Bollinger La Grande Année Brut 2012

£175.00 per bottle

Tasted by Simon Field MW, Decanter Magazine, Bollinger La Grande Année 2012 launch, London, 17 Feb 2020
'Texture is key here, with a fruit basket of indulgence tempting the senses, the predominant Pinot Noir adding plums, cherry and hints of cedar to the creamy, toasty core that has been bequeathed by the barrel fermentation. Energetic, vital and brimming with potential, its 8g/l of sugar is lightly worn. This is a seductive Grande Année, hard to resist in its youth but far from lacking gravitas and matière to secure a happy development.'
93 points, Drinking Window 2020 - 2030

The Bollinger house was founded in 1829 at Aÿ by Jospeh Bollinger. He married into the Villermont family so forming ownership links with their vineyards in Cuis. Jospeh Bollinger expanded the business and presided over the development of a new dryer style of chamoagne destined for the English and Amercian markets (1865-70). In World War 2 Lily Bollinger took control of the firm, subsequently acquiring in the post war years prime vineyards extending almost to the current level of holdings 178 hectares. Bollinger is therefore able to supply two thirds of its requirements for its champagne production. Most of the grapes for this Champagne (La Grande Année Brut 2007) came from Ghrand Cru vineyards, the smaller proportion from Premier Crus, only the best of the first pressings are used. The wine is fermented in small oak barrels to give greater complexity of flavour and to create optimum potential ageing, in this case a minimum of 5 years after it has been bottled. Every care is taken to acheive the highest quality, the reserve wines being kept in magnums to prevent oxidation. Since his arrival cellar master Mathieu Kauffmann has taken Bollinger champagne to even higher levels of excellence.