Event Tasting Notes

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A mild winter was followed by a cool, wet spring which resulted in the late blooming of the vines between 16th and 21st June 2012. The summer was hot and bathed in sunshine from mid-July all the way until the end of the harvest, favouring the maturity of the grapes.

Tinted with golden glints that reflect the wine's maturity and Bollinger vinification techniques.


A precise and fruity nose with a slight scent of sea-air. Aromas of cherry and lemon mingle with quince and bergamot. Then notes of hazelnut and almond, peach and mirabelle plum complete this wine's range of aromas.


The initial sensation is a fine and intense effervescence, followed by a wonderful vinosity, and then balanced with delicate acidity. Its very fine texture and sea-air finish bring excellent length on the palate, accompanied by a delicate minerality and the complex flavours of orchard fruit and citrus.


This wine unfurls gradually, revealing its full potential and intensity.

Apricot, almond and hazelnut, followed by notes of honey and cereals intertwining in a symphony of aromas. On the palate exceptional texture and structure. Dense, silky with a long finish. Fresh and full with a delicious refined finish.

Apricot, almond and hazelnut, followed by notes of honey and cereals intertwining in a symphony of aromas. On the palate exceptional texture and structure. Dense, silky with a long finish. Fresh and full with a delicious refined finish.

La Grande Année Rosé is an expression of La Grande Année, featuring all the traditional expertise of Champagne Bollinger: vinification in barrels, riddling and disgorging performed entirely by hand. All this rigorous work and craftsmanship comes together to make La Grande Année Rosé a truly handmade cuvée.

La Grande Année Rosé 2014 is the fruit of a blend of La Grande Année 2014 and a unique red wine from the Côte aux Enfants. This emblematic plot in Aÿ, one of Bollinger’s single plots, is vinified in red only when the grape maturation is optimal, a rarity that contributes to the quality of the wine produced.

To the nose
A real mosaic of fruit: aromas of raspberry, wild strawberries, cherries, etc. Notes of peach and quince complete this fruity bouquet.

On the palate
This wine is characterised by its creamy effervescence, splendid volume in the mouth and long aromatic persistence. Its wonderful acidity and sea-air characteristics appear alongside flavours of orchard fruits and berries.

Tasting recommandations
La Grande Année Rosé 2014 is refined and beautifully rounded, enhancing the most exceptional gastronomic experiences for truly perfect pairings. To showcase its unique style, bouquet and aromas, we recommended serving between 8 and 10°C. You can enjoy La Grande Année Rosé 2014 now, or choose to age it in your cellar.

The amply fruity 2018 vintage represents a half of the blend, its ripeness giving a light peachy tone already to the colour. The rest is constructed of 2017 and 2016 reserve wines and as much as 25% of 2009 vintage reserve wine magnums. The supple nose comes with sweet vanilla tones, apple compote, orange blossom and pencil shavings. There is an immediate charm also to the fleshy and airy yet precise palate. Towards the back palate an energising freshness emerges, adding vivacity to the creamy and textured whole. A beautifully constructed cuvée playing on all the Bollinger fortes. - Tasted by Essi Avellan MW

A predominant grape across the range, Pinot Noir is the pillar of the Bollinger style, and the House has forged its reputation by showcasing this variety. Bollinger PN embodies the ambition to bring to light the variety of expressions of pinot noir by selecting the finest varietal from several terroirs, each contributing a unique component to the overall taste.

This new PN TX17 edition explores the unique interpretation of pinot noir from Tauxières 2017.

To the nose
Notes of dried flowers, joined by aromas of tobacco and mocha. Liquorice and dried fruit round off these sophisticated, subtle and complex aromas.

On the palate
A very fruity, lively facet with notes of cooked apricot, peach and exotic fruit, followed by flavours of acacia honey, fresh walnut and spices. A wonderful salinity complements the acidity of the wine. It finishes on red fruit, crème de cassis and surprising notes of citrus zest. A lively, linear wine with great clarity and in contrast with the nose.

Tasting recommandations
PN TX17 is a wine to be enjoyed by enthusiasts interested in the expression of Pinot Noir from across the Champagne region. To fully appreciate its unique style and aromas, this wine is best served between 8 and 10°C. You can enjoy PN TX 17 now or leave it in the cellar to develop further.

Blend: 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay, 14% Meunier.
Only 5 to 6% red wine added due to its power.
Over 85% Grands and Premiers crus.
Exclusive use of the cuv�e.
Maturation: Cellar aged for more than twice the time required by the appellation.
Dosage: Moderate, 7 to 8 grams per litre

The wine starts with a base of Special Cuv�e: complex and full bodied, perfectly balanced with fresh acidity and a texture that only time can lend, creating a harmony of richness and elegance. 30% of the base wine is vinified in used oak barrels of 228 liters, with some 400 liter casks up to 40 years old. The wine will have matured for 30-36 months on the lees, with a final blend of 50% reserve wines, and 5-10% of the blend consisting of reserve wines 5-15 years of age kept in magnum under cork. This totally unique, laborious process (each magnum is disgorged by hand to be blended) results in wines with a vast spectrum of aromas and flavors, and an unmatched texture. Then, because of the quality and power of Bollinger�s still red Pinot, only 5-6% of red wine is added, less than half (or even a third) what you find in typical Ros� Champagnes.

Blend: 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier. Over 85% Grands and Premiers crus. Dosage: moderate, 7 to 8 grammes per litre. To the eye: a golden colour, distinctive of black grape varieties; very fine bubbles. To the nose: a beautiful aromatic complexity; ripe fruit and spicy aromas; hints of roasted apples, apple compote and peaches. To the palate: a subtle combination of structure, length, and vivacity; bubbles like velvet; pear, brioche and spicy aromas, notes of fresh walnut.

PN VZ16 is the second interpretation in a new series that will be released every year, always with a focus on one of Bollinger�s Pinot Noir crus, or villages. Each year the cuvee will be an expression of a different cru from the base year that highlight's its distinctive terroir and taste. PN VZ16 highlights Verzenay (VZ) which makes up 50% of the blend with the balance from Avenay and Tauxi�res. The blend features 50% from 2016 and 50% of Bollinger's reserve wines with the oldest from 2006.

The Blanc de Blancs is the result of a very selective blend of 100% Chardonnay from the C�te des Blancs and, in particular, the cuv�e base 2016 is composed of 10 crus of Chardonnay, the most sought-after grapes in the region.



For this cuv�e, only the juice from the first press are used and, the wines benefit from a slow and long maturation of 3 to 4 years, far beyond the norms of the region.

To craft the final creation, wines of the year, which include vibrant and chiselled Chardonnays from plots in the C�te des Blancs, the S�zannais and the Montagne de Reims, and structured Meuniers from plots in Sainte Gemme, were blended with selected plots� reserve wines from 4 other years. Unctuous reserve wines from plots in the year 2008 add roundness, while Pinot Noir wines from plots in Ambonnay and Bouzy across different years impart fruit intensity and Meuniers of 2012 add structure.

In all, reserve wines from the House�s extensive library made up 50% of the final blend of this �dition of Krug Ros�

With over 260 years of winemaking history, Lanson is one of the oldest Champagne houses. Their Black Label was famously given as a tribute to the Royal Court of England in 1937. They've been supplying it with world-class wine ever since. The Lanson Black Label has a fine stream of persistent bubbles and a beautiful straw colour. The nose is vibrant with hints of toast and flowers leading to a palate of citrus and ripe fruit. The perfect Champage to elevate the flavours of fish and chips.

Although bone dry, the bottle age has given this an uncommon level of weight and richness that serves as the perfect counterpoint. This may be Laurent Perrier�s first Blanc de Blancs, but it is a masterpiece. Created using the finest Chardonnay grapes sourced from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, this delightfully crisp and refined Champagne is a stunner.

Salmon hue with bright red tints. A ripe, complex and youthful bouquet of slightly tangy red fruit such as redcurrants, blackcurrants, blood orange and roasted cocoa beans. After some time in the glass, the wine reveals sappier, floral and sweet notes with a saline, almost briny, core. Crisp mineral freshness with a fresh lingering finish.

The Mo�t & Chandon Grand Vintage spirit is founded on three essential values: freedom of interpretation, selection of the year's most remarkable wines and individuality of the vintage.
Grand Vintage champagnes distinguish themselves with their maturity, complexity and charisma. The initial notes of the bouquet are sweet, tinged with a red berries fruit salad (wild strawberries, raspberries, pomegranate seeds) complemented by tart notes (blood oranges, star fruit) before evolving towards darker fruit (blackcurrants, figs) and finally a hint of spice (black pepper, dark chocolate, cinnamon)

Perrier Jouet Blason Ros� Brut Champagne is a fantastic ros� and shows hints of strawberry and red fruits on the nose and a rich long palate. A delicious blend of rose and orange flowers with sensual freshness and full-bodied aromas. Pomegranates, pears, apricots, blood oranges, the fragrances of mature red fruits... a juicy and generous blend that gives way to notes of biscuit, butter and pastries. The delicate character of white honeysuckle flowers remains throughout. The Blason Ros� is an intense and balanced champagne.

Essentiel Blanc de Blancs is sourced from the most magnificent Chardonnay vineyards in Champagne. A large proportion of reserve wines are harmoniously blended with wines of the year to ensure the purest expression of the varietal

This sweeter style was reintroduced to satisfy the demand from markets where a semi-dry Champagne was required to pair with desserts or wedding cake or for those with a sweeter palate. In all other regards it is a replica of the Brut R�serve.

The nose opens with beguiling hints of beeswax and apricot which are repeated on the palate and reinforced with notes of acacia honey. Despite the sweetness it is remarkably refreshing and the acidity cuts right through the heart of the champagne leaving the palate cleansed. This would be the perfect toast to serve with wedding cake but equally it complements tarts and crumbles.

Pommery Apanage Rosé Champagne NV 75cl has a characteristic pale pink colour of Pommery rosé Champagnes. Its captivating hue enhances the fine bubbles that rise resplendently in the glass. On the nose it has great freshness and wonderful elegance revealing aromas of red currants, and raspberries. The palate is rich and well-balanced, easy to savour before culminating in an unforgettable finale with wonderful freshness.

Premier and Grand Cru sites only supply the grapes for this excellent ros�, which is made up of 45 percent Chardonnay and 55 percent Pinot Noir, with 18 percent of the latter added as red wine. A subtle nose of rosehip, spice and wild strawberry; on the palate the wine marries exuberant fruit with a richly velvety texture. Ruinart is famous for their Ros�; justly so it would seem

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On the nose, Extra Brut Extra Old 3 reveals aromas of white flowers, citrus fruits (lemon), white fruits and opens with notes of bread dough and orange peel. The first sip reveals a great freshness on the palate, then comes the complexity and depth. Extra Brut Extra Old 3 has an aging potential of more than 15 years and brings all the precision and liveliness of a rare and complex Champagne.

Structured around Pinot Noir, this specific blend has matured slowly over 6 years, under the careful expertise of Didier Mariotti, Maison Mumm's cellar master. Extended ageing allows the wine to express different facets and blossom to perfection revealing ripe baked fruit and spice aromas.

Deep golden in appearance with generous effervescence. On the nose the aromas are autumnal and warm with notes of praline and lightly toasted hazelnuts.


The palate is rich, as would be expected from a warm and generous vintage, with intense notes of dried apricots, dates and figs.


Full bodied and layered, and lasting on the finish.

This millésime was composed of 11 crus, including the vineyards that form the cornerstones of the house style - Oger, Avize, Vertus and Cramant for Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir from Mailly and Ambonnay.

Charles Heidsieck is one of the most admired Champagne houses thanks to the unrivalled and consistently high quality of its wines.

Founded in 1851 by the man who would become known as ‘Champagne Charlie’, this family-owned house is the smallest of

the Grandes Marques. Their size, and commitment to excellence, has been underpinned by a winemaking team that between them have been named 'Sparkling Winemaker of the Year' at the

International Wine Challenge 16 times.

A brilliant golden yellow colour with glints of green and delicate effervescence. The nose is complex with notes of candied citrus and dried fruits with overtones of pecan and hazelnut. The palate is taut and vivacious, leading to a generous mouthfeel and a pronounced minerality. A long finish with rich aromas and caramel notes.

A brilliant golden yellow colour with glints of green and delicate effervescence. The nose is complex with notes of candied citrus and dried fruits with overtones of pecan and hazelnut. The palate is taut and vivacious, leading to a generous mouthfeel and a pronounced minerality. A long finish with rich aromas and caramel notes.

Alcohol (ABV): 12 %, Acidity: 6.40 g/l, Residual sugar: 11.20 g/l The Brut R�serve NV is a radiant pale gold colour with fine, persistent bubbles. The nose is characterised by complex pastry aromas, with an opulent combination of ripe apricot, mango, greengages, dried fruits, pistachio and almond. The palate begins with a silky-smooth sensation, developing into ripe fleshy apricot, melon and enticing plum pastry notes and delicate spice. There is perfect balance of freshness and generosity.