Grower Champagne with Gravitas
André Clouet Cuvée 1911
Heavily Sought-After, Lightly Priced
That was fast. On Monday, we emailed about the 2002 André Clouet Brut Millésime. By Tuesday, our stock was wiped out, with more requests still flooding in. So today, how about a follow-up? (How about a really good follow-up?)
We're sending this out to a smaller, targeted group - there is not enough of the Clouet 1911 for a full-list email.
The 1911 has to be Clouet's most sought-after cuvée - especially after Antonio Galloni fell for it recently, lavishing it with praise and calling out its "most haunting of perfumes" and, previously, its "absolutely majestic" presence and texture "like silk on the palate."
Only 1,911 bottles are released each year, all hand-numbered. This particular bottling is based on the 2002 vintage wine plus a blend from Clouet's solera system that contains wines dating back to 1998.
The grapes are 100% Pinot Noir, 100% from the Grand Cru village of Bouzy, and the wine flaunts all the power and ripeness you'd expect from this grape grown in this warm village - even with the almost uncanny weight of fine red Burgundy. What's most obvious and most compelling in the 1911, however, is the elegance, the fine-boned mousse that carries along such nuance in the face of such power.
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As we said in our email about the 2002 Brut Millésime, fans of Paul Bara, Taittinger, Bollinger and Selosse should pay attention; those passionate about Grower Champagne and the idea that Champagne should be opened before dinner as well as right along with dinner, this email is for you.
For the 1911, there's one other important reference: Roederer. Champagne guru Richard Juhlin has noted on multiple occasions that aged 1911 reminds him of Roederer Cristal for its deft elegance and I have to agree.
Which brings me to the superb value available from this small, supremely quality-oriented grower. The elite cuvées of the aforementioned company go for considerably higher than what we're able to offer Clouet's 1911 at today, which is $89.95 a bottle.
The wine is in stock today and would make a stunning companion to a holiday ham or roast bird, even lamb (in any case, let it open amply in wider-bowled glasses), but the wine also has at least 10 years ahead of it and quite likely more like 20.
Take heed: As mentioned above, our offer for the 2002 Brut sold out in less than a day. We have a much smaller parcel here, and this is a wine with an already thirsty following, so we're keeping this short today. If you have any interest, don't dally.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits