The vineyards are located in the municipalities of Ay and Verzenay for the red Pinot Noir grapes. These are situated behind the house, and if you stand in the garden at Bollinger, you can already see the beautiful vineyards. The Chardonnay is grown further south, in Oiry to be precise, because that is where the absolute best Chardonnay bunches come from. The harvest is done entirely by hand, and every bunch is visually inspected. Only the best bunches are placed in small wooden crates and transported to Champagne Bollinger.
After pressing, this La Grande Année Rosé 2018 undergoes fermentation, which is done entirely in small wooden barrels. The barrels have an average age of 20 years and define the style of this Bollinger La Grande Année Rosé. This unique technique is something Bollinger is proud of, and today they have as many as 3,500 barrels in which this La Grande Année Rosé matures. Then it is time to get the bubbles into the bottle, and for this, the Champagne undergoes a long cellar aging process with yeast and sugar. The bottles mature for no less than 84 months, resulting in soft bubbles, which are also known as mousse in the wine world.
Yes, after this long period of craftsmanship, it is time to enjoy this spectacular creation. Upon pouring, we see a beautiful color: a red rose with pink highlights. This color is achieved because this rosé is made with the red La Côte aux Enfants, which makes it unique of its kind. To the eye, we also see the soft and very refined mousse that excites our senses. With our nose over the glass, we smell nuances of blackcurrants, lovely notes of citrus fruit, fresh grains, and a hint of mint. On the palate, it is truly a feast; the soft mousse tickles our tongue, releasing flavors of strawberries, red berries, and some blackberries. Later on the tongue, there are nuances of vanilla, citrus notes, and some grapefruit that finish everything off. Yes, whether you have something to celebrate or perhaps nothing at all, with this La Grande Année Rosé 2018, it is always a party.
