Bollinger, La Grande Annee

Another superb bottle of this. One of the very best Grande Années I can remember. So bright, fresh, tense, mineral-driven, but with the Bollinger richness and complexity. Love this.

2014 vintage

Starting to show a little bit of age and weight. Bready, almost like doughy. Still retaining acidity and crispness. Some citrus, but also light red berry fruit. Not as good as the sublime 2004 I had a few years ago, but then again, nothing is. This is an excellent grand Année. I just hope I can keep my hands off the remaining two for a few years.

2014 vintage

Remembered this going down a storm on Mother's Day 2024, so an easy choice to open with our sashimi lunch. Much developed from that bottle (and another later in 2024), with obvious markers of maturity: deeper, less bright gold; as much savoury interest (sourdough?) as fruit; relaxed perlage. Pleasingly dense and interestingly saline. Bone-dry and food-friendly. Could be more elegant and complex, but I would happily drink a bottle every weekend.

2014 vintage

Still young. Tart green apples. Easy drinking crowd pleaser.

2014 vintage

Scent: spring, summer, bread, light nuttiness, light citrus. On almost empty glass you feel very much nut and bread. Taste: citrus, mineral, light bread, dry sweet red apples, green apples, chalk, perhaps waterish light pear. Good and yummy flavours of yellow stone fruits, mineral and bread in the background. I wished for more boquette tough to push it up to 94 points. A very easy to drink clean and semi fresh bottle. Will only be better in the future for …

2014 vintage

Absolutely delicious champagne.

2014 vintage

PNP, creamy lemon with bright acidity & minimal bread notes; outstanding, drink or prefrably hold

2014 vintage

In a great drinking spot now. Energetic mineral deep and juicy.

2014 vintage

Light yellow color, light perlage. Nice yeasty nose with hints of citrus. Nice body, toast, brioche, mandarin orange, lemon zest - very elegant. This particular bottle had oaky ending with some aged notes - uncharacteristic for a 2014 at this point, but it actually made the bottle taste a bit older, which was a bonus (I bought this at an auction, and from the cork I suspect it was not stored properly). Very good as expected.

2014 vintage

Fantastic bottle, way better than the 2015. White flower, orange peel and blackberry. Super long and complex. Loved it

2014 vintage

The reviews weren't kidding when they said the higher Verzenay pinots in here (over Ay) brings about the sea breeze, oyster shells and iodine. Beautiful. Brings finesse to this cuvee which in some vintages can feel overly burly. Many 2014 champagnes are too light for me. Not this, it's still a Bolly after all. This also has more Chardonnay than typical at 40% (usually 30%). Yum.

2014 vintage

Champagne or Burgundy from year of the Horse (Sonder) : Blind, citrus, saline, touch of honey, dosage a little high, full body. Surprising lean for a BdN.

2014 vintage

Compared to the 2015, this is all about the texture and tension. Reminds me more of the B13/B16 with all the energy it brings to the table. The fruit is leaning more towards the lemon/bergamot spectrum here rather than the ripe plums and orchard fruit in 2015. It has a long finish with a saline edge to it. A different experience, but just as delicious!

2014 vintage

Brioche and toasted notes with a touch too much acidity at this point. Worked well throughout meal.

2014 vintage

Another spectacular bottle of this, similar to my last tasting note. I love the precision, complexity and tension here. One of the greatest Grande Années I can remember.

2014 vintage

Deep golden color ripe pineapple exotic fruits some red berries and ripe apples. Full bodied with perfectly balanced acidity and super length

2014 vintage

Fine brisk bead, complex noise, with apple, quince,brioche et al round mouth feel beautiful finish perfectly balanced Paired well with fennel, citrus and shellfish

2014 vintage

Aging gracefully. Starting to hit peak drinking for my tastes. I tend to like the primary linear focus for most champagnes versus the aged flavors. Great mousse and intensity. really a joy to drink.

2014 vintage

A study of contradictions. On the nose, this wine whispers loudly with aromas of delicate powerhouse brioche and lemon curd. There’s an unmistakable hint of humble superiority in the yeast-driven complexity. The palate is seriously playful—a refined brutishness that dances across the tongue with grace. Flavors of bitter sweetness emerge, showcasing ripe apples and toasted almonds. The mousse is aggressively gentle, creating a smoothness that’s both planned spontaneity and controlled wildness. Mid-palate brings an austere opulence, a peasant luxury that …

2014 vintage

Really great! Fresh but complex, with some little sweetness

2014 vintage

Dinner with Don: Lopez de Heredia (Siggy & Jennie's Place, Mpls, MN) : Light gold color. Drank a glass over over 30 minutes. Well I can't believe the last bottle of this was on NYD, almost a year ago now, and from magnum. This bottle, while not a mag, was in fine form and surely mindful of that experience. Still really bright, filled with Chantilly cream, vanilla pastry, apple, lemon chiffon, brisk and taut with fine chalk and excellent tension …

2014 vintage

Quite a bit of butteriness on this guy along with green and yellow apple. Some citrus. I tend to prefer champagne with bigger brioche, bready, and yeasty notes and while this did have some of that character it was quite fruit-forward. There was complexity but a lot of it was more nuanced than I’m used to from champagnes of this caliber/price point.

2005 vintage

2 of 12… Light yellow color, modest mousse, nice brioche and honey notes. Good acidity and minerals keep this fresh and energetic. Very complete glass of bubbles in early early drinking window. Should get better with 5 mire years in the cellar.

2014 vintage

Rating: 4,4/5,0.

2014 vintage

Flotte integrerede bobler! Duft af vådt rugbrød, gær, modne æbler og lidt sødt. Skøn syre. Smag af gær, lidt rådne æbler, surt rugbrød og en anelse sødme. Stor oplevelse

2014 vintage

Very smooth drinking. Very tasty. It started with toasty nose. Fruits were light, subtle, and lovely.

2014 vintage

Incredibly complex on the nose and the palette. Brioche notes hit you hard. Long finish. Highly recommend.

2005 vintage

Golden hue. Fairly sanguine mousse. Rich, ripe apples and canned pear aromas. On the palate, poached pear, golden apple and and yeast. Signature oxidative style. This is giving a lot of pleasure and is wide open. This was a nice wedding anniversary treat. 94

2005 vintage

This has continued on an upwards trajectory after more than 10 years in my cellar. I'm not sure it can improve from here, it just feels in perfect harmony, baked apple fruit with subtle spice, rounded with rich brioche, and a deep complexity.

2005 vintage

Fattened up substantially since the last time i had it. This is near or at peak maturity for the style and relative to my palate.

2005 vintage

Deep gold with deep apple pie flavors, but obvious ripeness and more oxidative character than I personally care for. However it was the favorite of another experienced taster at the table so it's not a total goner.

2005 vintage

My friend thought this was a little too oxidatve. I didn't think so. There is a lovely patina from this warm vintage but it stays balanced with the acidity and rich palate. Long, aromatic finish.

2005 vintage

I think perhaps because my cellar got very hot last year (now temperature controlled) this was the last bottle and it was distinctly tired. Poured it down the drain

2005 vintage

Méo-Camuzet Dinner (Noizé, London) : Golden coloured in a rich oxidative style. Old school but pleasing.

2005 vintage

Yeasty nose with lemon and brioche. Dry, toasty palate with crackling, zesty bubbles and flowers. The mousse is barely seen buy still delivers action. Finish includes quince, green apple, and kiwi paired with hazelnut with the citrus acidity appearing at the end. Starts slow in the mouth but ultimately delivers.

2005 vintage

From jeroboam. Plenty of fine bubbles, although did not persist that long after pouring. On palate full and vinuous - not the most complex but enjoyed by all.

2005 vintage

Nose: Brioche, apricot, hints of steel, creme brulee, crispy pear, hints of water chestnut, red apple Notes: 6g dosage. Drank from a magnum, disgorged Oct 2014. Still quite fresh and vibrant and in a very good condition. I'd say that there's a good balance of everything here with a delicate nose which is complex and well integrated. While this is drinking nicely now I would say the prime time is still a couple of years away - I'm guessing another …

2005 vintage

Deep golden color. Intense almost opulent roasted almonds and hazelnuts brioche and a bit of yellow fruits. Full bodied with fine bubbles and well balanced acidity and excellent length

2005 vintage

Thanksgiving Mondo Dinner 2023 (Atlanta, GA) : Dinner Champagne. Non-Blind. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. To be honest, I didn't pay much attention to it as I was focused on the food and conversation.

2005 vintage

A prominent vintage from the house. Nutty, floral and fruity aroma paired with very fine palate and acidity. Great performance tonight.

2005 vintage

Afternoon Champagne with Gougeres is a Saturday treat in our house. Decided to open a bottle of the 2005 Gramd Année, as we wanted something a little more full bodied than the endless parade of extra brut/brut nature Blanc de Blancs that seem to pass our way. This certainly fit the bill, and if not the most interesting vintage of GA, it got the job done, especially as an accompaniment to the Gougeres. We make ours with four year aged …

2005 vintage

Suited for those who prefer a more mature tasting champagne.

2005 vintage

Cuvee Holiday Luncheon: Served with Grilled venison with cherry and marsala demi-glace, arugula, blackberry and guanciale. Complex, muscular champagne with ripe fruit notes - while it's no cab, proves bubbles can pair beautifully with red meat. Lovely pink color, Gingerbread spice on the nose. Signature Bollinger oak-fermented produced slight vanilla. Ripe fruit produced great example of 2005. Another spectacular pairing, but still 2nd to 1522 with smoked salmon canapé. We enjoyed from jeroboam, and it was in a great place. …

2005 vintage

Moden, mørk gul på farge. Modne epler, rund og fyldig. God vin, små elegante bobler, mangler litt friskhet.

2005 vintage

Fort jolie champagne. On sent la maturite derriere le vin

(Blind tasting) Full and developed nose. Yellow apple, plum and toast. Rich and immediate. Fullish, toasty palate. Rich and balanced. Ripe apple and almost coffee hints. Very good length, but lacking some intensity and grip.

2005 vintage

Very consistent notes. Drinks superbly now.

2005 vintage

Last bottle did not disappoint. Drank at wine dinner. Elegant Champagne. Drink or Hold,,, wish I had more.

2005 vintage

New Years Day: Vrai Champagne, Fifth Annual Edition (Brad & Marcia's Place, St. Paul, MN) : Light gold plus color. Tasting pour. There's a good whoosh on opening, though the bead is less energetic in glass, needing to open and have some time, this gradually builds. Truly vinous, this is complex and thoughtful. Marzipan, brioche, pastry dough, oxidative though well in context, quince, red apple and kumquat, full and caressing, creamy, round, and long. Going out strong.

2005 vintage

wow. Definitely no lack of character to the aromas. Lots of pineapple fruit. Is there such a thing as a pineapple croissant? Layers and layers. Pineapple upside down cake palate. Medium minus golden color. Palate lines up a little out off kilter, but still in excellent territory. Has some sandalwood elements to the palate for floral spice. Buttery palate, accented and balanced by some extract on thr pate still. Definitely lots of life ahead. Drink to 2030+.

2005 vintage

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