Maison Bollinger boasts a 174-hectare vineyard that has been certified "Haute Valeur Environnementale" (High Environmental Value).
At Bollinger, each "La Grande Année" cuvée is the result of generations of traditional know-how. The wine is exclusively vinified using a very old method, in small oak barrels averaging 20 years old, maintained in the company's cooperage and comprising a stock of over 3,500 barrels. This method favors the development of highly refined aromas. After aging on lees, each bottle of La Grande Année is still stirred and disgorged entirely by hand. Thanks to its density and incomparable creamy texture, La Grande Année is truly a great gourmet wine. Only the very finest harvests are vintage wines at Bollinger: the very fine 2012 vintage has produced generous wines that are both lively and complex.
La Grande Année 2012
A blend of 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay produced exclusively from 21 crus, mainly in Aÿ and Verzenay for the Pinot Noir, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oiry for the Chardonnay. The result is a gastronomic champagne with a lovely golden color. Once opened, the nose is expressive, with a bouquet of apricot, almond and hazelnut, and a hint of honey. Its creamy texture is exceptional. Both dense and persistent, it leaves a long, fresh mouthfeel, accompanied on the finish by beautiful, saline bitters. La Grande Année 2012 is one of a kind. Ideally, it should be served between 8 and 10°C now, when it's at its peak, or left to age in the cellar for another 15 years. Serve as an aperitif, or with scallops, grilled oysters with smoked butter and sea purslane, or hen of the woods with potato and truffle emulsion. This champagne is surprisingly good with soft cheeses such as Brie or Saint-Marcellin. Magnificent with goat's cheese marinated in truffle oil or Parmesan. High-class dishes for a Champagne that's no less extraordinary!
La Grande Année Rosé 2012
La Grande Année Rosé 2012 is the fruit of the encounter between a vintage Champagne of excellence and a red wine from a unique parcel, a monopoly of the House: the famous "Côte aux Enfants", also known as Champagne's "Romanée-Conti". For the record, it was originally the red wines that made the Champagne vineyards famous. These red wines were the favorites of King Henri IV and therefore the most prized at the French court. Over time, it was Jacques Bollinger who patiently reconstituted the 4 hectares in a single block of this locality, where more than fifty owners shared it before the phylloxera crisis! La Côte aux Enfants has been farmed organically since 2009. La Grande Année Rosé is a great wine, and one that can be laid down, combining complexity and elegance. Composed of 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Chardonnay, it has a delicate pinkish color and, once opened, offers aromas of redcurrant and black fruit, with hints of citrus. On the palate, it's deliciously indulgent.Its freshness and and creamy texture make this a powerful champagne of great complexity. Its rich texture and creamy effervescence make it the ideal partner for refined dishes and noble products such as venison, pigeon or guinea fowl, as well as oriental cuisine.
