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La Grande Années

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Boris Buliga

Explore our recent La Grande Année vertical tasting, revealing contrasts in bottle sizes over time.


some random image you can find on barberry garden
Photo by Anna Zinchuk

Let's be real: a vertical tasting of La Grande Année does tickle our hedonistic side. However, there's a method to this indulgence. A recent gathering opened our eyes (and palates) to the expected yet stark contrast between regular and magnum bottles over time – a revelation that left us more curious than a cat in a vineyard. Sadly, we couldn't do an apples-to-apples (or grapes-to-grapes) comparison then, so we're setting the stage for a more 'scientific' exploration this time.

Plus, we've brewed up a theory that longer ageing on lees might just curb the post-disgorgement ageing potential. Armed with these hypotheses (and an unquenchable thirst for quality bubbly), we lined up an evening starring La Grande Année by Bollinger. The show-stopper? A long-anticipated magnum of Egly-Ouriet that set the tone impeccably. And because no epic tasting is complete without a grand finale, we wrapped up with a rosé that's been charming its way through 17 years of existence. And of course, how can you go without La Grande Année's older brother - R.D.?

P.S. For those itching to dive deeper into the world of Bollinger, we've got a page teeming with juicy details. It's like a backstage pass to the champagne world, minus the velvet rope. Just read it!

WinePlace
wavg
sdev
🏅 5th4.41940.0093
🥈 2nd4.55290.0138
🏅 9th4.35830.0181
🥉 3rd4.50190.0108
🥇 1st4.62590.0095
🏅 6th4.39170.0085
🏅 7th4.37990.0191
🏅 4th4.43060.0288
🏅 8th4.36940.0038
🏅 10th4.29470.0396

Bollinger La Grande Année 2014

Region
France » Champagne AOC
Type
white traditional sparkling, brut
Producer
Bollinger
Vintage
2014
Disgorged
2022-03
On lees
~84 months
Grapes
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol
12
Sugar
8
Bollinger La Grande Année 2014

This wine secured the 🏅 5th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger La Grande Année (d2008) 2000 - magnum

Region
France » Champagne AOC
Type
white traditional sparkling, brut
Producer
Bollinger
Vintage
2000
Disgorged
2008-10
On lees
>84 months
Grapes
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol
12
Sugar
unknown
Bollinger La Grande Année (d2008) 2000

This wine secured the 🥈 2nd place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger La Grande Année (d2010) 2000

Region
France » Champagne AOC
Type
white traditional sparkling, brut
Producer
Bollinger
Vintage
2000
Disgorged
2010-05
On lees
108 months
Grapes
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol
12
Sugar
unknown
Bollinger La Grande Année (d2010) 2000

This wine secured the 🏅 9th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger La Grande Année 1997 - magnum

Region
France » Champagne AOC
Type
white traditional sparkling, brut
Producer
Bollinger
Vintage
1997
Disgorged
2006-09
On lees
>96 months
Grapes
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol
12
Sugar
unknown
Bollinger La Grande Année 1997

This wine secured the 🥉 3rd place in our wine tasting lineup.

Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru 2006 - magnum

Region
France » Champagne AOC » Montagne de Reims
Type
white traditional sparkling, brut
Producer
Egly-Ouriet
Vintage
2006
Disgorged
2018-07
On lees
132 months
Grapes
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Alcohol
12.5
Sugar
2
Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru 2006

This wine secured the 🥇 1st place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger R.D. 2008

Region
France » Champagne AOC
Type
white traditional sparkling, extra brut
Producer
Bollinger
Wine
R.D.
Vintage
2008
Disgorged
2022-10-28
On lees
>156 months
Grapes
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol
12.5
Sugar
3.4
Bollinger R.D. 2008

This wine secured the 🏅 6th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger R.D. 1995

Region
France » Champagne AOC
Type
white traditional sparkling, extra brut
Producer
Bollinger
Wine
R.D.
Vintage
1995
Disgorged
2006-03-15
On lees
120 months
Grapes
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol
12
Sugar
unknown
Bollinger R.D. 1995

This wine secured the 🏅 7th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger R.D. 1990

Region
France » Champagne AOC
Type
white traditional sparkling, extra brut
Producer
Bollinger
Wine
R.D.
Vintage
1990
Disgorged
2004-04-07
On lees
156 months
Grapes
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol
12
Sugar
unknown
Bollinger R.D. 1990

This wine secured the 🏅 4th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger La Grande Année Rosé 2007

Region
France » Champagne AOC
Type
rose traditional sparkling, brut
Producer
Bollinger
Vintage
2007
Disgorged
2019-04
On lees
~132 months
Grapes
Pinot Noir
Alcohol
12
Sugar
unknown
Bollinger La Grande Année Rosé 2007

This wine secured the 🏅 8th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Château d'Yquem Sauternes 1997

Region
France » Bordeaux » Sauternes AOC
Type
white still, sweet
Vintage
1997
Grapes
Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol
14
Sugar
unknown
Château d'Yquem Sauternes 1997

This wine secured the 🏅 10th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Raw scores

WineMax DZorick UMariia LVitalii MMykolaVolodymyr ANatashaKostyantynAnna ZBoris BAAnton T
4.404.504.304.454.504.354.604.604.404.404.404.30
4.604.604.404.604.704.404.504.704.704.604.604.35
4.304.304.204.304.604.404.404.604.504.304.504.20
4.504.504.604.504.704.304.604.704.604.504.604.50
4.604.704.424.704.604.604.404.504.604.704.604.65
4.404.504.304.304.504.254.404.304.404.404.304.55
4.404.204.504.404.724.504.504.304.404.204.504.45
4.504.204.704.504.704.404.654.604.454.204.704.55
4.404.404.204.404.404.304.404.404.404.404.304.35
4.004.204.454.504.604.504.204.304.704.204.204.50