Virtuoso Life - November/December 2007 - (Page 61) from mid-November until mid-March). 9 place Saint-Nicaise, Reims; 33-326/85-84-33; www.taittinger.com Veuve Clicquot Hermès has its orange and Tiffany its pastel aqua, but there’s never been a wine as closely associated with a particular hue as Veuve Clicquot. The label’s signature deep yellow – selected by the widow Clicquot herself and meant to resemble the yolk of a fresh egg – was a stroke of avant-la-lettre marketing genius and instantly says champagne to aficionados of this brand across the globe. A visit to Veuve Clicquot is an immersion in both the trademark color – guides wear signature yellow sashes – and the history of this storied label. Myriad experiences can be uncorked, from a VIP tour that might include a stay at Clicquot’s private residence, the Hôtel du Marc, to a visit to the caves that includes sampling selected wines. To get a taste of Veuve Clicquot before your trip, look for the complex, racy 1988 Rare Vintage Brut ($90), with its elegance and lovely bottle age. Tours are available Monday through Saturday from April through October and weekdays November through March. Other visits available by arrangement. 1 place des Droits de l’Homme, Reims; 33-326/89-53-90; www.veuve-clicquot.com Ruinart Ruinart has some of the oldest, deepest, chalkiest, and most beautiful of all the caves in Champagne. Nearly 100 feet below the streets of Reims and accessible via a roughhewn stairway that looks like something out of a fantasy film, they are bathed in soft shafts of golden light. The air of mystery and reverence here is unlike any that you’ll find elsewhere in Champagne, or any other wine region, for that matter. The historyconscious French wisely proclaimed these ancient Gallo-Roman chalk pits national historic monuments. To toast these treasures, you can’t go wrong with the 1996 Dom Ruinart ($180), which is a creamy bubbly bursting with intense berry fruit. Visits by appointment. 4 rue des Crayères, Reims; 33-326/77-51-51; www.ruinart.com NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2007 61 http://www.taittinger.com http://www.veuve-clicquot.com http://www.ruinart.com
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