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2002 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Annee #172356688
750ml
11 In Stock
11 In Stock
Reviews 94 points Wine Advocate "...caresses the palate with layers of effortless, weightless fruit. The mousse is exceptionally fine, which adds to the impression of total elegance. This is a relatively bright, floral Grande Annee with plenty of aromatic lift, inner perfume and no sense of heaviness at all. A rich, creamy finish adds the final note of complexity and pedigree. (AG)" 93 points John Gilman "The bouquet wafts from the glass in a mature blend of apple, peach, lovely soil tones, a touch of honeycomb, warm biscuits and a fair bit of smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core, elegant mousse, crisp acids and lovely length and grip on the wide open and classy finish. (JG)"
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About Bollinger
Bollinger, an esteemed Champagne producer, prides itself on the painstakingly crafted, innovative range of sparkling wines. After the untimely passing of Jacques Bollinger, his widow, Lily, took charge, developing the house's distinctively luxurious Champagne Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut. With the "R.D." standing for "recently disgorged," the wine is a blend of vintage Champagnes, carefully disgorged by hand to preserve the freshness of old vintages, something that sets Bollinger apart from other producers.
Lily Bollinger's legacy also includes the establishment of Vieilles Vignes Françaises, an old-vine cuvée birthed in two phylloxera-untouched vineyards, Clos Saint-Jacques and Clos Chaudes-Terres. Here, the rare provignage layering method is practiced, ensuring an authentic taste of Champagnes now lost to history.
Unlike most Champagne houses that have switched to stainless steel for aging, Bollinger maintains traditional oak barrel aging, housing over 4,000 barrels, some over a century old, sourced from Burgundy. This practice offers a unique, sweet aromatic complexity to their Champagnes.
In another distinctive approach, Bollinger bottles its finest reserves in magnums, allowing them to age on cellar shelves. These wines undergo a secondary fermentation before bottling and add to the collection of over 800,000 magnums in Bollinger's cellar, subsequently used for their Special Cuvée release.
A significant feature of Bollinger wines is the high percentage of Pinot Noir, comprising around 60% of their blends, despite only making up 38% of the region's total grape cultivation. This inclusion is reflected in their Special Cuvée release.
Another noteworthy offering is the Grande Année Cuvee, a vintage Champagne blending 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay. This cuvée is only produced in years of exceptional harvest. After extended aging on its lees, every bottle of La Grande Année is riddled and disgorged by hand.
These intricate processes and practices distinctly define Bollinger as a Champagne house dedicated to preserving tradition while continually pursuing excellence.
Lily Bollinger's legacy also includes the establishment of Vieilles Vignes Françaises, an old-vine cuvée birthed in two phylloxera-untouched vineyards, Clos Saint-Jacques and Clos Chaudes-Terres. Here, the rare provignage layering method is practiced, ensuring an authentic taste of Champagnes now lost to history.
Unlike most Champagne houses that have switched to stainless steel for aging, Bollinger maintains traditional oak barrel aging, housing over 4,000 barrels, some over a century old, sourced from Burgundy. This practice offers a unique, sweet aromatic complexity to their Champagnes.
In another distinctive approach, Bollinger bottles its finest reserves in magnums, allowing them to age on cellar shelves. These wines undergo a secondary fermentation before bottling and add to the collection of over 800,000 magnums in Bollinger's cellar, subsequently used for their Special Cuvée release.
A significant feature of Bollinger wines is the high percentage of Pinot Noir, comprising around 60% of their blends, despite only making up 38% of the region's total grape cultivation. This inclusion is reflected in their Special Cuvée release.
Another noteworthy offering is the Grande Année Cuvee, a vintage Champagne blending 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay. This cuvée is only produced in years of exceptional harvest. After extended aging on its lees, every bottle of La Grande Année is riddled and disgorged by hand.
These intricate processes and practices distinctly define Bollinger as a Champagne house dedicated to preserving tradition while continually pursuing excellence.