Champagne Bollinger - Brut Grande Année 2007

A very winey style, perfect for the table—a great vintage that is, ultimately, very classic in the winery’s traditional style.

A prestigious traditional house based in Aÿ since 1829, Bollinger remains at the very pinnacle of Champagne. Its 178-hectare vineyard, comprising Grand Crus and Premiers Crus, provides 60% of its supply. All vintage wines are vinified in barrels, as is a small portion of the house’s multi-vintage brut, the Special Cuvée. This cuvée benefits from a high proportion of reserve wines stored in magnums, ensuring unparalleled precision in the blends. In recent years, the house has been creating exciting new cuvées: a “blanc de noir” from Aÿ sourced from the Côte aux Enfants parcel, which also produces a superb Coteau Champenois. And Pinot Noir cuvées whose names are derived from the dominant cru in the blend, which varies each year. All of the house’s wines shine at the table.

“A perfect nose, in my opinion!” wrote one taster after sniffing this pale gold champagne with its fine, persistent effervescence. The jury praised the clarity and intensity of its aromas of ripe fruit, dried fruit, and roasted and toasty notes. Perfectly balanced on the palate, it captivates with the delicacy of its flavors, which are both ripe and fresh. The oak, noticeable yet perfectly integrated, contributes to the sense of harmony that this wine exudes.

A renowned house founded in 1829 by Joseph Bollinger, a wine merchant originally from Württemberg. It has remained a family-owned business, although since 2008 it has been chaired by someone from outside the family (Charles-Armand de Belenet since 2017). With a 179-hectare vineyard dominated by Pinot Noir (60%) and its own cooperage, the house is committed to maintaining its signature style, based on expert blends of wines vinified separately in oak barrels (reused to avoid overpowering oak notes) and in small-capacity tanks. As for the reserve wines, they are stored in magnums under “petite mousse.” Bottling is done with cork stoppers, and the wines undergo extended aging on the lees. Gilles Descôtes joined the company in 2003 and, in 2013, succeeded six cellar masters.

Disgorged in March 2017, Bollinger’s 2007 Grande Année is brilliant, offering a superb bouquet of lemon oil, candied citrus, marzipan, iodine, nuts, and freshly baked bread. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, with broad shoulders and power in what is often a slender vintage. It has excellent concentration, a deep, tight body, and a precise, chalky finish.

It is beginning to develop, with a supple, creamy, and well-rounded palate. Nice finish.

If there’s one brand with a strong personality and a highly recognizable style, it’s Bollinger. This house in Aÿ, which remains family-owned, produces wines dominated by Pinot Noir—full-bodied, deep, and subtly aged. Bollinger’s history is incredibly rich. It is a leading house that is always at the forefront of innovation. The longevity of its older vintages attests to this commitment to excellence, passed down from generation to generation. The character and richness of these fine dining champagnes remain a model for others to follow.