rich and beautifully textured.

There is wonderful Pinot Noir concentration.

A generous, creamy mid-palate.

And a beautifully fine mousse.

But what really impresses is the balance.

The fruit is ripe and expressive.

The acidity is fresh.

And the finish is long, chalky and wonderfully refreshing.

RICH, CREAMY AND GENEROUS – YET BEAUTIFULLY FRESH AND PRECISE!

This is exactly what great Blanc de Noirs Champagne should be.

A Magnificent Champagne for Food

One of the great attractions of 100% Pinot Noir Champagne is its versatility at the table.

The richness and structure make it particularly appealing with food.

Freshly Shucked Oysters

The chalky mineral finish provides a beautiful contrast to the briny freshness of oysters.

Pan-Seared Scallops

An excellent match for scallops with browned butter.

Lobster with Lemon Butter

The richness of the Pinot Noir complements lobster beautifully.

Smoked Salmon

A wonderful pairing with the wine's texture and fresh citrus character.

Roast Chicken

The brioche and toasted-nut characters work beautifully with roast chicken.

Mushroom Risotto

The wine's savoury complexity complements earthy mushrooms.

Aged Comté

A magnificent match for the Champagne's nutty, creamy texture.

And of course, this is a wonderful Champagne to enjoy on its own.

Serve in a proper white-wine glass to appreciate the complexity.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are passionate about discovering wines that deliver genuine quality and character.

And André Clouet Grande Réserve is exactly that sort of Champagne.

First, there is the producer.

A HISTORIC FAMILY-OWNED GROWER CHAMPAGNE HOUSE!

Then there are the vineyards.

BOUZY AND AMBONNAY GRAND CRU!

Then there is the grape variety.

100% PINOT NOIR!

Then there is the maturation.

36 MONTHS ON LEES!

Then there are the reserve wines.

30% RESERVE WINES!

Then there are the scores.

93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $105 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves serious Champagne, this is a wonderful discovery.

A Champagne with pedigree.

A Champagne with character.

A Champagne that delivers the richness of Grand Cru Pinot Noir with remarkable freshness and elegance.

93 POINTS. 100% GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR. THREE YEARS ON LEES. JUST $105.

André Clouet Grande Réserve Brut NV – a magnificent grower Champagne and a wonderful addition to the Liquid Vibe range.

Wine Details

• Producer: André Clouet

• Wine: Grande Réserve Brut

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Region: Champagne, France

• Village: Bouzy, Montagne de Reims

• Vineyard Origins: Bouzy and Ambonnay

• Classification: Grand Cru

• Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

• Style: Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne

• Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Lees Ageing: Approximately 36 months

• Reserve Wines: Approximately 30%, aged two to five years

• Base Wine Maturation: Approximately 95% tank and 5% barrel

• Dosage: Approximately 4.8–5.6 g/L in the current producer specification

• Alcohol: 12%

• Aromas: Ripe pear, golden apple, strawberry, candied citrus, brioche and hazelnut

• Palate: Rich, creamy and beautifully balanced, with fine bubbles and a long chalky finish

• Critic Scores: 93 Points – James Suckling

• RRP: $105 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, scallops, lobster, smoked salmon, roast chicken and aged cheese

• Serving Temperature: 9–11°C

• Drinking: Enjoy now; can develop further with careful short-to-medium-term cellaring