2002 BOLLINGER Grande Année Brut

The 2002 Brut La Grande Annee is marvelous. The 2002 is an understated Grande Annee that caresses the palate with layers of effortless, weightless fruit. The mousse is exceptionally fine, which adds to the impression of total elegance. This is a relatively bright, floral Grande Annee with plenty of aromatic lift, inner perfume and no sense of heaviness at all. A rich, creamy finish adds the final note of complexity and pedigree. The 2002 is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, 71% from Grand Cru villages and 29% from Premier Crus. Disgorged February 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.   94/100

One of the greatest champagnes I have tasted and certainly the best vintage Bollinger in years. If you can buy only one champagne in 2011, this should be it. This truly seductive, polished, powerful, pinot noir vintage champagne spent its first fermentation in old oak barrels plus six years ageing in Bollinger's cellars, creating a gorgeous, perfumed, nutty, toasty, beefy mouthful.

Extremely promising combination of the completeness and potential of the 2002 champagne vintage and Bollinger's distinctive mushroomy perfume, full Pinot-dominated palate and dry finish. This should make great old bones and, thanks to 2002's power, is already much more approachable than many previous young vintage Bollingers. Notes of putty and, oddly, roast chicken(!). Complex, satisfying and extremely promising. Not heavy - just substantial.   19

A rich, lemon-gold hue. The bead is small to moderate in size, and settles down quite quickly in the glass. This is still hugely impressive aromatically, and although there are still some minerally tones here it also shows an intense glycerine-tinged fruit style, all yellow plum and star fruit, swirled with almond marzipan richness and citrus zest. It has a very clean rather than a classic, overtly oxidative Bollinger style, but there's some likelihood this will develop with time in bottle. The palate is just remarkable, rich and broad yet incredibly bright and incisive, with polished lemony citrus fruit, layered with stone fruit and clean nutty tones, which gives such a subtle and stylish impression with the acidity. This seems for all the world like grand cru Burgundy with bubbles, substantial yet vigorous, minerally, and a long fading finish. Fabulous and very clean, with beautful sappy strength in the finish. Great balance.   19/20

No need for a long tasting note here – this is categorically the finest Champagne on the market today – at any price. It is perfect in every way and it looks sublime already but will last for a decade. The finest vinous present I can think of! The Ten Best Christmas Bubbles, December 2011