2002 Bollinger Grande Année
(6x75cl)
| Product Code: | 35416102 |
| Description: | 2002 Bollinger Grande Année |
| Case Size: | 6x75cl |
| Producer: | Bollinger |
| Region: | Champagne |
| Country: | France |
| Alc. By Vol.: | 12 |
Grape Varieties
| 70% | Pinot Noir |
| 30% | Chardonnay |
Food Matching Note:
Best enjoyed on its own as a digestif or dessert, however also fantastic with dishes such as these: steamed fish fillets with scallion-ginger oil, grilled asparagus with saffron aioli.
Tasting Note:
Big and powerful, this Champagne emits a pine aroma initially, exhibiting fine concentration and complexity. Rich, with some honey, nut and toast flavours, it has enough acidity to keep it lively and fresh. Typically 'Bollinger' style of concentrated, complex layers and a soft finish.
Vinification Note:
The House of Bollinger only produces vintage champagnes in exceptional years, when the grapes have reached a perfect quality and maturity with a perfect balance between the acids and sugars. Hence the denomination "Grande Année" given to this champagne which, unlike the "Special Cuvée", is only produced from grapes of that particular harvest. The grape supply comes only from grands crus and premiers crus vineyards of Champagne, 16 different crus are used in the assemblage of the Grande Année, 75 % from grands crus and 25 % from premiers crus. These were mainly from the villages of Aÿ, Bouzy, Louvois, Verzenay, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Mesnil s/Oger, Oger, Cuis, Cramant and Chouilly.
Detailed Vinification Note:
The House of Bollinger only produces vintage champagnes in exceptional years, when the grapes have reached a perfect quality and maturity with a perfect balance between the acids and sugars. Hence the denomination "Grande Année" given to this champagne which, unlike the "Special Cuvée", is only produced from grapes of that particular harvest. The Bollinger Grande Année remains, however, a blended wine from crus and grape varieties. In this sense it too carries the expression of the House style. However, in this case, the style is also dependent on the characteristics of the given vintage. It is the best wine Bollinger can produce in an individual year by exposing its particular character.The grape supply comes only from grands crus and premiers crus vineyards of Champagne, 16 different crus are used in the assemblage of the Grande Année, 75 % from grands crus and 25 % from premiers crus. These were mainly from the villages of Aÿ, Bouzy, Louvois, Verzenay, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Mesnil s/Oger, Oger, Cuis, Cramant and Chouilly. The first fermentation was done in small oak casks (205, 225 and 410 litres), lot by lot, cru by cru, grape variety by grape variety. This allows Bollinger to use a very strict selection process. Bollinger only uses old casks (5 years old or older) to ensure that neither tannin nor oak flavours are imparted to the wines. This method increases both the aromatic complexity and the ageing capacity of such wines. After bottling, the second fermentation and the ageing in the cellars, is done using a real cork stopper, which ensures a better barrier against oxidization than the crown cap. This process, quite unique in champagne, is a guarantee of freshness and allows the aromas to keep their bouquet and clearness. After disgorging by hand, Grande Année rests for a minimum of 3 months before shipping. This is necessary for the wine to assimilate the "liqueur d'expédition" and recover from the shock created by disgorgement.