Champagne Bollinger
La Grande Année Magnum 2015

The Champagne La Grande Année 2015 by Bollinger is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 11 crus: mainly Aÿ, Verzenay and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ for the Pinot Noir and Chouilly and Avize for the Chardonnay. The first fermentation always takes place in oak barrels; after bottling, the mousse and ageing in the cellar is carried out with a cork, which ensures better protection against oxidation; the remuage and dégorgement are carried out entirely by hand (as expressly indicated on the front label).

For Maison Bollinger, only the highest quality harvests become La Grande Année: the 2015 vintage yielded a wine that is both concentrated and generous.

The mild winter of 2015 paved the way for a clement spring, with no risk of frost, followed by a record month of sunshine, the second most beautiful since 2007. May and June continued in the same vein, with high temperatures leading to a hot and dry summer. The lack of rain led to considerable water stress and limited vegetation growth, resulting in small, highly concentrated grapes. Fortunately, the lack of rainfall was mitigated by winter reserves and a rainy autumn. The harvest began on 4 September. The year 2015 oscillated between periods of sunshine and downpours and resulted in an exceptionally high quality vintage. The grapes are extremely healthy and with an average of 10% vol, it is also one of the ripest vintages we have seen, with a very present acidity. A fantastic year, promising a warm and exceptionally high quality 2015 vintage.

The Champagne La Grande Année 2015 by Bollinger has golden yellow reflections, testimony to the maturity of the wine, but also to the winemaking methods of Maison Bollinger. On the nose, the initial aromas are rich in small stone fruits, with notes of golden apple, plum and Mirabelle golden plum, layered with a touch of honey. This is followed by aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry and raspberry; a mix of red fruits dancing with hints of almond. On the palate, the wine is fleshy, generous and seductive, reminiscent of Mirabelle plum jam. Consistency and richness define the tasting experience. The finish blends chocolate and citrus notes, bringing a touch of acidity, further lengthened by hints of schist. An enormously generous wine!

Champagne Bollinger

In 1829 Jacques Bollinger, together with Athanase de Villermont, founded in Aÿ the Maison under his name. Thanks to the priviledge position of the vineyards and a deep quality moral, the Bollinger Maison has acquired a solid reputation at international level, thanks to the style and wine quality for its Champagnes. Today the family still runs the Maison Bollinger in order to maintain a high production level. In 1992 the family wrote down its Ethic & Quality Principles, lying down all methods followed by the family to produce Champagne. The vineyards of the Maison Bollinger extend over a surface of 160 hectares within the territory of Grands Crus and Premier Crus champenoise, covering up to 70% of the grape need, witha stable quality over time. The remaining 30% comes from selected grapes from other wine-growers in the Grand and Premier Cru territories as well. The Maison Bollinger only uses wines coming from the first pressing, carefully controlling the following steps. Bollinger style is based on Pinot Noir, especially from Aÿ, Bouzy and Verzenay. The typical features of these villages grant the wines richness, vinousity and roundness. Grand Crus and Premier Crus are part of the assemblage of Grande Année and for 80% in Special Cuvée, giving Bollinger wines their structure and complexity. The vins de réserve rest in corked Magnum bottles under a light froth, cru by cru, vine by vine, year by year. This unique methos in Champagne allows the Maison Bollinger to store its wines for a long time, also keeping their original freshness and character. The Maison Bollinger owns a real winehouse and this helps in the creation of Special Cuvée, obtained after a careful selection of cru, vine and year.