Description
About This Wine
The 2015 Bollinger La Grande Année Brut 2015 is a Champagne that leans unapologetically into Bollinger’s signature identity—vinous, structured, and quietly opulent—yet shaped by a warm, sun-soaked vintage that gives it an unusually generous, almost hedonistic profile.
From the outset, the nose is expansive and layered, opening with ripe orchard fruit—Mirabelle plum, baked apple, and pear—before moving into more exotic territory with hints of mango and citrus oil. These fruit tones are framed by the house’s hallmark oxidative élevage: toasted brioche, roasted hazelnut, and a faint smoky, almost earthy nuance that feels more like a suggestion than a statement.
On the palate, this is where 2015 declares itself. The texture is broad and enveloping—creamy mousse, almost satin-like—carrying a dense core of fruit that recalls apricot, marmalade, and honeyed citrus. There’s a subtle bitter edge (think orange peel or marmalade) that keeps the wine from drifting into excess, giving it shape and tension despite the vintage’s inherent richness.
What distinguishes this release from cooler, more tensile vintages like 2014 is its emphasis on volume and texture over razor-sharp acidity. The increased proportion of Chardonnay (around 40%) lends lift and polish, but this remains fundamentally a Pinot Noir-driven Champagne—one that feels more like a fine white Burgundy in structure than a typical aperitif sparkler.
Score
96 points, Wine Advocate.
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