007 Did not order this shaken (Bollinger in general)

Member Name: richard1952

Product:	Bollinger in general
Date:	29/08/02 (102 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good Quality, consistent

Disadvantages: Bit Pricey

The Champagne House of Bollinger was founded in 1829 and remains to this day a family concern. Although it ships over two million bottles a year, twice as much as it did just thirty years ago it remains true to its long commitment to quality. As well as being the favourite bubbly of eighties yuppies it was the favoured brand of that sixties icon James Bond 007. Could there be a connection?

Unusually amongst present day champagne houses Bollinger still produces 70 per cent of its grape requirements from its own vineyards. The vines grown are mostly Pinot Noir the Pinot Moret being dominant and some Chardonnay.

Bollinger produces six wines of which I am aware ( if you know of others let me know).

Bollinger Special Cuvée is the best known of their wines. It is produced from predominately Pinot Noir Grapes after pressing the juice or must is then fermented a first time in stainless steel tanks before being blended and bottled and undergoing a second fermentation. This is a full bodied wine with a biscuityalmond aroma, youthful and very lively in the mouth.

Bollinger Grand Année is only made on years when the harvest is of exceptional quality it is first fermented in small oak barrels before being blended with wines of the same vintage and then being bottled to undergo its second fermentation. It is a very similar wine to the Special Cuvée a bit more honeyed and fuller bodied with a longer finish. It is twice the price of the Special Cuvée but not twice as good.

Grand Année Rosé is made in a similar manner to the Grand Année but has ten per cent Red Champenois from the village of Ay added this gives a more fruity flavour with richness not found in the others and greater body.

Bollinger RD Basically the same as the Grand Année but is matured for eight years on the lees, this is said to give the wine a more youthful and fruity taste.

Vieilles Vignes Françaises This wine is made only from Pinot Noir grape
s grown on ungrafted vines from surviving pre phylloxera stock which are hand cultivated and hence the wine is very very expensive, I have never tasted this wine, in fact I have never seen a bottle.

Cote Aux Enfants is a red wine from Pinot Noir grapes grown on 70 acres of vineyards at Ay, the years when it is made very little is produced (1995 2300 bottles) it is said to be similar to the wines produced in the area hundreds of years ago. Unfortunately this is another wine I have not tried.

I hope that you found this interesting I am going to attempt to review all the major champagne houses over the next few weeks as long as my liver holds up.

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