Veuve Clicquot 2015 La Grande Dame 750ml

The 2012 La Grande Dame has started to relax a little post-disgorgement, with some malted bread, honey and toasty complexity building over what is still an impressively precise release for such a Pinot Noir-heavy blend, more focused on delicate red fruits than the broader orange/yellow of the 2015. Sweet red apple, nut oil and lemon marmalade flavours ride a persistent snap of citrussy acidity, the texture softening now but still promising a drawn-out and rewarding unwinding of flavour for those that can wait. 90% Pinot Noir from Äy, Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay and Bouzy, 10% Chardonnay from Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Dosage 6 g/L.

Score: 96 points -- Tom Hewson, Decanter, March 2023