Veuve Clicquot, the esteemed Champagne house, announced the local launch of La Grande Dame 2015, an exceptionally sunny vintage, with a culinary experience that married the cuvée with the concept of Garden Gastronomy. The invite-only lunch was hosted at Chefs Warehouse at Maison in Franschhoek with a once-off menu curated by Co-owner and Executive Chef, David Schneider, and Head Chef Xavier Francis.
First established in 2021, Veuve Clicquot’s Garden Gastronomy concept was created to signify the link between terroir, food, and wine. In keeping with the global campaign, where participating chefs are invited to create plant-focused menus to pair with La Grande Dame, the local event saw a menu drawing on the bounty of the garden as inspiration. The concept is an invitation to savour the harmony that each season brings, creating a dining experience as refined as the champagne.
The wine itself is all about tension and elegance. La Grande Dame 2015 is unique in that it’s 90% Pinot Noir, with a touch of Chardonnay, harvested from the Maison’s historical Grands Crus. As Madame Clicquot famously said, “Our black grapes give the finest white wines,” referencing the prominence of Pinot Noir in the Maison’s wines. In La Grande Dame 2015, the grape finds its ultimate expression. This solaire vintage boasts a golden hue, accompanied by a lively effervescence. Its complex aroma offers fresh minerality with delicate floral notes of jasmine and acacia on the nose, giving way to fruity pear and clementine. Meanwhile, the palate delights with flavours of peaches, hazelnuts, and madeleines amaretti, with a satisfyingly silky mouthfeel and a lingering finish, showcasing its impeccable balance and versatility.
When it comes to food and wine pairings, La Grande Dame 2015 is the perfect match for its Garden Gastronomy counterpart. Balanced and complex, the wine harmonises seamlessly with a medley of flavours, making it the ultimate pairing for a chef’s bold cooking. For the South African launch, chefs Schneider and Francis developed a menu that referenced the theme by staying true to earthiness, floral texture, and freshness.
To allow the guests to experience the seamless symphony between various culinary elements and La Grande Dame 2015, each dish highlighted different aromas and flavours, further demonstrating the wine’s remarkable adaptability and depth. The meal kicked off with ‘chef’s happies’, such as Croquembouche of Gougères filled with Gruyère Cheese, Prawn Dumpling with Fermented Black Bean and Peanuts, and ‘Ducklava’ of Duck Liver Parfait in Phyllo Pastry. This was followed by afirst course of multiple small, interactive dishes such as Saldanha Bay Oysters, dressed in Passionfruit and Radish, and Wood-fired Wild Mushroom, served with Stracciatella, Hazelnut and a shaving of fresh Truffle and Smoked Snoek with Cabbage, Culture Cream and Chive. Additionally, there was a Local Yellowtail Ceviche, Served with Lime, Sweet Potato and Corn, as well as Snow Crab with Achiote and Butternut. Each of these bites was selected to eke out a different flavour note in the champagne, with the idea that they work collectively to create the perfect accompaniment for La Grande Dame 2015.
The second course featured slow-roasted apple with Jerusalem Artichoke, alongside a wheel of Parmesan, and Local Prosciutto ; merging fresh, seasonal produce with a touch of indulgence to elevate simple ingredients. Leaning into the wine’s salinity, mains featured Seaweed-Baked Line Fish in a Smoked Bone Broth, with Fennel and Spekboom, as well as Caldhame Farm Duck Breast, served with Newlands Forest Chestnut, Pear and Celeriac. Finishing the meal in style, the dessert was a Savoury Quince and Onion Tarte Tatin, with Pumpkin Seeds and Garden Herbs, served with the iconic Belnori Forest Phantom Goats Cheese.
Commenting on the launch of La Grande Dame 2015, Pierre Casenave, Senior Winemaker at Veuve Clicquot said “La Grande Dame is the ultimate expression of Veuve Clicquot’s enduring love of Pinot Noir, it represents the pinnacle of our craftsmanship, combining depth of flavour with unparalleled elegance. We are thrilled to introduce this remarkable vintage at Chefs Warehouse, pairing it with Chef Schneider’s innovative menu, marking its arrival in South Africa.”
Veuve Clicquot launched its first prestige cuvée in 1972 to celebrate the Maison’s bicentenary and La Grande Dame 2015 is the 24th vintage. This cuvée embodies the heritage and expertise of Veuve Clicquot, making it a sought-after choice for connoisseurs and collectors alike. In addition to the considered launch of La Grande Dame 2015, Veuve Clicquot continues to claim optimism through colours and texture with an unprecedented collaboration with Italian designer, Paola Paronetto. Paronetto has created a new collection of six gift boxes for La Grande Dame 2015 in hues from her unique personal palette of more than 86 shades, featuring Veuve Clicquot’s iconic yellow label.
Now available in South Africa, Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2015 (R3,999.95) is available at select stores.