The House of Bollinger only produces vintage champagnes in exceptional years, when the grapes have reached a perfect quality and maturity with a perfect balance between the acids and sugars. Hence the denomination "Grande Année" given to this champagne which, unlike the "Special Cuvée", is only produced from grapes of that particular harvest.
The House of Bollinger only produces vintage champagnes in exceptional years, when the grapes have reached a perfect quality and maturity with a perfect balance between the acids and sugars. Hence the denomination "La Grande Année" given to this champagne which, unlike the "Special Cuvée", is only produced from grapes of that particular harvest.
What we think of it: an exceptional cuvée, with notes of orange west, cashew nuts and mushrooms. A very nice crisp acidity and a very fine, tingling mousse alongside the rather expansive flavours that match the nose, although they are very firmly packaged in by the beautiful, laser-precision structure of the wine. This is gorgeous, fresh, very typical of the Bollinger style, with a very long finish.
Sold as seen.
Why is Grande Année so special?
La Grande Année is the embodiment of the carefully preserved traditional expertise of the Bollinger Champagne House. The wine is therefore exclusively vinified in small aged oak barrels.
Champagne Bollinger has never abandoned this traditional craft method, which helps develop aromas of great finesse. After a prolonged ageing on its lees, even today every bottle of La Grande Année is riddled and disgorged by hand.