Winery & Vintage Info
In 1911, Georges Bollinger’s British agent gave him the idea for the name Special Cuvée - “special” written the English way, without an accent. He thought the French expression “Brut sans année” was no match for such a subtle champagne… More than a hundred years later, the name of Bollinger’s key figure champagne still symbolises both its expertise and its history.
La Grande Année is the very embodiment of an exceptional, timeless champagne. Artisanal savoir-faire is at the heart of its production. One such artisanal technique is vinification, which takes place in oak barrels that are around 20 years old. This helps the wine develop complex aromas, and, thanks to micro-oxygenation, lends an extraordinary ageing potential.
At Bollinger, the 2014 vintage gave rise to a precise, fine and complex wine thanks to its minerality and exceptional intensity. A rainy autumn and winter were followed by two very dry and sunny months. Then summer, and particularly August, saw markedly cold weather. However, the quality of the grapes was preserved, and the musts had a wonderful balance of maturity and acidity.
La Grande Année 2014 is an assembly of 19 crus, mostly in Aÿ and Verzenay for the 61% Pinot Noir and Chouilly and Oiry for the 39% Chardonnay.
Fermentation takes place entirely in oak barrels and the wine is aged, sealed with a natural cork, for more than twice the time required by the appellation. Dosage is moderate, 8 grams per litre.
