- 1996 and 2008 are the greatest Grand Années
- A powerhouse that will last almost forever
Grande Annee 1996 - a legendary champagne that every champagne lover should taste
1996 is the last vintage in which Bollinger's vintage champagne is called ‘Grande Annee’. It later became ‘La Grande Annee’. Despite the fabulous 2008 and many great Grande Annees to date, 1996 is still the most powerful, most concentrated vintage of this wine, which first came onto the market with the 1983 vintage. Today it is even more impressive than the 1996 RD, which is still closed. The Grande Annee 1996 is delicious today, but not yet at its peak. We are not alone in our opinion that this is the best Bollinger you can drink today.
The 1996 vintage in Champagne is considered an exceptional year
1996 is characterised by a unique combination of high ripeness and exceptionally high acidity. This is a rare constellation, often referred to as ‘10/10’ (10 % potential alcohol at 10 g/l acidity). This was made possible by a warm summer with cool nights and northerly winds in September, which preserved freshness while promoting impressive phenolic ripeness. For many winemakers, the strong acidity posed a challenge, but those who utilised the potential correctly were able to produce wines with great depth, structure and remarkable longevity.
