André Clouet Grande Silver Brut Nature NV – 93 Points James Suckling

93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! 100% GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR! ZERO DOSAGE! 36 MONTHS ON LEES! THE EXTRAORDINARY ANDRÉ CLOUET SILVER BRUT NATURE – SERIOUS GROWER CHAMPAGNE FOR JUST $110!

93 Points – JamesSuckling.com | 92+ Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

André Clouet Grande Silver Brut Nature NV – Champagne, France

RRP $110 per bottle

NOW THIS IS CHAMPAGNE FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE SERIOUS CHAMPAGNE!

There are Champagnes made to be easy, soft and approachable.

There are Champagnes designed around a generous dosage to round out the palate.

And then there are Champagnes that let the vineyard, the grape variety and the quality of the fruit do all the talking.

ANDRÉ CLOUET SILVER BRUT NATURE IS ONE OF THEM!

From the legendary Grand Cru village of Bouzy comes an extraordinary expression of Pinot Noir.

Not a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier.

Not a Champagne relying on sweetness to create balance.

But something far more distinctive.

100% GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR!

ZERO DOSAGE!

NOT A SINGLE GRAM OF SUGAR ADDED AT DISGORGEMENT!

This is Champagne in its purest, most uncompromising form.

But here's what makes the wine particularly exciting.

Despite being completely dry, it isn't thin, austere or lacking in character.

Quite the opposite.

There is wonderful richness.

Beautiful fruit concentration.

A creamy, beautifully textured palate.

And an extraordinary chalky mineral finish.

Think ripe apricot.

Golden apple.

Fresh pear.

Lemon zest.

Toasted brioche.

Roasted almonds.

And delicate buttery pastry.

All balanced by vibrant acidity and a long, saline finish.

93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

92+ POINTS WINE ADVOCATE!

100% GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR!

ZERO DOSAGE!

36 MONTHS ON LEES!

JUST $110 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves precise, mineral-driven Champagne, this is a magnificent discovery.

André Clouet – One of Champagne's Great Grower Producers

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

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

The family's historic house dates back to the seventeenth century.

And its history includes an extraordinary connection with the French royal court.

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

That heritage is reflected in André Clouet's distinctive, ornate labels.

But behind the beautiful presentation is something much more important.

EXCEPTIONAL GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR!

Today, Jean-François Clouet is closely associated with the producer's reputation for making Champagnes with genuine character.

His wines are celebrated for their concentration.

Their texture.

Their remarkable freshness.

And their unmistakable expression of the great Pinot Noir terroirs of the Montagne de Reims.

A historic Champagne family making wines of extraordinary individuality.

Grower Champagne – The Difference Is in the Vineyard

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

These are the growers who cultivate their own vines and produce Champagnes that reflect the character of their particular vineyards.

And André Clouet is a wonderful example.

Rather than relying on a broad blend of fruit from across the entire Champagne region, the producer focuses on exceptional Grand Cru Pinot Noir.

This creates a Champagne with a strong sense of place.

A wine shaped by its vineyards.

Its soils.

Its grape variety.

And its winemaking.

THIS IS WHAT MAKES GREAT GROWER CHAMPAGNE SO EXCITING!

And the Silver Brut Nature is one of the most distinctive wines in the André Clouet range.

Bouzy Grand Cru – One of Champagne's Greatest Pinot Noir Terroirs

Now here's where this wine becomes particularly interesting.

BOUZY GRAND CRU!

Bouzy is one of the most celebrated Pinot Noir villages in Champagne.

Located in the Montagne de Reims, it has a remarkable reputation for producing Pinot Noir with concentration, richness and structure.

The vineyards benefit from chalk-rich soils and favourable exposures.

These conditions help produce wines with beautifully ripe fruit while retaining the freshness essential to great Champagne.

Bouzy Pinot Noir is particularly famous for its generosity.

Ripe orchard fruit.

Subtle red berries.

Depth.

And a wonderfully broad palate.

But underneath that richness lies the distinctive chalky mineral character of Champagne.

And in the Silver Brut Nature, that mineral character is especially apparent.

Why?

Because there is no dosage to soften or disguise it.

PURE BOUZY GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR – WITH NOTHING TO HIDE BEHIND!

100% Pinot Noir – The Power of Blanc de Noirs

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

100% PINOT NOIR!

That makes André Clouet Silver 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 carefully pressed to produce pale juice without significant colour extraction from the skins.

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

And this is what makes the Silver so compelling.

There is wonderful fruit concentration.

Beautiful texture.

And a generosity that gives the wine genuine substance.

But there is also remarkable freshness.

Precision.

And a wonderfully long mineral finish.

THE POWER OF GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR WITH THE PURITY OF ZERO-DOSAGE CHAMPAGNE!

Brut Nature – What Does Zero Dosage Actually Mean?

Now here's the most important detail of all.

ZERO DOSAGE!

In Champagne production, a small amount of liquid, often containing sugar, may be added after disgorgement.

This is known as the dosage.

It helps determine the final sweetness level of the Champagne.

Many Brut Champagnes contain several grams of sugar per litre.

And that dosage can contribute to a rounder, softer palate.

But André Clouet Silver takes a different approach.

0 GRAMS PER LITRE OF ADDED DOSAGE SUGAR!

No sweetening at disgorgement.

No attempt to soften the wine with added sugar.

Instead, the wine relies on the quality and natural richness of its Grand Cru Pinot Noir.

And that is what makes the result so impressive.

Despite the absence of dosage, the wine has wonderful concentration.

A creamy texture.

And beautifully expressive fruit.

The finish, however, is unmistakably dry.

Chalky.

Saline.

And wonderfully precise.

THIS IS WHAT GREAT BRUT NATURE CHAMPAGNE IS ALL ABOUT!

36 Months on Lees – Extraordinary Complexity

Another impressive detail is the maturation.

36 MONTHS ON LEES!

According to the producer's technical specification, the Silver spends approximately three years ageing on its lees.

During this period, the Champagne develops additional complexity.

Fresh fruit becomes beautifully integrated.

The bubbles become finer.

And the wine develops wonderful savoury characters.

Freshly baked bread.

Toasted brioche.

Roasted almonds.

And subtle pastry notes.

The texture also becomes more refined.

This is particularly important in a zero-dosage Champagne.

Without the softening influence of added sugar, the quality of the fruit and the texture become even more apparent.

And the extended maturation helps create a Champagne with both depth and finesse.

THREE YEARS OF PATIENT MATURATION – AND NOT A GRAM OF ADDED DOSAGE SUGAR!

Reserve Wines – Additional Depth and Complexity

André Clouet Silver also benefits from the inclusion of reserve wines.

The producer's current technical specification indicates approximately 35% reserve wines, aged between two and five years.

These older wines contribute additional complexity and maturity.

They bring depth.

Texture.

And beautiful savoury character.

The younger base wine contributes freshness and vibrant fruit.

The reserve wines provide additional richness and integration.

Together, they create a Champagne with remarkable balance.

This is particularly important for a Brut Nature.

The wine must have enough natural concentration to remain harmonious without dosage.

And the quality of Bouzy Pinot Noir makes that possible.

A Touch of Oak – Beautiful Texture Without Excess

Another fascinating aspect of the Silver is its winemaking.

According to a current Australian release specification, approximately 10% of the base wine is raised in wood.

The remainder is vinified in tank.

That small proportion of oak can contribute additional texture and subtle complexity.

But this is not an overtly oaky Champagne.

The emphasis remains firmly on Pinot Noir.

Fresh fruit.

Minerality.

And precision.

The wine undergoes traditional bottle fermentation before its extended maturation on lees.

The result is a Champagne with beautifully integrated bubbles, impressive depth and remarkable freshness.

PURE GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR – WITH JUST ENOUGH WINEMAKING COMPLEXITY TO MAKE IT EXTRAORDINARY.

93 Points – James Suckling

A magnificent endorsement of one of Champagne's most compelling Blanc de Noirs.

92+ Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

92+ POINTS – ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE!

Another excellent endorsement.

Ripe Apricot, Golden Apple, Brioche and Chalky Minerality

Now this is where André Clouet Silver 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 apricot.

Golden apple.

Fresh pear.

And delicate lemon zest.

Then come the more complex characters.

Toasted brioche.

Roasted almonds.

Fresh bread.

And subtle buttery pastry.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully concentrated.

There is wonderful Pinot Noir richness.

A creamy mid-palate.

And an exceptionally fine mousse.

But the finish is what really distinguishes the wine.

BONE DRY!

Chalky.

Saline.

Mineral.

And wonderfully persistent.

The acidity is vibrant.

The fruit is generous.

And the overall balance is magnificent.

RICH, CREAMY AND GENEROUS – YET COMPLETELY DRY AND BEAUTIFULLY PRECISE!

This is exactly what serious Brut Nature Champagne should be.

An Extraordinary Champagne for Food

One of the great attractions of zero-dosage Champagne is its ability to work beautifully with food.

The dry finish and vibrant acidity make it particularly appealing with seafood.

Freshly Shucked Oysters

A magnificent pairing. The chalky, saline finish complements the natural brininess of oysters.

Kingfish Crudo

Beautiful with citrus, olive oil and delicate herbs.

Pan-Seared Scallops

An excellent match for scallops with browned butter.

Lobster with Lemon Butter

The richness of Pinot Noir complements lobster beautifully.

Smoked Salmon

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

Sashimi

The bone-dry finish and mineral precision make this a beautiful match.

Roast Chicken

The brioche and toasted-nut characters complement roast chicken.

Aged Comté

A magnificent pairing with the wine's nutty, savoury complexity.

And of course, this is an extraordinary Champagne to enjoy on its own.

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

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are passionate about discovering wines with genuine character.

Wines that offer something different.

Wines that express their vineyards.

And wines that deliver serious quality.

André Clouet Silver Brut Nature ticks every box.

First, there is the producer.

ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST DISTINCTIVE FAMILY-OWNED GROWER HOUSES!

Then there is the vineyard.

BOUZY GRAND CRU!

Then there is the grape variety.

100% PINOT NOIR!

Then there is the style.

ZERO DOSAGE – COMPLETELY BONE DRY!

Then there is the maturation.

36 MONTHS ON LEES!

Then come the scores.

93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

92+ POINTS WINE ADVOCATE!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $110 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves serious Champagne, this is an absolute must-try.

A wine with pedigree.

A wine with personality.

A wine that delivers the richness of Grand Cru Pinot Noir with extraordinary freshness and precision.

93 POINTS. 100% GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR. ZERO DOSAGE. THREE YEARS ON LEES. JUST $110.

André Clouet Grande Silver Brut Nature NV – a magnificent grower Champagne and one of the most exciting additions to the Liquid Vibe collection.

Wine Details

• Producer: André Clouet

• Wine: Silver Brut Nature

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Region: Champagne, France

• Village: Bouzy, Montagne de Reims

• Classification: Grand Cru

• Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

• Style: Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature Champagne

• Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Lees Ageing: Approximately 36 months

• Reserve Wines: Approximately 35%, aged two to five years

• Base Wine Maturation: Approximately 90% tank and 10% wood for a documented release

• Dosage: 0 g/L – no sugar added at disgorgement

• Alcohol: 12%

• Aromas: Ripe apricot, golden apple, pear, lemon zest, brioche and roasted almond

• Palate: Rich, creamy and concentrated, with fine bubbles and a long, bone-dry mineral finish

• Critic Scores: 93 Points – James Suckling; 92+ Points – Wine Advocate

• RRP: $110 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, scallops, kingfish, lobster, sashimi, roast chicken and aged cheese

• Serving Temperature: 9–11°C

• Drinking: Enjoy now or cellar carefully for further development