Bollinger Grande Annee Rose 2002
New Gift Box. Special Offer Price - Now £79.95 each
Tasting Notes:
A deep colour, perfectly balanced aromas and a lovely quality. La Grande Annee Rose is an extension of the Grande Annee by the addition, at blending, of a red wine from one of the House’s emblematic vineyards, La Cote Aux Enfants, located in the village of Ay. This plot of Grand Cru, measuring less than one hectare, is only used for red when the grapes are perfectly ripe.
Made exclusively of Grand Crus and Premier Crus from Champagne, the grapes selected are from the cuvee to keep nothing but the best juice. 23 crus make up the composition of the Grand Annee Rose, of which 73% are Grand Crus and 27% are Premier Crus.
The first fermentation was done in small oak casks (205, 225 and 410 litres), lot by lot, cru by cru, grape variety by grape variety. This allows Bollinger to use a very strict selection process. Bollinger only uses old casks (5 years old or older) to ensure that neither tannin or oak flavours are imparted to the wines. This method increases both the aromatic complexity and the ageing capacity of such wines.
Grande Annee Rose ages in the cellars under natural cork. After bottling, the second fermentation and the ageing in the cellars is done using a real cork stopper, which ensures a better barrier against oxidisation than the crown cap. This process, quite
unique in champagne, is a guarantee of freshness and allows the aromas to keep their bouquet and clarity.
The intense colour is due to an addition during initial blending of 7 to 8% red wine, made with grapes from La Cote Aux Enfants.
Grape Variety:
Pinot Noir (62%) and Chardonnay (38%)
(The addition of 6.5 % Pinot Noir from La Cote Aux Enfants and vinified as red wine gives the blend its colour and its ripeness)
Technical Characteristics:
ABV - 12%
Dosage - Light. 7 - 9 g/l
Ageing:
Ageing on lees lasts at least 6 years and sometimes longer.
Pairing with food:
Perfect with duck breast, pink lamb, sushi and red berry crumble.
Review:
“I was floored when I first tasted this stellar wine. The cavalcade of flavours is frankly stunning and the colour is a feast for the eyes. Sensual nuances of wild red fruits rush at you from all angles, tantalising every flavour receptor in your being. Swallow
and the world is a better place, but not as good as it is after another sip. It really is this good.”
Matthew Jukes, Daily Mail, February 2007
