Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Review

Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Review

Price: $54.97/bottle (Wine.com)

Alcohol: 12%

Body: Medium

Sweetness: Dry

Varietals: Predominantly Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay

Tasting Notes: Chilled ~30 min

Throughout everyone's wine journey, there are certain bottles that resonate with you so deeply that make you appreciate wine as something more than just a beverage. You realize a sense of place, culture, personality, and history. For me, undoubtedly, one of these bottles was a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne. In the glass, this wine possessed a light-medium straw gold color with an extraordinary presentation of bubbles, accented by gorgeously slow moving legs. On the nose, beautiful green aromas of apple, pear, and lime zest tingled the nose while buttery biscuit and slight earthy undertones provided the creamy warmth to offset the zip. Simply examining this glass was an experience in itself and the way the visual presentation and singing aromatics danced in the glass was nothing short of a musical fountain show. The nose provides a wonderful transition in to the front-palate, where green fruit and butter provide the feeling of eating a buttered bagel with apple and pear marmalade. Light carbonation and bright, but not puckering, acidity make this a wonderful pairing for food as well, encouraging salivation and preparing your palate for the next bite. The acidity shines through a little more brightly in the mid palate, while savory cream and rhubarb make a very welcomed appearance. The finish was the epiphany; the moment in which I fell in love with Champagne. At that point and time it became more than a drink, it became a story. Even with a simple bottle of non-vintage brut from a major house, it is easy to see why some of these bottles can demand absurd prices, and why Champagne has become one of, if not the most famous wine regions in the world. The finish was silky smooth and satisfyingly crisp at the same time and lasted well over 45 seconds. Green melon and pear play nicely with a delightful buttery herb component while a sexy little red apple skin note lingers in the mouth. Upon the first sip, I immediately wrote “I (heart) Champagne,” in my notes. As a style, it may be pricey, but in my opinion, it's worth every penny.

Rating: 5 Stars! (Obviously)

Try/Buy/Pass: BUY!