Why it matters
The producer
Champagne André Clouet is a family Champagne house with vineyards planted almost entirely to Pinot Noir. Its range includes the lees aged Grande Réserve, Rosé, zero dosage Silver, the named cuvées Millésime and Le Clos de Bouzy, and Un Jour de 1911. The bottles include both broad cuvées and wines defined by a particular vineyard or cellar treatment.
The Clouet family built its vineyard holdings over two centuries. The range carries that work through separate bottle roles. Le Clos de Bouzy comes from a walled vineyard directly behind the cellar. Millésime is 100 percent Pinot Noir aged 4 years sur lattes, the Champagne practice of resting bottles on their lees after the second fermentation. One bottle is defined by a vineyard wall, another by time in the cellar.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
The vineyards lie in Bouzy and Ambonnay, two Champagne villages with Grand Cru status. Grand Cru is the region's highest village classification, and the holdings occupy the preferred middle slopes of both villages. The range then narrows the geography into named bottles, including Le Clos de Bouzy and Un Jour de 1911.
Chalk underlies the vineyards. Its porous surface drains excess rain while deeper layers retain water, supporting even ripening and helping preserve acidity. Chalk can also leave a dry, stony impression in sparkling wine, a general effect of the ground rather than a flavour added in the cellar.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Fermentation uses both stainless steel tanks and Sauternes barrels, with native yeasts. Stainless steel is a neutral vessel that allows temperature control, while barrel fermentation brings more oxygen contact. Native yeasts are microorganisms present in the fruit and cellar, rather than a cultured strain added from outside. Un Jour de 1911 receives 100 percent barrel ageing.
Wines to know
The range in view
Grande Réserve is a 100 percent Pinot Noir cuvée aged on lees. Silver is a zero dosage Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Champagne, described as delicate and high toned. Rosé is the range's rosé cuvée. Millésime and Le Clos de Bouzy are named cuvées, while Un Jour de 1911 is the limited release.
Grande Réserve has a fresh bouquet of high toned fruit and hazelnut, followed by red fruit, honeysuckle and lemon on the palate. The wine has balanced, persuasive character with the freshness carried through its fruit and acidity.