Champagne Bollinger - La Grande Année 2018 (avec coffret)

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

The generosity and airy structure of this 2018 vintage give rise to a Grande Année that is immediately refined and rewarding, brimming with notes of white peach, toasted almond, sweet raspberry, and blackberry from the Pinot Noir, all underpinned by Bollinger’s signature flavor profile, with a hint of sea salt and a subtle iodine note. A subtle hint of apricot skin reflects the warmth of the vintage, while a gentle, tangy note of dried citrus from the Chardonnay lends dynamism to the whole. On the palate, it immediately offers substance and fruity richness, though it is less powerful than the 2015 vintage; it is perfectly balanced for enjoyment within its first five years, but will continue to age gracefully beyond that.

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.

Produced from a hot, dry growing season—particularly starting in mid-June—during which the harvest began as early as August 23 and spanned two full weeks, Bollinger’s “La Grande Année ” 2018, composed of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay, was disgorged in March 2025 with a dosage of six grams per liter. This wine has turned out very well given the context of this vintage, presenting—unsurprisingly—a fuller and more succulent profile than the racy and refined versions from 2014 and 2008. It opens up in the glass with aromas of peach, yellow apple, and orange zest mingled with notes of freshly baked bread and mango. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied, full-flavored and textured, with a generous fruity core, enlivened by a velvety mousse and imbued with a ripe yet vibrant acidity that carries through to a long finish. It is slightly more expressive in magnum format, but in both cases, it will benefit from a few years of aging after disgorgement to fully develop its character.

In great vintages like 2018, the wines check all the boxes: just the right level of ripeness, lovely texture, and strong aging potential.

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 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 for others to follow.

A sculptural champagne, with an acidity as delicate as porcelain that intertwines with the velvety texture of its effervescence and its subtle nuances. It serves as an elegant springboard for successive notes of white cherry, applesauce, and brioche, enhanced by a fragrant touch of shredded coconut, roasted cumin, anise, acacia blossom, and mandarin peel. A hint of salted toasted almond adds a subtle yet rich and lingering finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged in March 2025. Best enjoyed now through 2046.

A warm, sunny growing season, with the harvest beginning in August. An “iconic” vintage, according to the house. A heady nose with Pinot aromas, relatively rich, followed by a lively, flavorful palate that is very “Bollinger.” Bursting with energy! Very lively and full of vibrancy. Already very pleasant to drink, even though it’s clearly destined to develop further. In magnum format, the wine was tighter and even more refined. For Managing Director Charles-Armand de Belenet, the 2018 has a spring-like character, unlike Bollinger’s more typically autumnal blends.

Bollinger’s Grande Année 2018 is a thoroughly charming and delicate wine. Floral and citrus notes come through elegantly in this cuvée, which offers remarkable sensuality and grace. Notes of orchard fruits, chamomile, mint, and chalk develop on the mid-palate, leading to a taut and finely chiseled finish. The wine displays beautiful energy and great precision. Most importantly, it is a fine achievement for a year marked by high yields in Champagne. I would let it age in the cellar for a few years.

Aromas of quince, damp stones, roasted apples, praline, wilted rose petals, yellow plums, and acacia. The mousse is creamy and fine-textured, leading to a captivating, briny finish. A beautiful expression of Bollinger. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged in October 2025. Dosage of 6 g/L. Ready to drink or for aging.