La Grande Année 2018

La Grande Année (pronounced grahnd ah-nay) is the most important vintage Champagne of Bollinger, one of the few great Champagne houses still owned by the founding family. Bollinger makes it only in years when, according to the house, the harvest gives perfect balance. In 2018 a rainy winter was followed by a mild spring and a hot, dry summer, and the harvest started early and was abundant.

The blend is 66% Pinot Noir, mainly from Verzenay (pronounced vair-zuh-NAY), Aÿ (pronounced ah-EE) and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ (pronounced ma-RUH-ee sewr ah-EE), and 34% Chardonnay from Chouilly (pronounced shoo-YEE) and Cuis (pronounced KWEE). The blend contains wine from 19 villages classified as grand cru (pronounced grahn KREW) and premier cru villages (pronounced pruh-MYAY KREW). All the wine ferments in small old oak barrels. The bottles mature for seven years under natural cork, more than twice as long as the appellation rules require, and are then riddled by hand and disgorged by hand. The dosage is 6 g/l.

According to the house, the nose first shows fresh citrus and Granny Smith apple, then white peach, apricot and mirabelle plum. With air come fresh almond, bready notes, acacia honey and a touch of white peony. On the palate the wine has a clear structure and balance, recalling stewed fruit and quince, and the mousse becomes creamy with time.

Bollinger calls La Grande Année a Champagne for food and recommends it with fish, meat, cheese and fruit. It suggests serving it at 10-12 °C. You can drink it now or lay it down in the cellar for a few years.