2015 Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année Brut

Champagne Bollinger Winery

Champagne Bollinger is one of the great classic houses of Champagne and is known for a style in which structure, ripeness, and precision take center stage. The house works with a high proportion of Pinot Noir, long aging on the lees, and fermentation in wood for a portion of the wines. La Grande Année is produced exclusively in exceptional vintages and reflects the house's vision of balance, ripeness, and aging potential.

More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Region, climate and location

The grapes for La Grande Année 2015 come primarily from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards in Champagne, with a strong focus on Pinot Noir from Verzenay and Aÿ, among others. The year 2015 was characterized by a warm growing season in which finding the balance between sugar ripeness and phenolic ripeness was challenging. By deliberately harvesting later, optimal ripeness could be achieved without green notes.

The Great Year inside the house

La Grande Année is Bollinger's iconic vintage Champagne and is released only when the vintage warrants it. The wine is made with extra attention to structure and aging, both during vinification and in the cellars. Within the range, La Grande Année represents the house's most classic and age-oriented style.

Vineyards

The selected plots are situated primarily on calcareous soils that contribute to tension and length. Pinot Noir plays a dominant role, providing power and structure, while Chardonnay from cooler plots adds freshness and precision. The composition varies by vintage, tailored to the conditions of the harvest year.

Grape varieties and composition

The 2015 blend consists of 60 percent Pinot Noir and 40 percent Chardonnay. This is a higher proportion of Chardonnay than is usual at Bollinger, driven by the desire to bring extra freshness and balance to the warm vintage. Pinot Noir provides structure and depth, Chardonnay refinement and tension.

Harvest, vinification and aging

The grapes were harvested later to reach full ripeness. Vinification took place partly in small oak barrels, which contributes to texture and complexity. After the second fermentation, the wine aged for a long period sur lie in the house cellars. The dosage is 8 grams per liter. The wine was disgorged in May 2023.

Color, smell and taste

The wine displays a bright golden-yellow color with a fine, lively mousse. On the nose, a layered palate develops of toast, dried citrus, mandarin peel, and spicy notes such as sage and menthol. With aeration, riper nuances of pear, tropical fruit, and light smokiness emerge. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and rich in texture, with distinct depth and concentration. The fresh acidity keeps the whole lively and ensures balance. The taste builds with notes of nuts, honey, and a subtle bitterness that provides length and complexity. The finish is long, refined, and harmonious.

Development and drinking window

La Grande Année 2015 already combines aromatic richness with structure, but is clearly built for further aging. Professional assessments mention a drinking window of 2028 to 2040, with potential for further development beyond that under good storage conditions.

Summary of professional reviews

Antonio Galloni of Vinous awarded the wine 96 points and emphasized the rich texture, aromatic complexity, and distinct stylistic difference compared to the tighter 2014 vintage. Jim Gordon of James Suckling also rated the wine 96 points and praised the refinement, freshness, and layered flavor development, with notes of toast, citrus, nuts, and honey. Both reviewers view the wine as an intriguing and cellar-oriented interpretation of the warm vintage.

The full review texts can be found in the tab: Professional reviews.

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grandcruwijnen customers.