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  • Country ranking ?

    1 149
  • Producer ranking ?

    68
  • Decanting time

    30min
  • When to drink

    now to 2035
  • Food Pairing

    Parmesan or Comté.

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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“It might seem a bit surprising that Bollinger skipped the great vintage of 2006 for the more modest 2007. For me that choice is however quite logical since the Bollinger house style is much better suited to austere vintages than for fruit bombs. Here we have a classic and perfectly balanced Bollinger with deep layers and beautiful crisp apple acidity. Gorgeous balance between the dark and light as a perfect Ying and Yang marriage. Layers of dry cocoa, hazelnut fudge, dried apricots and juicy red apples dominate over a beautiful hint of forest aromas based on sous bois and mushrooms in the background. One of the three best champagnes from this vintage.”

Richard Juhlin, 95/100

Wine Advocate-Parker :
Bollinger's white-golden colored 2007 La Grande Année Brut is an assemblage of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from 14 crus (mainly A˜ and Verzenay for the Pinot Noir and Avize, Cramant and Oger for the Chardonnay) that was entirely fermented in barrels and aged under natural cork for more than eight years (disgorgement date: November 2016). The wine displays a very clear, fine and complex bouquet of ripe (apricot) fruits and pink grapefruit along with chalky, toasty and almond/nougat notes. Highly elegant, fine and pure but complex on the palate, this is a full-bodied and well-structured Grande Année with a long, intense yet dry, salty, beautifully clear and cleansing finish with lingering citrus flavors and a persistent mineral structure. This 2007 is still young, but its elegance, finesse, freshness and promising complexity are fabulous. Drink now and over the next 12 to 15+ years. Tasted May 2018.

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The Story

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. These 4,000 barrels are housed and maintained in the Champagne Bollinger Cooperage. Bollinger is the only Champagne House to have a resident cooper. 

All Bollinger vintages, including La Grande Année, are riddled and disgorged entirely by hand, a process which takes place after the wine has long been aged on its lees, in bottles sealed with cork. These rigorous, artisanal techniques contribute to making La Grande Année a truly hand-crafted wine.

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Wine Information

The 2007 Grand Annee was marked by an early harvest and cool temperatures. The blend consists of 70% Pinot Noir(mostly from Aÿ and Verzenay) and 30% Chardonnay (from Cramant and Oger), with around 91% of the grapes taken from Grands Crus and 9% from Premiers Cru plots! These exceptional wines have seen fermentation entirely in oak barrels and a maturation time that is twice as long as what is required by the appellation.

The La Grande Année 2007 sports a beautifully mature golden colour, a signature of the savoir-faire of the House of Bollinger. The nose is generous, with notes of roasted nutsyellow fruits and subtle dried citrusaromas. On the palate, the La Grande Année 2007 is full-bodied with an aromatic profile marked by honey and candied lemon. The vintage shines through in the wine’s final freshness and pleasant, subtle bitter notes.

 

Weather: Mostly a warm year, 2007 was characterised by unexpected major weather events. A warm spring was followed by a cool summer, although the end of the ripening process was excellent, with harvests taking place in ideal conditions.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 91% Grand Cru, 9% Premier Cru | Pinot Noir: Aÿ, Verzenay | Chardonnay: Avize, Cramant, Oger
Grape Varieties: 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
Ageing: 6 years on the lees
Disgorged: June 2016
Dosage: 7 g/l
Drink: 2018-2028
 

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Vintage 2007

An unusually warm spring led to early flowering and initial optimism, which soon gave way to disappointment following one of the murkiest summers on record. Overall, 2007 was a difficult vintage saved by last-minute sunshine in late-August. Mildew and rot were the main culprits of the harvest, and the level of gluconic acid rocketed. The harvest began early, on August 24th, and was abundant in volume averaging 14,242 kg/ha. Pinot Meunier posed the biggest problems and Chardonnay clearly outperformed the rest. Many of the iconic prestige cuvée blanc de blancs were successfully produced, such as Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, Ruinart Dom Ruinart, Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Louis and Salon Le Mesnil. Some blended prestige cuvées such as Louis Roederer Cristal and Philipponnat Clos des Goisses were also made. Champagnes from 2007 are typically high in acidity and restrainedly classic in style, but lack the spine and strength of the greatest harvest years. Even if the vintage only receives three stars, its best Chardonnays are well worth seeking and storing.

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Tasting note

color

Medium and Yellow

ending

Long, Extensive and Spicy

flavors

Apricot, Mineral, Buttery, Citrus, Spice and White fruits

nose

Complex, Generous, Refined and Youthful

taste

High in Acidity, Concentrated, Well-structured, Complex, Youthful, Medium-bodied, Firm, Focused, Fresh and Dry

Verdict

Full-bodied and Fine

Written Notes

Det kan tyckas förvånande att Bollinger hoppat över den uppskattade årgången 2006 och istället satsar på det svagare året 2007. För mig är valet fullkomligt logiskt då husets stil lämpar sig betydligt bättre för strama år än som fruktbomber. Här har vi en klassiskt balanserad Bollinger med djupa smaklager och stramt vackra äppelsyror. Strålande balans mellan mörkt brunnsdjup och läskande krispighet. Lager av torr kakao, hasselnötskräm , torkade aprikoser och röda saftiga äpplen dominerar över en vacker skogsarom av undervegetation och kantarell.’ 94(95)p

  • 94p

This not is for the magnum that so brings out the soul of La Grande Année and its characterful La Côte aux Enfents red wine heart. Such a combination of vinosity and silkiness coming with full-on Pinot aromas of red berries, oriental spices and forest floor notes. Structured and long with the softest mousse in magnum in absence of too many oxidative notes.  

  • 95p

La Grande Année 2007 is a must-have for gourmet restaurants and good hotels alike: it is the perfect champagne to serve with a fine meal. To fully appreciate its unique style, bouquet and aromas, La Grande Année 2007 is best served between 8 and 10°C. You can enjoy La Grande Année 2007 right away, or choose to age it in your cellar.

  • 91p
Good looking normal size bottle. Colour is yellow and medium. On the nose it is intense, youthful, complex, refined, generous and closed. The taste is fresh, focused, firm, and dry, and high in acidity, medium-bodied, with concentrated, complex, well-structured structure and youthful. On the palate it is layered and has white fruits, mineral, citrus, apricot, spice and buttery flavours. The finish is long, spicy and extensive. This wine is a mouthfilling and fine. Perfectly stored bottles are still very worthy and will last well for another 10-15 years.
- (Tasting note created by Tb's AI)
  • 90p
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Information

Origin

Ay, Champagne

Vintage Quality

Above Average

Value For Money

Very good

Investment potential

No Potential

Fake factory

None

Other wines from this producer

B13 Blanc de Noirs

Bollinger Collection

Bollinger Special Cuvée

Coteaux Champenois La Côte aux Enfants

La Côte aux Enfants

La Grande Année rosé

PN TX 17

PN VZ15

PNVZ16

R.D. Bollinger

RD Collection

Rosé

Special Cuvée

Verzenay Réserve

Vieilles Vignes Françaises

Vieilles Vignes Francaises Collection

Vins Clairs Cramant Vinifié en Fût

Vintage Champagne

Inside Information

The 2007 vintage was cool-ish (spring’s warm weather was halted by a relatively cold August, common in Atlantic-influenced vintages) which is a departure from the other vintages of this warm decade. There is a certain gravitas that engendered a reserved character when the wine was first released, but it is now opening up.


You can almost nose the coolness, with white flowers and citrus to the fore. Gentle swirling releases bolder berried fruit, that classic Bollinger Morello cherry note with kirsch liqueur adding succulence. The finish adds soft oak spice and I’m sure I detected a hint of truffle sous-bois, a foretaste of its future perhaps? And with similarities to the 1988 vintage, I predict a long and assured future ahead.

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