Bollinger La Grande Annee 2008
Bollinger Special Cuvée 8% off
Bollinger has always been part of the small elite of Champagne houses dedicated entirely to quality. Their philosophy and methods are so spot-on that they are still followed today. Bollinger focuses on the body, power, and complexity of Pinot Noir. Chardonnay, often from cool vineyards, is used to improve the acid structure. The house does not follow the Blanc de Blancs trend. The house was founded in 1829 by Joseph Bollinger from Würtenberg, known in France as Jacques. His sons purchased vineyards in the best locations on a large scale. Today, the estate owns 178 hectares. Grapes are also purchased for the Special Cuvée.
For a long time, Bollinger produced only two champagnes: the non-vintage, called Special Cuvée since 1911, and the vintage, last produced in 1982. From 1983 onward, the vintage was called Grande Année. In 1997, the article was used: La Grande Année.
In the 1960s, Lily Bollinger had the unusual idea of combining the elegant maturity of an older vintage, where the fruit was already fading into the background, with the vibrant freshness of a freshly disgorged Champagne. In 1967, three RD vintages were released simultaneously due to limited availability: The 1952 vintage was released in England, Bollinger's most important market. The 1953 vintage was reserved for France and Switzerland, while the 1955 vintage was released in the USA and Italy. A Rose NV was added in 2008. The first Grande Annee Rose was released in 1985.
The Bollinger style is characterized by the ripeness and power of the Pinot Noir from the southern Reims Mountains. Aÿ and Bouzy are among the most famous sites. However, emphasis is placed on mineral, cooler Pinot Noir terroirs such as Verzenay, which are also present in the cuvée.
Aging in used oak barrels adds complexity. Bollinger focuses less on fruit and more on nutty, chocolatey flavors. Recently, however, cellar master Dennis Bunner has been using wood somewhat differently. The long lees aging results in a silky palate and a very fine perlage.
Dennis Bunner is a terroir fan. Following on from Vieilles Vignes Francaises, he's launching a Terroir Series PN, which also consists exclusively of Pinot Noir. While no single vineyard dominates here, a region changes from edition to edition. It's fascinating to observe how this affects the style.