Bollinger Grande Annee 1996

1996 is the last vintage in which Bollinger's vintage Champagne was called "Grande Année". From then on it became "La Grande Année". Despite the fabulous 2008 and many other great Grande Années, to this day 1996 remains the most powerful and concentrated vintage of this wine, which first appeared on the market with the 1983 vintage.

Compared to the very different 1995 and after the fully developed 1985, it is today the most impressive Grande Année. The Grande Année 1996 is delicious, but still not at its peak. We are not alone in our opinion that this is the best Bollinger one can drink today.

The 1996 vintage in Champagne is considered exceptional

1996 is characterized by a unique combination of high ripeness and exceptionally high acidity. This is a rare constellation, often described as “10/10” (10% potential alcohol with 10 g/l acidity). This was made possible by a warm summer with cool nights and north winds in September, which preserved freshness while promoting impressive phenolic ripeness. For many winemakers the strong acidity was a challenge, but those who harnessed its potential correctly were able to produce wines with great depth, structure and remarkable longevity.