Wine Highlight: 2012 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame by Yayoi Kusama
La Grande Dame is Veuve Clicquot’s most prestigious Champagne, only made in exceptional vintages. This highly collectible limited edition release, from the superb 2012 vintage, is adorned with the joyful polka-dot artwork of legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
Founded in 1772, Veuve Clicquot came to prominence under the remarkable leadership of Madame Clicquot, known as the “Grande Dame of Champagne.” Widowed young, she transformed the house with pioneering innovations; creating the first vintage Champagne, inventing riddling to clarify wine and developing rosé through blending. Her determination and vision helped shape modern Champagne, securing its place at the tables of Europe’s high society during the Napoleonic era.
La Grande Dame is a fitting tribute to Madame Clicquot’s legacy and showcases the house’s mastery of Pinot Noir, blending Pinot Noir (90%) and Chardonnay from top Grand Cru vineyards that she helped secure. The 2012 vintage is exceptional: a warm, low-yielding year that produced a wine of finesse, bursting with citrus, stone fruits, floral notes, and a shimmering mineral finish. Vibrant, complex, and deeply satisfying. An unforgettable gift and a great way to elevate any celebration.