Bollinger 2012 Grande Annee

The 2012 vintage is a picture-perfect Grande Annee: concentrated, full-bodied, with a silky palate but mineral tension and racy acidity. However, it is also finer and less oxidative. With amber, hazelnut, and dried apricot, the elements of micro-oxidation dominate the discreet apple fruit. Smoky, spicy Pinot Noir aromas are also present. With six years on the lees, it was released quite early. It is fresher, even more mineral and slightly less oxidative than many of its predecessors.

La Grande Annee is a cuvée of 65% Pinot Noir, mainly from Ay and Verzenay, and 35% Chardonnay, mainly from Mesnil sur Oger and Oiry. The 2012 vintage is one of those rare years that combine perfect ripeness of the grapes with high acidity levels. 2012 wines are often surprisingly good to drink already. With La Grande Annee, it is worth waiting another five years or so.

95(94) As you know, I love the magical moment when I get the chance, as the first journalist, to lighten the cork of the latest vintage of Bollinger La Grande Année. We have been spoiled by a trend where these beauties were released later and later. In other words, more drinkable and mature than before. The most recent legendary vintage of 2008 was admittedly extremely youthful at launch despite its high actual age. Since neither 2009, 2010 nor 2011 was considered to be a big year at the discerning Aÿ house, 2012 is thus released at the age of 7.5. It should probably be a good age to drink a wine made in a consciously oxidative style on old oak barrels, but despite its great wealth and delicious aromatic profile, I advise you to put every bottle in the cellar between 5-10 years for the greatest possible enjoyment. The wine is made from 21 villages with Aÿ and Verzenay in the driver's seat backed by elegance from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oiry. The wine is characterized by vitality and energy more than depth at present. The color has a brilliant golden glow and the mousse is almost panting in its resilient youthfulness. The scent is beautifully house typical, dominated by apricot, almond, hazelnut and a smoky sophisticated intensity as from a newly lit outdoor fire. The attack is stunningly intense and the weight in the oral cavity leaves nothing left to wish for. Resilient energy and fullness are combined with greatness, but the aftertaste is so far a little too one-tracked fresh. Here I am waiting for the final acids should be accompanied by deeper



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750 mL

12.5

Champagne

Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

Sulphites

• Extra Brut

France

Champagne Bollinger, 20 Boulevard Maréchal de Lattre, 51160 Aÿ, France