Champagne Andre Clouet 'Grande Reserve' Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut NV

Winemaking

André Clouet is a grower-producer in the Bouzy Grand Cru, one of Champagne's most prestigious pinot noir terroirs. The house has built its reputation on a philosophy of minimal intervention and respect for the fruit—favoring traditional methods and long aging on the lees to develop complexity without heavy manipulation. Their commitment to quality over volume has made them a benchmark producer among serious Champagne enthusiasts.

Tasting Notes

This Blanc de Noirs opens with alluring aromas of red berries and brioche, layered with toasted hazelnut and a whisper of mineral chalk. On the palate, the wine reveals lovely cherry and almond flavors framed by fine, persistent bubbles and delicate white flower notes that emerge mid-palate. The structure is refined and well-balanced, with excellent weight and complexity for a non-vintage cuvée, finishing dry, persistent, and remarkably creamy.

Producer

André Clouet operates as a small, family-owned grower-producer based in Bouzy, managing vineyard holdings in one of Champagne's finest pinot noir villages. The estate practices sustainable viticulture focused on low yields and ripeness, bottling their own production rather than selling to the large Champagne houses. This independence allows them to maintain exacting standards and a distinctive house style rooted in Bouzy's terroir.

Terroir

Bouzy is a south-facing Grand Cru hillside in the Montagne de Reims, blessed with limestone-chalk soils that impart mineral precision and elegance to Pinot Noir. The slightly warmer exposure and well-draining chalk subsoil allow the black grape to achieve excellent ripeness and phenolic maturity, while the cool Champagne climate ensures the vibrant acidity essential to sparkling wine. This combination has made Bouzy the historical heartland of Champagne's finest Blanc de Noirs.

Food Pairings

The wine's cherry and almond notes make it an excellent match for seared scallops with brown butter and toasted hazelnuts, or as a sophisticated aperitif alongside gougères and aged Gruyère. For a more casual approach, try it with smoked salmon canapés or roasted poultry—the fine bubbles and dry finish cut through richness beautifully while the creamy texture complements delicate proteins.