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  • Country ranking ?

    670
  • Producer ranking ?

    26
  • Decanting time

    30min
  • When to drink

    now to 2030
  • Food Pairing

    Share it solemnly

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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The Story

Destroyed at the dawn of the 20th century by the infamous phylloxera vastatrix, all the Champagne region’s vines had to be replanted with American rootstocks that were resistant to the destructive insect.

All of them? Not quite... In Aÿ, two Bollinger plots classified Grand cru, the “Chaudes Terres” and “Clos St Jacques”, were miraculously spared by the phylloxera. From these vines cultivated using traditional methods, planted “en foule” (without any visible order) according to the provignage method, and worked by hand, is crafted the Vieilles Vignes Françaises cuvée: a Blanc de Noirs matured in the cellar for at least five years, with a cork stopper and then disgorged by hand. Vieilles Vignes Françaises is a confidential production of a few thousand bottles, an exceptional and extremely rare wine, with a memory of bygone days; a symbol, an extraordinary, evocative and moving legacy.

 

Bathed in golden morning sun of Champagne, three diminutive Pinot Noir plots are under the exacting scrutiny of vineyard workers. The plots, surrounded by stone walls, have been given special attention for over one hundred years. These are the only ungrafted vines in nearly all of Champagne that have managed to escape the ravages of phylloxera decade after decade. It is on this morning that the vineyard workers have discovered a fateful problem on the 16-are Croix Rouge plantation in the village of Bouzy. The year is 2004—phylloxera has landed.

“It was over in the blink of an eye. Right when we found out that phylloxera had hit us, it only took a couple of weeks before everything was gone. There wasn’t a thing we could do,” recalls Bollinger’s Christian Dennis.

Champagne Bollinger has cared for the vines on these three plots with an extraordinary passion since 1969. Renowned English wine author Cyril Ray was the guest of Madame Lily Bollinger when he recorded the history of the Bollinger Champagne house in 1968. His attention was drawn to these exceptional plots and the truly unique character of the wines they produced. At his urging, Lily Bollinger decided to produce wines from these plots under her own name. The 1969 vintage produced in honour of Madame Bollinger’s 70th birthday was released in 1974. The first actually commercial vintage was released in 1970. This ‘museum wine’ instantly became a favourite among collectors and a much-desired rarity, so seldom encountered in a lifetime.

Bollinger is one of only a handful of the remaining family-owned prestige champagne houses. Founded in 1829, Bollinger attained legendary status in its pursuit of perfection: its renowned Charter of Ethics and Quality was published in 1992 by Christian Bizot and Ghislain de Montgolfier, when the syndicate of Grand Marque houses was not ready to accept the stringent criteria as a guideline for all houses. Bollinger decided to stick with the Charter and its own values, which respect not only quality, but also family, the region and tradition. In an age of increasing champagne production and giant champagne houses, Bollinger has been able to keep its scale small. Export manager Philippe Menguy explains:


“Every year we produce two million bottles of champagne, even though we could sell four million. We have 12 million bottles in our cellars, which is a six-year inventory. We own and cultivate a majority of our grape needs, so we’re not dependent on purchased grapes.”

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Wine Information

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir /At Bollinger, only very high quality harvests become vintage: As the most spectacular vintage of its decade, 2004 is remarkable for its generous Pinot Noir flavours

"Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2004 can be paired with the finest dishes but can also help create a special occasion on its own; wine connoisseurs will share it solemnly, enjoying the opportunity to try its rare unmatched flavours, if only once…
To fully appreciate its unique style, bouquet and aromas, it is best to serve Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2004 between 10 and 12°c.
You can enjoy Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2004 right away, or choose to age it in your cellar."
Mathieu Kauffmann, Cellar Master

HISTORY
In the early 20th century, the vines of Champagne were destroyed by phylloxera. Everything had to be replanted using American rootstock, to fight the devastating insect. Everything except three Bollinger plots classified as Grands Crus: Chaudes Terres, and Clos St Jacques, in Aÿ, Croix Rouge in Bouzy. These three plots are grown the traditional way, following the provignage method, worked by hand and even sometimes with the help of a cart-horse. Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises is a symbol of a bygone era: a reminiscent, extraordinary and moving legacy.

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Vintage 2004

A great example of how large yields do not necessarily mean poor quality in Champagne. As a reaction to the previous year's low yields, the vines produced one of the largest crops on record. The growing season proceeded without major difficulties but the bumper crop called for bud thinning. August brought about cooler weather and some rains, increasing the risk of rot. The massive crop, averaging 13,990 kg/ha, was picked from September 18th onwards. The quality was a pleasant surprise; vibrant wines with appropriate intensity, refined charm and refreshing lightness. This vintage impresses me more and more, and I feel tempted to give it the full five stars. It comes with a rare balance of freshness, lightness, yet fine aromatic intensity. Post-release, this vintage has proven to be slow to age, and elegant wines are likely to keep on ageing gracefully. Dom Pérignon and Louis Roederer Cristal both excelled.

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

<10 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Light and Bright

ending

Long

flavors

Apricot

nose

Fresh, Seductive, Modest and Intense

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, Low alcohol content, Balanced, Multi-dimensional, Complex, Youthful, Medium-bodied, Elegant and Dry

Verdict

Transparent and Impressive

Written Notes

Sunday lunches are usually of the lighter fare, but this was my last Sunday in the Hamptons, so I should have known better.  A 2004 Bollinger VVF started us off with that biscuity, bready Blanc de Noirs goodness, with the freshness to go with its weight.  I liked its citrus and kumquat fruit action, as well as its salty finish.  It stayed fresh while getting gainfully gamey (95+).

  • 95p

It is hopeless to predict when a VVF reaches its peak. There is always a startling concentrated fruit which is most smiling sunny tropical in its youth. I tried my first 2004 vintage together with the generous Danish Brian who put it up against the far more deeply matured 2000 vintage. The concentration is equal and the notes may be a bit more exciting in the somewhat darker 2000 vintage. The honey-finish is the same but with a slightly more tingling youthful acidity in 2004. RJponits 96(97)

  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Ay, Champagne

Vintage Quality

Above Average

Investment potential

Good

Fake factory

None

Other wines from this producer

B13 Blanc de Noirs

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PN TX 17

PN VZ15

PNVZ16

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RD Collection

Rosé

Special Cuvée

Verzenay Réserve

Vieilles Vignes Francaises Collection

Vins Clairs Cramant Vinifié en Fût

Vintage Champagne

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