x
  • Country ranking ?

    532
  • Producer ranking ?

    17
  • Decanting time

    No
  • When to drink

    2020-2035
  • Food Pairing

    Seafood, Salads & Consommes

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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” (w...

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Wine Information

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 probl...

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Vintage 1985

Severe winter temperatures and spring frosts did great damage, leaving many in the region unhopeful of a good year. The destruction was excessive especially in the northern Montagne de Reims, in the hillside vineyards west of Reims and in the Aube. The early summer weather did not raise the hopes, but finally fine September weather came to the rescue and yields ended up being better than feared (albeit tiny, 6,827 kg/ha) when picking commenced...

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

<10 tasting notes

Tasting note

ending

Long and Flavorful

flavors

Truffles and Creamy

nose

Pure, Fresh and Seductive

recommend

Yes

taste

Perfectly balanced, Multi-dimensional, Complex, Harmonious, Rich and Elegant

Written Notes

It was back to Champagne with a great nose, spritely, fresh and special with white meats and fruits. Tangy and citrusy in the mouth, this 1985 Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Francaises was sexy juice.
  • 95p
The 1985 was the number one vintage of the mid-1980s. The relatively small crop of ripe and concentrated grapes produced long-lasting and structured wines. The weather favoured Pinot Noir grapes and therefore it is no surprise that this Bollinger’s ‘living museum’ wine from three Pinot Noir plots shows as one of the greatest champagnes of its vintage. Fine bottle. Decanted 15 minutes. Very deep, mature looking gold colour. Fresh, lightly creamy and meaty on the nose. In the mouth, the dark fruit was rich and tasty. It has a beautiful, fat, creamy complexity, and its palate was spiritedly, balanced and gorgeous. There were many layers of rich fruit and on the palate with white chocolate, truffles and marzipan flavours, along with good lively acidity and dazzling Pinot flavours on its finish.
  • 98p
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Information

Origin

Ay, Champagne

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

La Grande Année rosé

PN TX 17

PN VZ15

PNVZ16

R.D. Bollinger

RD Collection

Rosé

Special Cuvée

Verzenay Réserve

Vieilles Vignes Francaises Collection

Vins Clairs Cramant Vinifié en Fût

Vintage Champagne

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