Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 1962
"The first, and today very rare vintage of Clicquot's prestige Champagne. Originally it was made as a strictly limited one-time thing. The first commercial vintage didn't appear until 1969. My bottle was purchased in Italy and had been stored a tad too warmly. Despite the unkind treatment and the rushed development, this is still a fantastic Champagne. Barely discernible mousse in this amber-colored drink. The scent is mature, like a '53, with notes of mint chocolate, resin, treacle, and butterscotch. A colleague of mine thought the scent reminded him of his old boathouse on days when the summer sun bakes its sides. I know exactly what he means. The wood scent is even in the taste, backed up by a decidedly sweet chocolate tone. Incredibly fat, with unlimited layers of taste." Richard Juhlin