Is Bollinger Champagne the right wine for you? Drinking and investing?
You’ve probably heard of this as Bond’s “official” Champagne and heard its name being sung with excitement at parties!
It is the dazzling, sparkling wine created by Bollinger, the individual Champagne House that maintains over 150 acres of vineyards. What’s unique what’s so special about Bollinger Champagne?
What kinds of wine are produced by the Champagne House produce?
Are Bollinger Cuvees suitable for long-term investing?
Do not worry; you do not need the expertise of James Bond to find out!
A Brief Intro To The House Of Bollinger
Founded in 1829 as Renaudin-Bollinger & Cie, Bollinger House is one of the most famous Champagne Houses in the world. It is located in Aÿ in Champagne, Northern France.
The generations of the Bollinger family have managed this Champagne House, which is adored worldwide for its exceptional Pinot Noir dominating cuvees. The Bollinger type (or House style) Champagnes use Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay only to enhance the taste and flavor of the drink.
The House produces a variety of top-quality cuvees, such as their vintage Vieilles Vignes Francaises R.D Grande Annee and an unvintage Special Cuvee. Besides sparkling wine, they also make an old-fashioned red wine called Coteaux Champenois Coteaux Champenois Cote with Enfants.
A Quick History Of Bollinger
Athanase de Villermont, a French soldier, saw the exceptional potential of wines in Champagne. Together with Joseph Bollinger and Paul Renaudin, they founded the firm Renaudin-Bollinger & Cie.
Joseph Bollinger came to France in the same period in the same way as Charles Heidsieck and Johann-Josef Krug, who all produced terrific wines.
In 1920, Jacques Bollinger, grandson of Joseph Bollinger, inherited the House at 24. Bollinger was the head of the House (with assistance from his relatives) through the downturn and the Second World War.
When he died in 1941, Jacques’s spouse, Elizabeth Bollinger (Lily Bollinger), was left to take over the place where her husband had gone.
Madame Bollinger was a fierce businesswoman, perfectionist, and the force behind the ingenuous Bollinger R.D. (recently disgorged) cuvee. (More about this in a minute.)
In the following years, the family members assumed the residence, keeping up with the latest fashions and the founders’ quality standards.
2008 Bollinger’s tradition was changed 2008, and Jerome Philipon, a non-family member, was able to take the title of Bollinger from Ghislain de Montgolfier.
Are you looking for something exciting to make with sparkling wine? Mix up a fruity Mimosa, or try our favorite Sangria recipe.
The James Bond Connection
Ian Fleming first mentioned Bollinger Champagne in his fourth spy novel “Diamonds are forever” in 1956. However, movie lovers had to wait till 1973 to see James Bond sip Bollinger Champagne in “Live and Let Die.”
What makes Bollinger so distinctive that it is Spy’s favorite drink?
Jerome Philippon (former president of Bollinger) claims Bollinger is the most popular drink in the world. Bollinger is the preferred drink since Bollinger can be “the most British of all Champagnes.”
Another explanation is that in the 1970s, Bollinger director Christian Bizot was close to Bond producer — Albert Broccoli. Broccoli selected Bollinger as his hero’s preferred Champagne to show appreciation for their friendship.
Let’s look into the winemaking and viticulture processes here at Bollinger House.
The Bollinger Vineyards
Bollinger is one of the few Champagne Houses producing most of the grapes for their blends. 60% of the grapes used come from their vineyards.
Bollinger vines Bollinger vines are among the ones that are planted most tightly and are among the most famous landscapes in the region.
Powerful and complex, the Pinot Noir grape represents 60 percent of vineyards and is what gives its Special Cuvee its extraordinary structure.
Pinot Noir is planted across Ay, Avenay, Tauxieres, and Louvois et Verzenay. Chardonnay grows in Cuis and Pinot Meunier in Champvoisy.
The vines are all managed by hand and reproduced by a process known as provignage (a type that involves layers.) This is a way to preserve the vine’s history and create the distinctive Vieilles Vignes Francaises cuvee.
Bollinger’s Unique Winemaking Process
The Bollinger House’s cellars and bottling process best represent how vital time is for a wine’s quality.
Following the primary fermentation, whether in wooden barrels, stainless steel, or a barrel of oak, The wine is then made into a bottle and stored within the chalk cellars.
The long time in darkness develops the wine’s unique aroma and the soft feel of bubbles.
The quest for excellence does not end with the process of winemaking. Traditional methods like riddling (regular twisting bottles around to keep sparkling wine free of sediment) and disgorging (eliminating the deposit) remain used using a manual method!
Bollinger also lets their wines sit for up to three months following the disgorgement to ensure that the wines are stable.
Vieille Vignes Francaise
Small quantities of this cuvee are produced from two small plots, Chaudes Terres and Clos St-Jacques. These severely pruned low-density vineyards make 35% less juice per vine, creating this super-rich wine.
It is a smoky, intense wine that reflects very mature vintages. The mouthfeel is smooth and round, and a hint of oyster shell laced with saline in the final.
Coteaux Champenois La Cote aux Enfants
This vintage red wine comes from the grapes grown in the Echelle vineyard.
La Cote des Enfants provides a velvety taste and delicate balance. Sommeliers suggest pouring the wine into a decanter before serving.
Reserve Wine
Bollinger saves some wines from the Premier Crus and Grand Crus every harvest.
The wines are stored in magnums, with cork, aged 5 to 15 years. There are approximately 650,000 magnums in the Bollinger cellar.
Reserve wines are utilized for mixing Special Cuvee and other wines.
If your senses are screaming for a taste of this exquisite wine, look at these fantastic Bollinger Champagnes you must purchase!
Bollinger Champagnes You Have To Try!
Every bottle made by Bollinger is a pleasure. We’ve compiled eight of our top Bollinger:
1998 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut
This Champagne is the classic dinner table bubbly! It has divine notes of butterscotch and toasty nuttiness on the nose. It has a brisk texture, a sour acidity, and a concentrated and firm structure.
2007 Bollinger La Grande Annee Brut ‘James Bond 007’ Edition
This elegant Champagne was released to celebrate the 40-year partnership with the Bond franchise. Made with 100% Pinot Noir, this Cuvee has a sleek and fresh bouquet of fresh fruit and pastry. Its moderately firm palate shows some delicate iodine notes.
1998 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut ‘Spectre’ James Bond 007 Edition
This Bond Champagne comprises 68% Pinot Noir and 32% Chardonnay. It has a refined complexity reflects the Grand Crus’ terroirs, and you will enjoy aromas of orchard blossom, hints of vanilla, crisp yellow orchard fruit, hazelnut, and stewed pear.