"Before being a great Champagne, Bollinger is first and foremost a great wine". It is undeniable, a Bollinger spirit actually exists. In the wines certainly, but also in Aÿ. The involvement and seriousness of the people involved in the design of these great wines closely contribute to their success. Bollinger is also one of the few rare Champagne houses to have remained as a family since its creation in 1829. The maison was founded by Athanase de Villermont who had inherited the vineyard of Champagne, Joseph Bollinger, a German merchant and Paul Renaudin, a Champenois who was passionate about wine. The Bollinger and Villermont families united their fate at the same time as their profession with Joseph Bollinger's marriage to Louise-Charlotte, Athanase's daughter. Their children would take over the rein. There is a 163-hectare vineyard located, for more than 80%, in grands and premiers crus, and providing over 60% of its needs in grapes. One of the interesting facts about this maison is the preponderance of Pinot Noir which gives great flavour and strength to the champagnes. Another particularity of the maison is that part of the fermented reserve wines in wood is then conserved in magnums, with cork stoppers, for 5 to 12 years before being incorporated into the whole. Finally, on the management side, in September 2007, Ghislain de Mongolfier handed over the reins to Jérôme Philipon who followed in his footsteps while emulating his style. This all went well and there is no doubt that the brand continues to shine in the starry sky of Champagne.

This is the estate’s newest cuvée, a pure Pinot noir – the essence of the house’s style – from Verzenay and other villages (Aÿ, Bouzy and Tauxières) with the 2015 vintage as its base. It was matured in the cellar for twice as long as the legal minimum for a champagne and has a classic dosage of 7g/L. In the glass, this cuvée gives off aromas of cherry, dried fig, and ripe pear, as well as hints of patisserie and floral notes. On the palate we find indulgent waves of white and yellow fruit with hazelnut, a rich and ample ensemble that lingers on a citrus finish. Another fine champagne from Bollinger to enjoy as an aperitif or to accompany a dish like risotto.