Bollinger 2005 La Grande Annee

• A great Grande Annee that is pure delight now
• Full-bodied, silky with complex aromas of fruit, nuts and nougat

We were thrilled with the La Grande Annee 2005, as it is now at its peak drinking window. It combines a silky palate, lush fruit of apple, lemon and even cherry with subtle walnut spice, nougat, hazelnut cream and great mineral freshness. It is now in a beautiful drinking window and will continue to improve, taking on the ripe aromas of chocolate, nougat, orange peel and dried apricots. However, it does not have the structure for decades of ageing and is more creamy and round than acidic.

93 Richard Juhlin champagneclub.com Aÿ and Verzenay are in full control. I love when Bollinger leaves the Pinot Noir in the driving seat like this. The sweet, flirty vintage is never really my cup of tea. But here it turns into an advantage. The classic hazelnuttyness becomes Sicilian pistachio and nougat, the dark cocoa notes turns into pure heavenly milk chocolate. Despite this obvious Nirvana of pleasure there is a great seriousness and sleeping animalistic power- Personaly I am so impressed that I consider the wine fully mature from the release. A great Bollinger vintage indeed.

750 mL

12.5

Champagne

Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

Sulphites

• Brut

France