Veuve Clicquot: Carte Jaune, Rosé, La Grande Dame… which cuvée to choose and at what price?
The essentials
Brut Carte Jaune (from €46) is Veuve Clicquot’s signature cuvée, dominated by Pinot Noir and its reserve wines; the Brut Rosé adds red wine from Bouzy. For gifts, the Ice Jacket, Arrow or Yinka Ilori gift sets; for something truly special, La Grande Dame 2015 or 2018, from €179.
- Why is it called ‘Veuve’ Clicquot?
- Because Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, who was widowed in 1805 at the age of twenty-seven following the death of her husband François Clicquot, took over the business founded by her father-in-law in 1772 and ran it for more than sixty years. She invented the riddling table (1816) and the first blended rosé (1818).
- What does ‘Yellow Card’ mean?
- This is the name of the house’s non-vintage brut, derived from its yellow-orange label, which was registered in 1877 to distinguish this brut champagne from the sweeter cuvées of the time. Pinot Noir is the dominant grape variety, complemented by Meunier, Chardonnay and reserve wines.
- How much does a bottle of Veuve Clicquot cost?
- €46 for the Brut Carte Jaune, from €50 to €72 in a gift set (Ice Jacket, Arrow, The Cooler, Yinka Ilori, Rosé), €179 to €199.90 for La Grande Dame 2018 or 2015, and €429 for a magnum of La Grande Dame Rosé 2008 — prices recorded in our cellar in September 2026.
- What is the difference between *Carte Jaune* and *La Grande Dame*?
- The Carte Jaune is a non-vintage brut, whose consistency is ensured by the use of reserve wines. The Grande Dame is the prestige vintage cuvée: 90 per cent Pinot Noir from the house’s eight historic grands crus, 10 per cent Chardonnay, a low dosage and many years of ageing in the cellar.
- Is Veuve Clicquot’s Brut Rosé a saignée rosé?
- No, it’s a blended rosé: the Carte Jaune, to which around 12 per cent of red wine from Bouzy is added, according to the method invented by Madame Clicquot in 1818.
Brut Carte Jaune, Brut Rosé, Ice Jacket, Arrow and Yinka Ilori gift sets, La Grande Dame 2015 and 2018, and the Yayoi Kusama edition: the Maison de Madame Clicquot offers its Pinot Noir under a wide variety of labels. Our guide, cuvée by cuvée, with prices as found in our cellar.
7 min read
Founded in Reims in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot, the Veuve Clicquot house owes its legendary status to his daughter-in-law, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, who ran it for over sixty years and made it famous as far afield as Saint Petersburg. Now owned by the LVMH group, it remains true to a style that is instantly recognisable: the power of Pinot Noir, the depth of its reserve wines and that yellow-orange label recognised throughout the world. This guide reviews the cuvées available in our cellar — Carte Jaune and its gift sets, Brut Rosé, La Grande Dame — along with their current prices.
Madame Clicquot, the Grande Dame of Champagne
Widowed at the age of twenty-seven in 1805, Barbe-Nicole Clicquot-Ponsardin (1777–1866) took over a wine merchant’s business that seemed destined for nothing but obscurity. In 1814, she smuggled bottles of the 1811 ‘Vin de la Comète’ into Russia, where they won over the Tsar’s court. In 1816, together with her cellar master, she invented the riddling table, which finally made it possible to produce a crystal-clear champagne; in 1818, she created the first blended rosé by adding red wine from Bouzy to her champagne. Two techniques still practised throughout the Champagne region today. To put this era into context, read our account of the rise of champagne, and for a bit of trivia, the Reims–Venice journey on the Orient Express organised by the house.
The Veuve Clicquot range at a glance
- Brut Carte Jaune — the house’s signature non-vintage brut.
- Brut Rosé — the Carte Jaune enriched with red wine from Bouzy.
- Vintage (white and rosé), Demi-Sec, Rich (designed for mixology) and Extra Brut Extra Old (a blend of reserve wines only) complete the house’s range.
- La Grande Dame — the prestigious vintage cuvée, available in white and rosé.
In our cellar, you’ll find Carte Jaune in all its forms, Brut Rosé in a gift box, and La Grande Dame in its 2015 and 2018 vintages.
Brut Carte Jaune: the signature
Brut Carte Jaune is a blend in which Pinot Noir accounts for more than half, complemented by Meunier and Chardonnay, with a quarter to a third of reserve wines ensuring its consistency from one year to the next. Pale gold in colour, with a fine stream of bubbles; on the nose, pear and white peach, warm brioche, vanilla and toasted almond; on the palate, the vinous power of Pinot Noir balanced by a lovely freshness. The yellow label, registered in 1877 to distinguish the house’s brut, has become its name. It is the quintessential aperitif and celebration champagne, priced from €46 per bottle.
The Carte Jaune gift sets: Ice Jacket, Ice Box, Arrow, The Cooler, Puffy
The wine is the same; the packaging changes.The Ice Jacket is the house’s insulated sleeve, redesigned in 2022 using 100 per cent recycled plastic, which keeps the bottle cool for two hours.The Ice Box serves as a portable cooler. The Arrow set, a metal box inspired by road signs, shows the distance to Reims. The Cooler is a small hard-sided cooler, and the Puffy Bottle Holder is a padded case made from recycled materials. Prices range from €50 to €69 depending on the item.
Yinka Ilori: Sun Holder and Sun Totem
British designer Yinka Ilori, originally from Nigeria, has created colourful, sun-inspired designs for the brand. The Sun Holder is a decorative bottle cooler featuring the Carte Jaune design, whilst the Sun Totem reinterprets the champagne bucket with a movable handle. These are the most cheerful gift sets in the range, priced between €60 and €63.
Brut Rosé: the first blended rosé
A direct descendant of the 1818 invention, the Brut Rosé follows the Carte Jaune’s blend and adds around 12 per cent red wine from Bouzy. A salmon-pink colour with coppery highlights; wild strawberry, cherry and raspberry on the nose, with a hint of biscuit, and a full-bodied, fruity palate. We offer it in The Cooler Rosé cooler box and the Rosé Sun Holder by Yinka Ilori, priced at around €70. To compare with other houses, browse our selection of rosé champagnes.
La Grande Dame: the art of Pinot Noir
Created in 1972 to mark the house’s bicentenary with the 1962 vintage, La Grande Dame pays tribute to Madame Clicquot. It is produced only in exceptional years, using the house’s eight historic grand crus, and its blend gives pride of place to Pinot Noir: 90 per cent Pinot Noir and 10 per cent Chardonnay, a low dosage (6 g/l for the 2018) and extensive cellaring. Cellar master Didier Mariotti, who has held the post since 2019, has crafted the recent vintages.
La Grande Dame 2015
A sunny year, yet a wine full of tension: the Grande Dame 2015 opens with fresh minerality, followed by jasmine and acacia, pear, baked apple and candied citrus fruits (clementine, mandarin). Its rosé version, the Grande Dame Rosé 2015, combines wild strawberries and raspberries with spices — pepper, nutmeg, cloves — against a backdrop of rose and violet. Both are priced at €199.90.
La Grande Dame 2018
The twenty-fifth vintage of this cuvée, the Grande Dame 2018 is a deep gold with amber highlights: jasmine, honeysuckle, pear, quince, fresh almond and toasted brioche, with a silky texture underpinned by the richness of the Pinot Noir. La Grande Dame Rosé 2018 derives its colour from 13–14 per cent red wine from Clos Colin, a two-hectare plot of Pinot Noir in Bouzy; disgorged in September 2025 after seven years on the lees, it offers notes of raspberry, cherry and yuzu. Both are priced at €179.
Artist’s editions and large formats
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has adorned La Grande Dame 2012 – a vintage with a nose of jasmine, honeysuckle and frangipane – with her signature polka dots and flowers; it is priced at €140. For a special occasion, the magnum of La Grande Dame Rosé 2008 — one of Champagne’s great vintages — has developed notes of praline, quince paste, dried fruit and white truffle: €429.
Veuve Clicquot prices: what to expect
| Cuvée | Prices observed (including VAT, 75 cl unless otherwise stated) |
|---|---|
| Brut Carte Jaune | €46 |
| Carte Jaune in a gift set (Ice Jacket, Ice Box, Sun Holder, Sun Totem, Puffy, Arrow, The Cooler) | €50 to €69 |
| Brut Rosé in a gift set (Sun Holder rosé, The Cooler rosé) | €70 to €72 |
| La Grande Dame 2012 Yayoi Kusama edition | €140 |
| La Grande Dame 2018 and Rosé 2018 | €179 |
| La Grande Dame 2015 and Rosé 2015 | €199.90 |
| La Grande Dame Rosé 2008 (magnum) | €429 |
Prices recorded in our cellar in September 2026; they vary depending on the house’s releases and editions. Remember this above all: in all Carte Jaune gift sets, the wine is the same — the difference in price lies in the presentation. To see how Veuve Clicquot compares with Moët & Chandon, Ruinart or Bollinger, our guide to the finest champagne houses completes this comparison.
Which Veuve Clicquot for which occasion?
- For aperitifs and celebrations: the Brut Carte Jaune, quite simply.
- For a gift you can’t go wrong with: an Arrow or The Cooler gift set, or a Sun Holder by Yinka Ilori for a splash of colour.
- For summer and picnics: the Ice Jacket or the Ice Box, which keep the bottle chilled.
- For a dessert with red berries or a summer meal: the Brut Rosé.
- For a discerning connoisseur or a special occasion: La Grande Dame 2015 or 2018, in white or rosé.
- For a collector: the Yayoi Kusama edition or the magnum of La Grande Dame Rosé 2008.
Serving and storing Veuve Clicquot
Serve Carte Jaune and Rosé at between 8 and 10 °C; serve La Grande Dame slightly less chilled, at between 10 and 12 °C, in a white wine glass that allows the Pinot Noir to express itself fully. A Carte Jaune is best enjoyed within two to three years; La Grande Dame 2015 or 2018 can be kept for ten years or more, stored horizontally, away from light, at a temperature of between 10 and 15 °C. Our champagne storage and serving guidelines provide further details. All available cuvées are listed on the Veuve Clicquot website.
The bottles in this article
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