Wine Advisor
Bollinger, Francaises Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes 2012
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Description
Champagne Bollinger is a renowned winery located in the Champagne region of France. Established in 1829, it is known for producing high-quality Champagne using traditional methods. Francaises Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes is a prestigious Champagne made exclusively from old vine Pinot Noir grapes sourced from premier vineyards in France. This rare and limited cuvée showcases the depth and complexity that comes from the mature vines, offering a rich and full-bodied expression of Blanc de Noirs. With aromas of red fruits, toasted nuts, and a hint of spice, this Champagne exudes elegance and sophistication. The fine bubbles and long, lingering finish add to its luxurious character, making Francaises Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes a sought-after choice for those who appreciate the finest Champagne.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Disgorged in March 2023 with six grams per liter dosage, Bollinger's 2012 Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Françaises is a powerful, multidimensional Champagne that pushes the house's vinous, Pinot Noir-driven style to the furthest. Offering up rich aromas of orange rind, mandarin oil, grilled peaches, dried fruits and pear mingled with notions of nutmeg, beeswax, smoke and buttered toast, it's full-bodied, broad and layered, with a deep, enveloping core endowed with extraordinary texture and concentration, its broad attack and mid-palate segueing into a long, resonant finish. If the 2013 vintage tended to tame some of the Vieilles Vignes Françaises's exuberance, the 2012 vintage leaves this cuvée untrammeled.
About the Producer
Established in the commune of Aÿ-Champagne in 1829, the House of Bollinger is home to an impressive legacy of winemaking excellence, achieved through the polished precision of a finely tuned timepiece. Today, the Bollinger Champagne House reigns over 440 acres dedicated to the vine in the Champagne region of northern France, of which an impressive 85% is classified Grand Cru or Premier Cru. The vineyards are spread out over 7 main communes. Pinot Noir is planted in Ay (the headquarters of the House), as well as Avenay, Verzenay, Louvois and Tauxieres. Meanwhile, the House’s Chardonnay comes from Cuis, while Pinot Meunier is planted in Champvoisy. A complex and powerful grape, Pinot Noir represents 60% of the total plantings, which corresponds to the exact proportion of this grape variety in the blend of the House’s signature Special Cuvee. The two crown gems of the House are its twin plots, the Clos Saint-Jacques and Chaudes Terres, where ungrafted pre-phylloxera vines are tended to by hand, their fruit used to produce the very exclusive and rare Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Francaises cuvee.
