- 99 points -

The 2008 La Grande Année is another brilliant 2008 that delivers the goods. Straight-up awesome notes of stone fruits, white flowers, honeysuckle, and an incredible, liquid rock-like minerality all emerge from the glass, and it develops more nuance, spice, toasted bread, and an almost Alsatian Riesling-like petrol character over the course of the evening. It’s a full-bodied, rich, powerful Champagne, yet like the top 2008s, it has brilliant precision, purity, and focus. It’s unquestionably one of the finest versions of this cuvée ever produced, although it needs another 4-5 years of bottle age to hit prime time. It should keep for 3-4 decades. Bravo!

- 97 points -

#10 TOP 100 WINES OF 2020

This goes from zero to 60 right out of the gate, with an intense spine of acidity driving tightly meshed flavors of crushed black currant, ground coffee, candied grapefruit peel and toasted almond. The profile expands on the palate, carried by the fine, raw silk–like mousse. Richly aromatic and expressive from start to lasting, spiced finish.

- 97 points -

In 2008, the remarkable maturity of the grapes combined with an amazing acidity has produced a vintage of great balance, concentration and depth. The wine was aged for nine years on its lees, then for another year following disgorgement. Bright straw in colour with pinprick bubbles, it blooms on the nose with a fresh lemon leaf aroma, a sniff of strawberry and white chocolate and a candied peanut toastiness in depth. On the palate it’s silky, broad and lingering, showing a kind of bittersweet fruit profile with grapefruit and peach kernel notes, and an amazing chalky, mineral finish. 

- 96 points -

Enticing hints of toasted cumin, ground anise and graphite waft from the glass of this harmonious, mouthwatering version, accenting the finely meshed flavors of crushed black currant, poached apricot, grilled nut and lemon curd. The texture shows a lovely viscosity, extending the flavor range, which expands on the lasting finish.

- 96 points -

Bollinger's 2015 Brut Grand Année is an intriguing wine in that is clearly reflects the decision to pick on the later side in order to avoid vegetal notes derived from the mismatch of alcoholic and phenolic ripeness. "Balance was hard to achieve in 2015," Chef de Cave Denis Bunner notes. "At 10% in sugar, the fruit was simply not ripe. We had to wait to reach the optimal window of ripeness." Bunner also opted to increase the Chardonnay, so the blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, as opposed to the more typical 70/30 blend, with more Verzenay than Aÿ in the Pinots. Dried citrus peel, sage, menthol, sage, tangerine peel and spice build with some coaxing. Light tropical overtones develop with aeration. There's real density and textural richness here. This will be a fascinating vintage to follow. Stylistically, it is the complete opposite from the much more linear 2014 that precedes it. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged: May 2023.

- 96 points -

Enticing, fragrant aromas of toast, lemon zest and an earthy-smoky nuance lead to a palate of subtle Bosc-pear, mango, papaya, even pineapple flavors. Lifted by fresh acidity on the medium-bodied palate, the wine keeps unfolding in toasted walnuts, honey and a dash of bitter marmalade. It’s mouth-filling, alive with acidity and full of finesse.

- 95 points -

Bollinger's 2004 Brut La Grand Année is a beautiful wine with a lot of vintage character, but the style is a bit less oxidative than Bollinger fans are likely to expect. Pears, hazelnuts, spices and crushed rocks all flow through to the tense, vibrant finish. It will be interesting to see if the 2004 puts on weight in the bottle, as so many wines from this vintage have. Today, it is bright, linear and quite pretty. Green apples, pears and flowers all add lift on the close.

- 95 points -

a Grande Année is only made from free-run juice and in only the best years. It’s not how you would describe the 2005 vintage, but the 70 percent Pinot Noir and 30 percent Chardonnay made from 13 Crus (Aÿ and Verzenay for Pinot Noir and Avize, Chouilly and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger for Chardonnay) seems to have overcome the wet weather. It was disgorged in 2014 after 8 years on lees and is surprisingly ready to drink. What makes the nose so beautiful and enticing is a persistent bead of pin-head size bubbles that release the aromas in the most gentle fashion possible. It’s not a shy wine, but like the Special Cuvée the current style has more finesse and restraint then we have seen in the past, adding to this wine's attraction. Creamy, warm brioche mixes with floral, nutty, tangerine and gentle spicy notes that scream complexity and length. There is more sugar ripeness and less acidity, which is why it's drinking well now and will likely age faster than the norm. Simply excellent. When you find yourself losing faith in wine, this champagne will recharge your batteries.

- 95 points -

La Grande Année is only made from free-run juice and in only the best years. It’s not how you would describe the 2005 vintage, but the 70 percent Pinot Noir and 30 percent Chardonnay made from 13 Crus (Aÿ and Verzenay for Pinot Noir and Avize, Chouilly and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger for Chardonnay) seems to have overcome the wet weather. It was disgorged in 2014 after 8 years on lees and is surprisingly ready to drink. What makes the nose so beautiful and enticing is a persistent bead of pin-head size bubbles that release the aromas in the most gentle fashion possible. It’s not a shy wine, but like the Special Cuvée the current style has more finesse and restraint then we have seen in the past, adding to this wine's attraction. Creamy, warm brioche mixes with floral, nutty, tangerine and gentle spicy notes that scream complexity and length. There is more sugar ripeness and less acidity, which is why it's drinking well now and will likely age faster than the norm. Simply excellent. When you find yourself losing faith in wine, this champagne will recharge your batteries.

- 94 points -

A bright, lacy Champagne, offering a tapestry of finely woven flavors: graphite and ground spice, crushed blackberry and dried apricot, toast and honeycomb. Firm and focused, with a lasting, chalky finish.

- 94 points -

A powerful, structured and graceful 2005, showing deft integration of the rich, chalky underpinning, firm acidity and expansive flavors of crushed black currant, spring blossom, toasted almond, crystallized honey and preserved lemon. Offers a fine, raw silk–like mousse and a long, spiced finish.

- 94 points -

Pale old-gold in colour, and searching, winey scents with an amplitude which recalls mature burgundy (the apple orchard, sweet hay and soft hazels). Structured, broad and full on the palate, with ripe acidity recalling many fruits, even red ones. There have probably been Grande Années with more nerve and sinew than this, but its breadth, complexity and texture are hugely satisfying and that ‘winey’ appeal surely owes much to 100 per cent old-wood fermentation.

- 94 points -

Impressive concentration and power here. This is really assertive with ripe yellow orchard fruits and citrus within a core encased in a layer of more savory, toasty notes on both the nose and palate. There's that gentle hint of aldehyde that is the traditional stamp of the house plus savory woody notes, white mushrooms and some chalk and spices, too. The palate has a fleshy opening, filling out with peach and hazelnut flavors before a smooth ride to the finish. Approachable and complex. 

- 93 points -

Texture is key here, with a fruit basket of indulgence tempting the senses, the predominant Pinot Noir adding plums, cherry and hints of cedar to the creamy, toasty core that has been bequeathed by the barrel fermentation. Energetic, vital and brimming with potential, its 8g/l of sugar is lightly worn. This is a seductive Grande Année, hard to resist in its youth but far from lacking gravitas and matière to secure a happy development.

- 93 points -

A fresh hue, with gold highlights signalling lovely ripeness. Almond scents with peach and mango. On the palate, honey notes and crisp acidity are in fine balance. Classy. Ready but will keep well.

95+

The 2015 Brut La Grande Année was disgorged last year with eight grams per liter dosage. The wine has turned out beautifully, exhibiting a more muscular, old-school Bollinger profile in contrast to the unusually racy, fine-boned 2014 that preceded it. Wafting from the glass with notes of pear, orange oil and white flowers mingled with notions of mocha, toasted hazelnuts and fino sherry, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, with a dense core of fruit framed by chalky structuring extract, concluding with a long, sapid finish.