La Grande Année Rosé 2005

The wine in this vintage

The rosé version of La Grande Année is made by adding a small proportion of still red Pinot Noir from the house's finest vineyards to the cuvée. In 2005, a warm vintage marked by rain close to harvest and the need for strict selection, Bollinger crafted a rosé of real structure and vinous character. The nose suggests cherry, redcurrant, blood orange and spice over undergrowth and dried fruit; the palate is full, with just enough grip, and a long, slightly earthy finish. Wine Spectator awarded it 95 points. This is a quintessential food Champagne for substantial dishes, and it is still developing: it is best given more time before reaching its peak.

The producer · Bollinger

Founded in Aÿ in 1829, Bollinger remains one of the very few great Champagne houses that is still independent and family-owned. Its modern identity bears the stamp of Madame Lily Bollinger, who ran the house from 1941 to 1971, famously cycling through the vineyards and instilling an uncompromising culture of quality. The house farms a substantial estate of its own, largely rated Grand and Premier Cru, with Pinot Noir from Aÿ, Verzenay and Bouzy as the backbone of its style. Tradition here is a working method rather than a slogan: a significant share of the wines is fermented in small, seasoned oak casks looked after by an in-house cooper, reserve wines are kept in magnums under cork, and lees ageing is long. The result is vinous, deep Champagne with an almost still-wine texture and the ability to age for decades. Its flagship cuvées, La Grande Année, R.D. and the rare Vieilles Vignes Françaises from ungrafted vines, are benchmarks for serious collectors.

Critics' scores

• 95 Wine Spectator
• 93 Robert Parker
• 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson

Technical details

Producer

Bollinger

Region

Champagne

Country

Francia

Type

Bollicine

Vintage

2005

When to drink

Not yet at its peak

Critics' average

94/100

Sizes

75 cl, Magnum 150 cl, Case of 6 × 75 cl

eWibe code

0090305