BOLLINGER Selection

Perfumes and scents:

It displays a luminous golden hue, animated by an exceptionally fine and persistent perlage. On the nose, it opens with intense aromas of yellow stone fruit, candied citrus peel, and honey, enriched by spicy, toasted, and subtly smoky notes. On the palate, it is broad, deep, and structured, offering an extraordinary balance between richness and freshness, with a long, mineral finish that leaves a lasting impression on the palate.

Winemaking:

Fermentation takes place in small used oak barrels, following Bollinger’s artisanal tradition, which imparts complexity and great aging potential. The second fermentation and aging occur in the bottle, sealed with a natural cork to preserve aromatic integrity during the long maturation period. The wine then rests on the lees for over six years, far beyond the minimum requirements, developing extraordinary finesse and complexity.

Details / Anecdotes:

Every Bollinger vintage is created only when the year is deemed truly exceptional. For 2015, the Maison chose to declare the vintage thanks to the rare balance achieved between the power of Pinot Noir and the freshness of Chardonnay—a harmony that perfectly embodies the Bollinger style.

Perfumes and scents:

Luminous gold color with amber highlights and a fine, persistent perlage. On the nose, it reveals aromas of yellow stone fruit, citrus zest, and toasted, spicy notes, accented by elegant mineral hints. On the palate, it is broad, structured, and creamy, showing a perfect balance of power, freshness, and length. The finish is long, deep, and complex.

Winemaking:

Fermentation takes place in small oak barrels, in keeping with the Maison’s tradition. This choice imparts remarkable aromatic complexity and exceptional aging potential. The secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle, sealed with a natural cork. The wine then ages on the lees for at least six years, developing extraordinary aromatic richness and an exceptionally fine perlage.

Details / Anecdotes:

The “B” series by Bollinger brings together special cuvées crafted from exceptional single vintages. B16 2016 is a true rarity for enthusiasts and collectors—a limited edition that celebrates the Maison’s identity with a style both powerful and refined.

Perfumes and scents:

Brilliant golden color with copper highlights, animated by a fine and persistent perlage. On the nose, it opens with intense aromas of ripe red and yellow fruits, candied citrus, and spices, enriched by elegant smoky notes. On the palate, it is broad and velvety, with great energy and depth—a perfect balance of power and freshness—and a long, mineral finish.

Winemaking:

Fermentation takes place in small oak barrels, following Bollinger’s artisanal tradition. This approach enhances the wine’s structure and imparts a unique aromatic complexity, as well as exceptional aging potential. The wine then matures in the bottle on its lees for at least five years, far beyond the minimum requirements, developing remarkable finesse and aromatic richness.

Details / Anecdotes:

Pinot Noir TX 20 is one of Bollinger’s most emblematic cuvées—a tribute to the grape variety that has been the beating heart of the Maison for nearly two centuries. It is regarded as a homage to Bollinger’s very identity, crafted for collectors and true Champagne enthusiasts.

Perfumes and scents:

A delicate, brilliant pink color with copper highlights and a fine, persistent perlage. On the nose it reveals aromas of fresh red fruits (wild strawberries, redcurrant, cherry), candied citrus peel, spices, and floral hints. On the palate it is rich and velvety, with a solid structure, a perfect balance between vinosity and freshness, and a long, mineral, refined finish.

Winemaking:

All the base wines are vinified in small oak barrels, in keeping with Bollinger tradition. The secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle under natural cork, allowing for optimal maturation and greater aromatic complexity. The wine then undergoes more than six years of aging on the lees—well beyond the minimum requirements—to develop extraordinary complexity and finesse.

Details / Anecdotes:

La Grande Année Rosé is produced only in exceptional vintages: 2015 yielded grapes of extraordinary quality and concentration, enabling Bollinger to craft a rosé that unites the power of Pinot Noir with the refinement of Chardonnay, in a balance that perfectly embodies the Maison’s unique style.

Perfumes and scents:

A brilliant, intense golden color with a fine and persistent perlage. On the nose, it reveals extraordinary complexity: aromas of dried fruits, honey, candied citrus peel, ginger, spices, and smoky notes. On the palate, it is creamy, deep, and expansive, with a remarkable balance between power and freshness. The finish is exceptionally long, with mineral persistence and nuances that continue to evolve in the glass.

Winemaking:

All the base wines are vinified in small oak barrels, in keeping with Bollinger’s artisanal tradition. The secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle under natural cork, which allows for optimal maturation and greater aromatic complexity. The Champagne then ages on its lees in the bottle for over 12 years, before the late disgorgement that defines the R.D. philosophy.

Details / Anecdotes:

First introduced by Madame Lily Bollinger in 1967, the R.D. concept revolutionized the world of Champagne: extended aging on the lees followed by late disgorgement, preserving intact freshness and vitality. The 2008 vintage is regarded by many enthusiasts as one of the vintages of the century, making this cuvée a true collector’s item.

Perfumes and scents:

A deep, brilliant ruby red color. On the nose, it reveals intense and complex aromas of black cherry, blackberry, currant, and ripe plum, with spicy, toasty nuances and a mineral touch. On the palate, it is full-bodied, structured, and velvety, with silky, elegant tannins, great freshness, and an exceptionally long persistence. A wine that evolves magnificently over time, developing extraordinary depth and complexity.

Winemaking:

The Pinot Noir is vinified as a still red wine, with traditional fermentation and extended maceration to extract structure and aromas. The winemaking follows the Maison’s artisanal philosophy, favoring traditional methods and low yields. Extraordinary. It can be cellared for over 20 years, evolving toward more tertiary notes of leather, tobacco, spices, and undergrowth, while preserving freshness and vitality.

Details / Anecdotes:

The “La Côte aux Enfants” vineyard was acquired by Bollinger at the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, it has become a symbol of the Maison, to the point that the still red wines produced from this parcel are also used in Bollinger’s rosés. The still version of La Côte aux Enfants is an extremely rare wine, produced only in the best vintages and in very limited quantities: a true treasure for connoisseurs and collectors.

Perfumes and scents:

Color Golden in hue, the wine displays an exceptionally fine effervescence. Aroma On the nose, it reveals a complex bouquet of ripe fruit and spices, with notes of baked apple, fruit compote, and peach. Taste Structured, long, and lively on the palate, it offers delicious hints of pear, brioche, spice, and fresh nuts.

Winemaking:

🍷 Vinification A significant portion of the musts is fermented in small oak barrels—a practice now rare in Champagne—which gives the wine structure, aromatic complexity, and great aging potential. Another part is vinified in stainless steel to preserve freshness and balance. The base wines are kept separate by grape variety, vintage, and cru, ensuring a wide palette of options at the time of blending. 🥂 Blending Special Cuvée is a sans année (non-vintage) Champagne, crafted by combining wines from the latest harvest with reserve wines. Bollinger stands out for its generous use of reserve wines—up to 40%—many of which are stored in magnums under natural cork and aged for 5 to 15 years. This unique choice imparts remarkable depth and stylistic consistency. ⏳ Secondary Fermentation and Aging on the Lees After the prise de mousse (second fermentation in the bottle), the wines rest for a minimum of 3 years on the lees—far longer than the legal requirement of 15 months. This extended aging adds creaminess, complexity, and finesse to the perlage. 🍾 Disgorgement and Dosage After disgorgement, a liqueur d’expédition is added (with a moderate dosage, in the Brut style). The bottles then rest for several more months in the cellar before release, ensuring perfect balance and harmony in the final wine.

Details / Anecdotes:

Bollinger’s Special Cuvée owes its name to the estate’s British agent, who found the term “Brut sans année” unsuitable and suggested calling it “Special Cuvée” instead.

Perfumes and scents:

In the glass, it shows a bright straw-yellow color, animated by a fine and persistent perlage. On the nose, it reveals remarkable freshness, with notes of citrus, green apple, white flowers, and subtle mineral hints. On the palate, it is elegant, dry, and taut, with crystalline freshness and a long, harmonious finish.

Winemaking:

The blend combines grapes from recent vintages with a proportion of reserve wines (around 20%), ensuring balance and stylistic consistency. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and primary aromas. The wine is then aged in the bottle on its lees for a minimum of 3 years—well beyond the 15 months required by Champagne regulations—to achieve greater finesse and complexity.

Details / Anecdotes:

Brut Majeur is considered the calling card of Maison Ayala. It was this very cuvée that, at the end of the 19th century, marked the house’s international success—quickly winning over London’s salons with its freshness and dry style, at a time when Champagne was often much sweeter.

Perfumes and scents:

It presents a delicate, bright pink color, enhanced by a fine and persistent perlage. On the nose, it reveals aromas of fresh red berries (wild strawberry, redcurrant, cherry), along with spicy notes and subtle floral nuances. On the palate, it is complex and structured, displaying elegant vinosity balanced by freshness and a long, refined finish.

Winemaking:

As with Special Cuvée, fermentation takes place partly in small oak barrels—a distinctive practice of the Maison that imparts structure and complexity. The blend combines wines from the most recent harvest with a portion of reserve wines (up to 30%), many of which have been aged in magnums under natural cork for several years. A significant portion of the base wines is vinified in oak barrels, a hallmark of Bollinger’s style. The bottles then rest in the cellar on their lees for an average of three years, far exceeding the legal minimum of 15 months required for a non-vintage Champagne.

Details / Anecdotes:

Bollinger Rosé was introduced only in 2008, relatively late compared to other maisons, as the family chose to wait until they could present a rosé that fully embodied the Bollinger style—intense, structured, and at the same time elegantly refined.

Perfumes and scents:

Bright, luminous, and crystal-clear straw-yellow color, with a fine and persistent perlage. On the nose, it reveals pure and incisive aromas of fresh citrus, green apple, white flowers, and mineral notes. On the palate, it is dry, vertical, and taut, with vibrant freshness and a savory, lingering finish.

Winemaking:

Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and primary aromas. The blend combines wines from the most recent harvest with about 20% reserve wines, which add complexity and stylistic consistency. The wine is then aged in the bottle on its lees for at least three years, well beyond the minimum requirements of the Champagne regulations, gaining elegance and complexity while maintaining its energy and freshness.

Details / Anecdotes:

Brut Nature is the “manifesto of purity” of Maison Ayala: the decision to add no dosage after disgorgement reflects the philosophy of essentiality and transparency that has made the house renowned—beloved by those who seek modern, straightforward, and uncompromising Champagnes.

Perfumes and scents:

It presents a delicate, bright pink hue, animated by a fine and persistent perlage. On the nose, it reveals aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry, and redcurrant, accompanied by floral notes and a subtle mineral touch. On the palate, it is fresh and lively, yet soft and balanced: red fruit meets the finesse of Chardonnay, creating an elegant, harmonious sip with a long, refined finish.

Winemaking:

Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and primary aromas. The blend combines wines from the most recent harvest with about 20% reserve wines, ensuring stylistic consistency and added complexity. The wine is then aged in the bottle on its lees for at least three years, well beyond the 15 months required by Champagne regulations, thereby achieving finesse and balance.

Details / Anecdotes:

Rosé Majeur is considered one of the most elegant and versatile rosés in Champagne. Maison Ayala describes it as its “romantic expression”—a Champagne designed to accompany both refined aperitifs and the most surprising dishes, from sushi to fruit-based desserts.