x
  • Country ranking ?

    961
  • Producer ranking ?

    55
  • Decanting time

    15min
  • When to drink

    now to 2030
  • Food Pairing

    Seafood, Salads & Consommes

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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In 1976, Bollinger Vintage became Grande Année; then, in 2004, "La" Grande Année… A name simple enough to illustrate its exceptional status: because only truly extraordinary years become vintage at Bollinger. La Grande Année made its screen débuts two years later, in James Bond’s Casino Royale.

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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

 Fermentation: The first fermentation takes place in small oak casks, lot-by-lot, cru-by-cru, and grape variety with all crus and grape varieties segregated. This allows Bollinger to use a very strict selection process. Bollinger only uses old casks (5 years or older) to ensure that neither tannin nor oak flavors are imparted to the wines.

Aging: Once the wine is bottled, the carbonic fermentation and cellar aging are conducted under natural cork for a minimum of 5 years, more than twice as long as required by Appellation rules.

 

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Vintage 2002

A cold winter and a mild late spring cued for a perfect June allowing early and fast flowering. Outstanding weather conditions prevailed and the season went on without dramatic turns. Rains in August raised concerns regarding gray rot, but finally sunshine and dry conditions throughout September resulted in an abundant crop of largely healthy fruit (11,930 kg/ha). Dehydration due to wind further aided in achieving perfect ripeness and additional concentration. This, and the cool nights, helped in retaining fresh acidity and, despite the ripeness (10.3% potential alcohol), the wines did not suffer from heaviness or a lack of life. A near-perfect vintage, which produced balanced Champagnes consistently around the region. The best show an impeccable combination of freshness, power, structure and finesse. However, some have matured aromatically quicker than expected and are already past their peak. 2002 produced an abundance of spectacular champagnes, such as Dom Pérignon (the entire range), Krug Vintage and Clos du Mesnil, Piper-Heidsieck Rare, Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Ruinart Dom Ruinart and Dom Ruinart Rosé, Salon Le Mesnil and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, to name a few.

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

27 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Medium, Straw and Bright

ending

Long, Pure and Lingering

flavors

Vanilla, Toasty, Bread, Apricot, Earthy and Mineral

nose

Open, Pure, Complex and Tempting

taste

High in Acidity, Balanced, Concentrated, Well-structured, Developing, Full-bodied, Harmonious, Refined, Fresh and Dry

Verdict

Sophisticated and Fine

Written Notes

Since the year 1990 made vintage wines from Bollinger in a little fruitier more persikodoftande style with slightly less pronounced smokiness and nuttiness. I was always more impressed initially by the previous style, but it feels like the differences even out over time. 2002 is very fruity and a little slippery at the moment, but I am convinced that the fruitiness will be low, and that we will see a deeper beauty over time. Fantastic in magnum.
  • 93p

Pale lemon yellow, small bubbles. Apples, some yellow fruits, minerals, brioche nose. Fresh acidity, elegant mousse, fruity, rounded, lacks some lift and liveliness. 88

  • 88p
TASTINGNOTE ‘Sedan årgång 1990 görs årgångsvinerna från Bollinger i en lite fruktigare mer persikodoftande stil med något mindre utpräglad rökighet och nötighet. Jag blev alltid mer imponerad initialt av den tidigare stilen, men det känns som skillnaderna jämnar ut sig med tiden. 2002 är väldigt fruktig och lite hal i nuläget, men jag är övertygad att fruktigheten kommer att läga sig och att vi får uppleva en djupare skönhet med tiden.’
  • 95p
2002 Grand Annèe Minerals, golden apples, small hints of nuts and spice, bit muted at the moment, hints of ripe pear and hazelnuts. Full-bodied, golden apples, ripe lemon, grapefruit, sherry/fino notes, roasted nuts, long, tight and vibrant finish with minerals, lemon and nuts, needs time but very good. 2016-2028 93p.
  • 93p
Nose: powerful Palate: vibrant, wide, intense Ending: Concentrated yet crisp In a nutshell: Muscle power Final verdict: Worth cellaring
  • 90p
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Information

Origin

Ay, Champagne

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