Champagne Bollinger - La Grande Année 2015 - Coffret bois

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

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 created 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 derive from the dominant cru in the blend, which varies each year. All of the house’s wines shine at the table.

Decanter

About the wine:

An early vintage for La Grande Année, with a distinct warmth in its notes of toasted orange, Comice pear, and mirabelle plum, all polished by a sense of savory maturity that is quintessentially Bollinger. The influence of oxygen seems slightly more pronounced than in the 2014, with notes of brine, nuts, and dried leaves that go well beyond the fruit. The 2015’s pleasantly chewy texture is present, but the mousse is supple and the Chardonnay rounds out the wine with a subtle hint of cooked lemon. This wine will begin to show its best integration starting in 2025, though it is ready to drink now. 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from the Montagne de Reims, Grande Vallée de la Marne, and Côte des Blancs, all fermented in small oak barrels and disgorged in May 2023 after seven years on the lees.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay from 1er and Grand Cru vineyards, aged in oak, resulting in a vintage brut aged nearly 10 years under cork, riddled and disgorged by hand. A superb patina: deep golden color, a nose of plum, apple brandy, almond, marzipan, lime, and toasted sesame; full-bodied on the palate with elegance, powerful, rich, and long, with aromas of yuzu, candied fruit, and Tarte Tatin, with a hint of cocoa bitterness revealing the oak. Classy.

About the estate:

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 led 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 ensures the preservation of its style, based on expert blends of wines vinified separately in oak barrels (reused to avoid overpowering oak) 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 succeeded six cellar masters in 2013.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

Among the expressions of this superb Champagne vintage, “La Grande Année” displays a rare elegance. From the very first whiff, one is charmed by aromas of leather, roasted pineapple, stewed apple, yellow peach pulp, and sweet spices (cinnamon, vanilla, turmeric, cardamom). This aromatic delight continues on the palate with a creamy texture full of energy, combining balance and power. Notes of ripe yellow and white fruits emerge, yet without excess. The bubbles contribute to the wine’s dynamism, which builds in intensity as the tasting progresses, leading to a deep, chalky, and salty finish—highly salivating, with great length and persistence.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2015 Brut La Grande Année was disgorged last year with a dosage of eight grams per liter. The wine has turned out to be magnificent, displaying a more robust, old-school Bollinger profile, in contrast to the exceptionally racy and delicately daring 2014 that preceded it. The wine opens with notes of pear, orange blossom, and white flowers mingled with hints of mocha, toasted hazelnuts, and fino sherry. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied, layered and textured, with a dense core of fruit framed by a structuring, chalky extract, and finishes with a long, savory finish.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

This estate produced one of the finest vintages of 2015, completely avoiding the pitfall of the "plant of the year" trend. La Grande Année boasts superb fullness, vigor, its characteristic vinous richness, and a long, chalky finish.

About the estate:

If there is one brand with a strong personality and a highly recognizable style, it is Bollinger. This family-owned house in Aÿ produces wines dominated by Pinot Noir—full-bodied, deep, and subtly aged. Bollinger’s history is incredibly rich. A benchmark house, always at the forefront of innovation. The aging potential 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 of excellence.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

A blend of 11 vineyards, 79% Grand Cru and 21% Premier Cru, with a predominance of 60% Pinot Noir from Verzenay, Aÿ, and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, and 40% Chardonnay from Chouilly and Avize. All the wines were fermented in oak and hand-pressed. Disgorged in June 2023. Dosage 8 g/l. Medium straw color. Very deep nose. Some richness and only the beginning of the mushroom-like flavor characteristic of Bollinger, which should develop over time. The palate is lighter than the nose at the moment. It is currently a bit livelier than some of the Great Vintages.

Vinous

James Suckling

About the wine:

Alluring, fragrant aromas of toast, lemon zest, and earthy, smoky notes lead to a palate featuring subtle flavors of Bosc pear, mango, papaya, and even pineapple. Supported by fresh acidity on the medium-bodied palate, the wine continues to unfold with notes of toasted nuts, honey, and a hint of bitter marmalade. The palate is full-bodied, vibrant with acidity, and full of finesse. Drink now or celller.

Jeb Dunnuck