Had a small tasing of the Bollinger range tonight - quality all round was high but the most interesting aspect was tasting some of their reserve wines from magnum that they use to make up the NV and NV Rose - Bollinger being the only house to store and age a portion of their reserve wines like this rather than tank - 800,000 bottles at any one time for between 5 and 20 years which is quite mad logistically
Chardonnay Mesnil 2003 - Very forward Chardonnay nose toasty and buttery but very yeasty strong fresh bread dough on the pallette masking any fruit, dry but quite low acidity
Pinot Noir Vizennay (Blanc)2004 - Very slight pink hue, distinct pinot nose redcurrents and quite earthy but fresh light prickle and more acidity
Pinot Noir Ay ,La Cote Aux Enfants (Rouge)2004 - Extremely dense black with light purple rim very fragant black forest fruit, noticable oak nice velvety texture but acidity quite low - Point of interest this is used to blend with La Grande Annee Rose but is also bottled and sold in tiny quantities as a Coteaux Champenoise Pinot Noir
As for the wines themselves
Bollinger Special Cuvee NV
60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier
Rich full and yeasty nose buttery and generous - full bodied creamy textured mousse not overly complex and a bit clinical but very good NV style if you like richer more forward styles - which I do
Bollinger Grande Annee 2000
63% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay
Much more elegant nose more greengage, ripe apple and stony minerality, lovely creamy texture with some light peach notes but good structured minerality carry through but felt missing that zappy acidity I look for and definatly lacking somewhat on length
Bollinger RD 1997 (Disgorged Sept 08)
65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay
Restrained nose on opening which opened up after 15 minutes, fresh and pure still that stony minerality but with much more citrus notes Lemon zest ripe and aromatic but subtle - very dry precise style good balance nice acidity but feels a bit disjointed, not quite complete - lovely wine but maybe needs more time and I do in general prefer the richer creamy 'house style' of the Grande Annee
Bollinger Rose NV
60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier
Very attractive pale salmon colour with almost a rusting brown hue - subtle nose quite pinot like with nice herbacious (thyme?) element - lovely creamy texture very savoury style and long drying finish - Very nice
Bollinger Grande Annee Rose 2002
73% Pinot Noir, 27% Chardonnay
Slightly deeper than the NV but same salmon pink with rusty hue - nose quite closed crushed redcurrant and freeze dried strawberries (if you have'nt smelt freeze dried strawberries just trust me on this) - pretty tight but very structured coiled spring type energy with lovely dry herbs - obviously needs more time but very very good length
Probably my favourite wine of the line up but not sure about the considerable price jump so for value my monies on the Rose NV
Monday, 1 February 2010
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Hmmm, a small, yet polite Bollinger tasting, how splendid. Just the way you want to start the week I feel. It must be very interesting to taste those reserve wines, I didn't know that they ever brought those out for tastings. How did a pikey like you mange to wangle that then?
ReplyDeleteA small Bollinger tasting, and a very long post about it... You're so interesting Nahthern.. Actually I did find it interesting, but I'm a square.
ReplyDeleteYeah sorry - was'nt that exciting a tasting - it is easy to just keep rattling on when you start writing - guess I have to try and remember to not just write for myself but also keep in mind the interest of our (still small, but perfectly formed) audience - and again oh great sage you are correct it is very unusual to see the reserve wines and its only because Bollinger store them in magnum so they can travel - and because I am a rather special pikey - whats the Yankee translation of pikey?
ReplyDeleteWhite trash, or nomadic hillbilly. Effing gypsy works too.
ReplyDelete