BOLLINGER Brut 'La Grande Annee' 2015 Bottle

Description

The 2015 Bollinger La Grande Année is a cellar-worthy masterpiece from a meticulously crafted vintage. Composed of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 11 crus, mainly Grand Cru from Verzenay, Aÿ, Chouilly, and Avize, it offers a vibrant, crafted expression of Burgundy terroir. Disgorged in May 2023 with 8 g/L dosage, this vintage shows classic Bollinger richness with warm roasted orange, Mirabelle plum, and baked pear, complemented by savoury undertones of brine, nuts, and dried leaves. The nose is deep and layered, while the palate balances richness with refined structure, marked by a fine mousse and a long, complex finish. Critics praise its power and elegance: Jancis Robinson scores it 17.5 points, noting its deep flavors and developing mushroom notes, while William Kelley awards it 95+ points for its layered, textured profile. A true expression of vintage craftsmanship, it is ideal for aging until 2045, with a broad drinking window from 2025 to 2034.

*****

2015 is a vintage remembered for its classic growth cycle. A particularly mild winter gave way to a varied spring followed by intense heat. It was a glorious summer with plenty of sunshine and little rain. Champagne Bollinger are privileged to have large vineyard holdings and 85% of the 179 hectares belonging to the House are Grands crus and Premiers crus. This allowed them to be diligent in the vineyard and severe selection really paid off. The ripening of the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays was given a boost at the end of August by some long-awaited rainfall. The crops were harvested in mid-September under the cool autumnal skies, giving rise to elegant, fresh and fruity wines, worthy of labelling as true “classics”.

The wonderful smoky, nutty and caramel tones imparted by Bollinger’s distinct oak barrel fermentation are already present and the reserve wines, aged for up to 10 years en magnum, add to its exceptional aromatic intensity.

93-95 points Richard Juhlin
(Richard Juhlin is the world's number one champagne expert, most famous for his skills in blind tasting. World record for most champagne ever tasted.)

96 points – Tyson Stelzer
(Tyson Stelzer is an Australia-based Decanter contributor and Champagne expert, as well as an international speaker and presenter.)

VINOUS 96 points
ollinger'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.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 95+ points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Drink Date: 2025 - 2045
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.

JAMES SUCKLING 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. Drink it now through to 2020.

DECANTER 94 points
Tasted by: Tom Hewson (at London, 22 Mar 2024) Part of First taste: Bollinger's La Grande Année 2015
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2034
A forward vintage for La Grande Année, with warmth evident in its roasted orange, Comice pear and Mirabelle plum, all polished with a sense of savoury maturity that is very Bollinger at heart. There’s a little more oxygen influence seemingly at play than in the 2014, with brine, nuts and a little dried leaf character already taking this far beyond fruit. The food-friendly chewiness of 2015 is there, but the mousse is supple and the Chardonnay brings the wine to a close with a fine, cooked lemon snap. This will start to show its best integration from 2025 onwards, although it is open for business now. 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from the Montagne de Reims, Grande Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs, all fermented in small oak barrels and disgorged in May 2023 after seven years on lees.

JANCIS ROBINSON 17.5 points
Full bottle 1,637 g. A blend of 11 crus, 79% Grand Cru, 21% Premier Cru, predominantly 60% Pinot Noir from Verzenay, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ and 40% Chardonnay from Chouilly and Avize. All oak-fermented and hand-riddled. Disgorged June 2023. Dosage 8 g/l.
Mid straw. Very deep-flavoured on the nose. Some richness and only the beginning of Bollinger's trademark mushroom flavour which I would expect to develop with time. Lighter on the palate than the nose at the moment. It's currently a little more sprightly than some Grande Années. (JR)