Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 1993

Was 1993 a good year in Champagne?

A published vintage chart rates Champagne 1993 3 out of 5 stars. Generally balanced but with somewhat weak fruit from dilution, showing mature honey and toasted almond. Better than its reputation suggests.

A regular-sized crop picked from 8 September, into a September that deteriorated with frequent rain, swollen bunches and rot.

What the critics scored the 1993

One critic score is on record: 92/100, November 2001.

By score the 1993 ranks 12th of 16 (tied with 1995 and 1998) scored Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame vintages, 1.9 points below their review-weighted 93.9.

The 1990s by score: 1990 94.6, 1993 92.0, 1995 92.0, 1996 93.7 and 1998 92.0. The 1993 shares the decade's lowest score.

Very ripe aromas of pear, apple, cinnamon, mace, toast and honeysuckle. Large-scaled, rich and mouthfilling, with a flavor of toffee apple. This is thick with extract but can't quite equal the best Grande Dame vintages for concentration and thrust. But still impeccably made, very rich Champagne.

What drinkers rate it

92.2 out of 100 from 26 drinker ratings, the most recent in March 2025.

That is 0.2 points above the critics' score.

Drinker rank: 9th of 22. The most-rated vintage has 270 ratings.

5 written notes, September 2022 to March 2025, rating it 93 to 94.

Upon opening, the cork smelled suspect (potentially corked), but once poured into a glass, beautiful aromas of buttered popcorn and creme brulee exuded from the glass indicating a fantastic aged Champagne. Palate showed pronounced tertiary notes of salted caramel, toasted almonds, fresh baked pastry, and creme brulee. Still showing plenty of fine mousse, great balance of acid, and an exuberant amount of tertiary and secondary notes indicating a wonderfully and gracefully ageing Champagne from a lesser vintage. This was really quite fantastic - I am usually not the biggest fan of Veuve, but I have to concede that this was a beautiful showing. I have quite a few bottles left and am excited to open them over the next 5 years. Based on the condition of this bottle, they are just starting to peak and could last for at least another 5 years. 94-95

Early Mar 2024, Rheingau Gourmet Festival, rarity diner “25 vintages of Chateau Montrose”: golden amber color; almost no perlage; bouquet of tree and tropical fruits plus yeasty notes; soft on the palate well-balanced by a fruity acidity.

Delicious hue of oxidation, yellow fruit, vibrant, citrus, zesty, quite large. 93

Beautiful again, fresh citrus notes with light oxidative profile, zesty, delicious. 93-94

As my tasting partner pointed out, this bottle resembled another bottle tasted last autumn or so- very developed with rich, toasty character of toffee, hazelnut, pecan pie, white chocolate and deep, baked apple notes both on the nose and palate. Impressive width and volume to the flavors (also seen in the first bottle). As this warms up, it continues to open out and show more nuance. There is a note of Sherry/oxidation that one may not find attractive if there is an aversion to mature Champagne. Quite complex- rich and sweet, though its time to drink up. 93-94.

Where to buy the 1993

1 offer from 1 merchant, newest first.

The 1993 against its neighbours

The 1993 beside its 4 nearest recorded years.

Here, by score, it places 3rd of 5 (tied with 1995).