2005 Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année

Bollinger’s prestige cuvée is the vintage-dated La Grande Année, made of roughly two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay. It is produced only when the harvest reaches a perfect balance. This wine ferments entirely in oak barrels, and undergoes its second fermentation under cork instead of crown capsule. It’s filled with aromas of honey, gingerbread and cinnamon, and offers a core of pastry and candied orange flavors on the palate.

The 2005 season delivered a higher than average annual temperature, with a dry and sunny September that promised a high-quality harvest.

“Its delicate color and golden reflections are a sign of the wine’s maturity. There is great complexity in the nose, with notes of honey, gingerbread and cinnamon aromas that give way to subtle notes of dried fruits (hazelnut) and dried flowers (lime blossom). This is a full wine featuring flavors of pastry, candied orange and ripe fruit, followed by woodland and vanilla. Boasting a creamy effervescence quality, the subtle acidity of the finish adds freshness to the 2005 vintage.”