Bollinger Champagne – Refined Pinot Noir Power at Alfavin

The historic Champagne house Bollinger has stood for power, precision, and complexity since 1829. Known for its fermentation in oak barrels and full-bodied style, Bollinger produces structured, deeply expressive Champagnes with unmistakable character. In the heart of the Montagne de Reims, where the southern hills meet the Marne Valley, lies Aÿ – the historic home of the house.

Aÿ has been famous for its great Pinot Noirs for centuries – wines once as highly prized at the French royal court as the finest Burgundies. The Pinot Noirs from Aÿ are rich, ripe, and powerful – qualities that founder Jacques Bollinger balanced with cooler Pinot Noir Grands Crus and the mineral-driven, high-acid Chardonnays from the Côte des Blancs to create perfectly harmonious cuvées.

The Bollinger Style – Expression of Terroir and Traditional Craftsmanship

Vineyards and Grape Varieties

Bollinger owns nearly 170 hectares of vineyards – exceptional by Champagne standards. This vineyard estate covers almost the entire production; only the Special Cuvée includes purchased grapes. The La Grande Année cuvée draws fruit from 18 villages: about 70% Pinot Noir from Aÿ, Verzenay, and Louvois, and 29% Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant. Through strict pruning and selective harvesting, Bollinger achieves the concentration and body that define its signature style. The Chardonnays provide freshness and lift – a perfect counterpoint to the depth of the Pinot Noirs.

Vinification, Ageing, and Bottling

Only the first pressing is used for the La Grande Année; the second pressing is sold off. After cold clarification, the base wines are fermented in four-year-old oak barrels – avoiding harsh tannins while adding texture and depth. The malolactic fermentation is neither blocked nor forced; it depends on natural bacterial activity in each barrel. Every parcel is vinified separately, and only the finest wines are selected for blending. The bottles mature on the lees for eight to nine years, occasionally seven in younger vintages. Dosage is restrained at 5–8 g/L, maintaining a dry, elegant profile.

The R.D. (Récemment Dégorgé) is an identical blend to La Grande Année but spends 13 to 15 years on the lees, gaining even greater depth and complexity. The Special Cuvée is made in a slightly more modern style and is described separately below.

The Bollinger Signature – Pinot Noir Power Meets Complexity and Freshness

Bollinger Champagnes are dominated by concentrated Pinot Noir from top Grand Cru vineyards. Barrel fermentation adds subtle oxidative notes reminiscent of walnut and ripe apple, evolving with age into aromas of nougat, roasted hazelnut, flint, dried apricot, and orange zest. Extended lees ageing ensures a fine, creamy mousse and a rich, vinous texture. The hallmark of Bollinger is its balance – power and precision framed by freshness and minerality. Even early on, Jacques Bollinger sought cooler sites in Verzenay and mineral Chardonnays from the Côte des Blancs to maintain harmony and finesse.

Under current cellar master Dennis Brunner, the style has become slightly fresher and more refined, with less oxidative influence and brighter fruit definition – especially notable in La Grande Année 2015, reminiscent of the legendary 1976 vintage.

The Great Bollinger Cuvées at Alfavin

La Grande Année – Expression of an Exceptional Vintage

The first vintage labeled Grande Année was released in 1976; since the 1990 vintage, it has carried the full name La Grande Année. Despite its title, it is not produced every year – only when the harvest reaches Bollinger’s exacting standards. Even in lighter years like 2007, it retains remarkable structure and intensity. In hotter years, the challenge is preserving freshness – hence no La Grande Année was produced in 2006. Each bottle ages at least seven years on the lees, is hand-riddled, and manually disgorged.

Bollinger R.D. – Récemment Dégorgé: The Art of Extended Lees Ageing

The Bollinger R.D. is one of the house’s most iconic Champagnes. Created by Lily Bollinger in the 1960s, it was a bold innovation: combining the mature depth of an aged vintage with the vibrancy of a recently disgorged wine. In 1967, three R.D. vintages were launched simultaneously – the 1952 for England, the 1953 for France and Switzerland, and the 1955 for the USA and Italy. R.D. is based on the same blend as La Grande Année but matured longer on its lees, resulting in one of the most complex and ageworthy Champagnes in the world.

The PN Series – A Tribute to Pinot Noir

With the PN Series, Bollinger showcases the diversity and depth of its Pinot Noir heritage. Each edition – such as PN VZ15 (Verzenay 2015), PN AYC18 (Aÿ 2018), or PN VZ19 – highlights a specific terroir and base vintage. These Champagnes combine purity and fruit intensity with subtle spice and freshness. They mature faster than La Grande Année but deliver impressive precision and energy in their youth.

Bollinger Special Cuvée

The Special Cuvée is Bollinger’s signature non-vintage Champagne – a full-bodied, complex Brut dominated by Pinot Noir (around 60%), blended with 25% Chardonnay and 15% Meunier. It is rich and structured, showing Bollinger’s hallmark notes of toast, hazelnut, and ripe fruit. Around 20% of the grapes come from Bollinger’s own Grand and Premier Cru vineyards. Reserve wines aged in magnums add remarkable depth. The dosage, around 6–7 g/L, places it at the drier end of the Brut spectrum, maintaining elegance and freshness.

Tradition, Craftsmanship, and Sustainability

Bollinger remains dedicated to handcrafted winemaking. Its in-house cooperage, fermentation in oak barrels, and manual riddling are rare in Champagne today and reflect a deep respect for tradition. The estate’s 170 hectares of vineyards, many in Grand and Premier Cru villages, ensure self-sufficiency and consistency at the highest level.

Commitment to sustainability is central to the Bollinger philosophy. The house protects biodiversity, preserves old vines, and practices eco-friendly viticulture. This respect for nature and tradition is evident in every bottle.

Bollinger at Alfavin – Buy Great Cuvées Online

At Alfavin, you can discover a curated selection of Bollinger Champagne – from La Grande Année and R.D. to the modern PN Series. Each bottle reflects patience, precision, and craftsmanship. For collectors and lovers of structured, Pinot Noir–driven Champagne, Bollinger remains an essential reference.

Explore the full range at Alfavin.de and experience the depth and elegance of this legendary Champagne house – whether for immediate enjoyment or long-term cellaring. Bollinger Champagne embodies power, balance, and finesse.

Conclusion – Bollinger: The Art of Time

Few Champagne houses use time as an ingredient as masterfully as Bollinger. From the mature complexity of R.D. to the precision of La Grande Année and the vitality of the PN Series, every Bollinger Champagne expresses consistency, depth, and character. It is Champagne for connoisseurs who seek not only bubbles, but soul, history, and expression.

At Alfavin, you can buy Bollinger Champagne online and enjoy the timeless craftsmanship of one of Champagne’s greatest names.