Champagne Bollinger

BOLLINGER GRANDE ANNÉE ROSÉ 1996   Ø Characteristics of the year 1996  A cold and dry winter with scarce frosts was followed in mid-April by budding in hot weather. The lack of rain coupled with high spring temperatures recalled the vintage of 1976. The flowering of the Chardonnay was a little difficult and this variety suffered from millerandage (partial crop failure). The summer was hot until mid-August, then rain followed. September was also capricious, with very cold night temperatures.

 Harvest started under very good conditions, from September 16th. The average yield was 10,300 kg per hectare. The composition of the musts was absolutely exceptional, as it is rare to obtain both sugar richness (more than 10% potential alcohol) and such high total acidity (10g/l). The Champenois look at the wines of 1996 as Champagnes of long ageing capacity.

Ø  Grande Année Rosé 1996

 Grape were harvested exclusively from Champagne’s grands and premiers cru vineyards. 16 crus were used in the assemblage (blend) of the Grande Année 1996, 77% from grands crus and 23% from premiers crus. These were primarily from the villages of Aÿ, Bouzy, Louvois, Verzenay, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Mesnil s/Oger, Oger, Cuis, Cramant and Chouilly.

The blend of Grande Année Rosé 1996 is composed of:                        

73% pinot noir

27% chardonnay

 To the final blend was added 6.5% pinot noir from Bollinger’s historic Cote aux Enfants vineyard in Ay,

for color, depth and richness.

Ø Vinification of Grande Année Rosé 1996

 Grande Année Rosé 1996 was produced only from the cuvée (first grape pressing).

The first fermentation took place in small oak casks (205, 225 and 410 litres), lot by lot, cru by cru, and grape variety by grape variety. This allows Bollinger to use a very strict selection process. Bollinger uses only old casks (5 years old or older) to ensure that neither tannin nor oak flavors are imparted to the wines. This method increases both the aromatic complexity and the ageing capacity of great wines.

Ø Grande Année Rosé 1996 aged in the cellars under natural cork

 The wines were bottled for second fermentation and ageing using real cork stoppers, which ensure a better barrier against oxidation than crown caps, and then aged in Bollinger’s cellars. Using cork stoppers, quite rare in Champagne today, guarantees freshness and allows aromas to fully develop their bouquet.

After disgorgement by hand, Grande Année Rosé 1996 rested for a minimum of three months prior to  shipment. This is the necessary amount of time for the wine to assimilate the liqueur d’expédition (dosage) and recover from the shock of disgorgement.

 Wines produced

Special Cuvée NV                               R.D. 1990                                  Grande Année 1995

Bollinger Rosé 1996            Côtes aux Enfants 1997            Vieilles Vignes Francaises 1996

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