Following the terrific 2015 season, many Champagne houses did not release a 2016 or ’17 vintage, preferring to hold it for their upcoming non-vintage offerings. Although many domains age their Champagne for a longer period prior to release, a handful of top-tier houses are now sending their 2018 vintage Champagne to market. A generous season that was equally good for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, 2018 is noted for its freshness and generosity on the palate. “The 2018 growing season was a study in contrast characterized by a particularly rainy winter followed by a long, warm, and sun-drenched summer,” says Veuve Clicquot cellar master Didier Mariotti, whose La Grande Dame 2018 is drinking beautifully right now. A blend of 90 percent Pinot Noir and 10 percent Chardonnay, this vintage Veuve has exquisite notes of citrus, ginger, and pastry crust with touches of salinity. Mariotti attributes the balance of density and freshness to ideal seasonal conditions, which “delivered..
