Bollinger La Grande Annee 2000
La Grande Annee develops a majestic vinosity, and intense, rich and complex aromas, whose tonality varies according to the nature of each vintage. Tasting a bottle of La Grande Annee will represent a rare and memorable experience for
any wine connoisseur.
La Grande Annee is Bollinger’s Prestige Cuvee and is only produced when exceptional vintages occur. 16 crus have been used in the blend of La Grande Annee 2000, including 76% Grands Crus and 24% Premiers Crus.
Bollinger use only the ‘cuvee’ juice in the making of La Grande Annee. The first fermentation is always carried out 100% in small aged oak barrels to avoid generating the taste of oak or tannins, and to ensure the wines fully express their aromatic complexity and aging potential. This is quite exceptional in champagne.
Wines of exceptional quality are therefore needed from the outset: grapes used in making La Grande Annee vintages come from 100% Grands and Premiers Crus. After bottling, the second fermentation and cellar ageing are conducted under natural cork in order to protect them as much as possible from oxidation and preserve their freshness, as well as the bouquet and clarity of their aromas.
Grape Variety:
Pinot Noir (63%) and Chardonnay (37%)
Technical Characteristics:
ABV - 12%
Dosage - Light. 7 - 9 g/l
Ageing:
After assemblage, La Grande Annee is aged in cellars for a minimum of six years, using a real cork stopper, before manual disgorgement.
Pairing with food:
Warm foie gras, Coquilles St Jacques, calves’ sweetbreads, game and Reblochon cheese.
Review:
“Drinking Bollinger is somehow a more serious affair than other champagne. It's James Bond's favourite tipple, and you get the feeling that while other houses are quite happy to have naked models cavorting around with a bottle of their wares in hand, this
would be frowned upon at Bolly HQ. And quite rightly, as frankly what is in the bottle is so good that little else needs to be said.
Christine Austin, Yorkshire Post, November 2006
“A great vintage year and Bollinger is one of the great champagne houses, so tuck into this rich, dreamy, beefy, nutty champagne while you still can.”
Jane Macquitty, The Times, 17 March 2010 (commenting on the 2000 vintage)
“The joy of the 2000 vintage Champagne is its early drinking, so although this is the current release of Grande Annee, it is perfect now. Bollinger makes a big style of Champagne, really a serious wine that happens to have bubbles. There are
flavours of wildflower honey, toasted brioche and candied citrus fruits, yet the long finish is clean and focused. Fabulous Champagne for food, particularly grilled langoustine.”
Hamish Anderson, The Telegraph Magazine, 10 July 2010
