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  • Country ranking ?

    678
  • Producer ranking ?

    27
  • Decanting time

    30min
  • When to drink

    now to 2030
  • Food Pairing

    Share it solemnly

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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

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 ap...

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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 on...

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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

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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