The genesis
A real challenge, this new Bollinger cuvée!
For the story, it was the House's cellar master, Gilles Descôtes, who challenge to his team: each one must create a Blanc de Noirs within the constraints of the richness of the vintages and the different origins of the terroirs in Champagne. The final decision will be made by blind tasting. The challenge all the same: a champagne at an affordable price and as much volume as the Grande Année collection. Paris succeeds! In the end, it was the blend proposed by Gilles Descôtes himself that won the day. " It was the revelation of a specific terroir, the best expression of pinot noir, that really led us to the final choice: the taste of terroir ", declares assistant cellar master Denis Bunner. A real plunge into the terroirs of Champagne with this 100% Pinot Noir from Verzenay, located 17 km southeast of Reims in the Marne Valley, combined with 3 other crus, Aÿ, Bouzy and Tauxières, blended with 20% reserve wines stored in magnum bottles from 2009 and 2010, used to enhance the intensity of the Pinot Noir and " add another layer of fruit ". Managing Director Charles-Armand de Belenet calls these magnums " a kind of aromatic bomb ".
Pinot Noir is one of the pillars of the Bollinger signature, and this cuvée is proof of that, with a slow cellaring time of 10 years, more than twice as long as the Appellation rules.
PN VZ 15 is the first champagne in a new series that will be reproduced every year from now on. The idea is always to zoom in on one of the House's Pinot Noir crus or villages.
Tasting
Ideally, Cuvée PN VZ15 should be served between 8 and 10°C.
Once served, it presents an attractive golden color. Its aromas are of cherry pit, fruit jam and dried fig. It's greedy, rich and complex. On the palate, rye and pastry notes follow, like a memory of pear pie. Lively and vibrant on the palate, with a predominance of rich fruit. Fresh, well-balanced red fruit then releases peach and apricot flavors, enhanced by hints of mint. The finish is reminiscent of yuzu, a tart Japanese citrus fruit.
A hedonist's champagne, already rated 94/100 by Décanter. Enjoy it now with a fine tomato tartlet or Langres cheese, or let it mature in your cellar if you're patient!
