The producer
Bollinger has made amazing steps to improve their wines over the last twenty years or more. These changes start in their large vineyard holdings in the communes surrounding their base in Ay. With a wealth of Grand and Premier Cru vineyards in the most respected villages, and a dominance of Pinot Noir in all their wines, all the elements are in place for something very special.
100% of vintage and reserve wines are barrel-fermented, which adds texture, complexity, and balance. NV wines have a minimum of three years on lees and vintage wines now at least eight years. Bollinger is a house continually on the move.
The wine
Produced predominantly from Pinot Noir from the Grand Cru villages of Ay and Verzenay with Chardonnay variously from the best Cote de Blancs villages of Avize, Mesnil and Cramant. Fermented and aged in barrels until botting after eight years, La Grande Annee achieves a richly textured, finely mineral-infused complexity that increases with further bottle age.