Racy acidity drives this mouthwatering Champagne, enlivening the rich panoply of flavors. Features a fine and creamy mousse that's still a lively springboard for aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, glazed tangerine, roasted hazelnut, ground coffee, pickled ginger and white blossoms. Long and satiny, with minerally salt and chalk notes gaining momentum on the lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2021. Drink now through 2037.
With the hallmark Bollinger richness that is derived from fermentation in wood and a high percentage of Pinot Noir in the blend, this grand wine is ripe, full of apple and spice flavors. It is drinkable now, but still young. Keep until 2024.
Offering up complex aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, confit citrus, frangipane, walnuts, dried white flowers and subtle hints of iodine, Bollinger's 2014 Brut La Grande Année is medium to full-bodied, pillowy and vinous, with an elegantly fleshy core of fruit that's underpinned by racy acids and complemented by a pretty pinpoint mousse. Concluding with a long, chalky finish, this is a charming but precise Grande Année that's more giving and demonstrative than its immediate predecessor, the 2012, but which attains a very similar level of quality in a more challenging vintage—testimony to the serious viticulture that underpins Bollinger's contemporary excellence. Best after 2021.
The 2014 is very closely linked to the cold vintages, which express the characteristics of the different terroirs, the soil, and therefore the minerality,' explains Denis Bunner, assistant cellarmaster at Bollinger. 'This is a vintage of contrasts, with one of the hottest Junes in the last 50 years, but a very cool August, resulting in slow ripening. We harvested from 15 September, for two weeks, which makes it one of our shortest harvests. The most important thing for us was to manage the ripeness in order to obtain the best possible sorting window.' A blend of 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay, this 2014 La Grande Année is from 19 villages, all grands and premiers crus, with 23% coming from Verzenay and 18% from Aÿ. It was aged for six months in small barrels. It has fresh and distinctive notes of lemon, herbs, red berries and gooseberries, and a splendid calcareous frame. The palate is mineral, tense and elegant with a dense structure, a perfectly balanced texture, fine bubbles, and a lingering finish.
Raised entirely in barrel, the 2014 Champagne La Grande Année Brut is all about finesse and capturing the cool, mineral tension and floral notes of the vintage. Enhancing those qualities, a bit higher proportion of Chardonnay was used for this release, making up 39% of the blend. It pours a pale straw, and it is layered and persistent with lightly toasted pastry, Mirabel plum liqueur, and saline. The palate is dry and more tightly wound at this stage, with driving citrus, a chalky texture, and a light phenolic finish. Subtle undercurrents of honey and butterscotch should continue to evolve beautifully over the coming decades. Drink 2024-2044. Disgorged December 2021, it has 7 grams per liter of dosage.
The 2014 La Grande Année is stunning. In fact, it is one of the best recent editions I can remember tasting. What comes through most is the wine’s sizzling energy and tension, qualities that aren’t often associated with Bollinger, where the Champagnes tend to show more breadth and volume. In 2014, readers will find a Grande Année built on linear intensity and drive. The 2014 is a blend taken from 19 villages, 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay instead of the more typical 70/30 mix. For the second time in two decades (the first was 2007), Verzenay takes the lead in the Pinots over Aÿ, more or less an inverse from the norm. Verzenay, a north-facing village in the Montagne de Reims that saw less rain than Aÿ and most of the Vallée de la Marne, yields Pinots of energy more than volume. That, married with Chardonnays mostly from the Côtes des Blancs (predominantly Chouilly, Vertus, Oiry and Cramant), results in a truly magical Grande Année that will delight Champagne fans for several decades. I can’t recommend the 2014 highly enough. It’s a total knock-out. Disgorged: April, 2021. Dosage: 8 grams per liter.
Nicholas Fortune –
Drinkable after popping, dark gold. Improved after 30 minutes. Past its prime, but had massive brioche and honey. Fun to try!
Marcella Baxley –
Concentrated and complex with notes of peach, grapefruit, brioche, and toasted walnuts. Long finish.
Harold Parton –
Citrus notes of lemon, orange and almond with a light toast quality. Medium bodied, excellent density and purity of flavor, outstanding acidity. Shows beautifully over two hours. Great expression, has many years to go.
Pamela Carnicelli –
Flat in the glass, lacking expected effervescence. Good aged color, moderate flavor.
Jordan Cayton –
Beautiful lemon curd on dark toast with a long finish and perfect mouthfeel. Improves with age. Excellent bubbly.
Billy Miller –
DG October 2017: Rich, developed, baked apple, brioche, Bolly, lovely.
Gerry Eaton –
Review: Disgorged Nov 09. Classic biscuity nose, silky mouthfeel with fine bubbles. Citrus freshness, honey, brioche, and hazelnut layers. Lovely place, wish I had more left.
Tenisha Mitchell –
Young wine with a nose of lemon cream, brioche, chalk, and minerality. High acidity with notes of bruised apple, peach, and toasted peanuts. Finishes complex with spicy ginger. Needs more time to reach its full potential.
James Richardson –
Wine had oxidation and maderisation initially, fine bubbles were evident but oxidation took away most of the pleasure. Some apple fruit emerged after an hour. Finish on mid-palate was good with acidity overcoming oxidative notes temporarily. Would have been better 10 years ago.
David Mayo –
Balanced with yeast notes, low effervescence, paired well with steak and red pepper bisque.
Ervin Kemp –
Mature wine with tiny bubbles, effervescent mouth feel, citrus, and toast notes. Perfect for NYE.
Ronald Runkle –
Best bottle of the case so far. Hazelnuts, coffee, butter, apple, pear. Long, chalky ending. Great wine now.
Paul Miller –
Rich brioche notes in a golden, oxidative wine.
Brooke Dorais –
5/5 for this champagne. Perfect bubbles, color, and nose. Light brioche and yeast with a balanced mouthfeel.
Stanley Henderson –
Undrinkable due to TCA contamination, poured down the drain. No aromas, bitter and astringent finish.
Linsey Eldredge –
Beautifully elegant with yellow peach and pit fruits, super concentrated, and everything in place. The clear winner.
Thomas Jeffreys –
“Bollinger’s classic toastiness meets high acidity, resulting in a rich and dense wine that’s highly enjoyable.”
Cynthia Roorda –
Fully mature with pop under cork, complex details of butterscotch and hazelnut. Not too cloying and at a glorious peak, though some tasters found it a little past.
Melissa Pressley –
Needs a few more years to mature.
Stanley Patterson –
The wine needs aging; currently quite oxidative in style, but extremely powerful. May have gone into hibernation, hold them if possible.
George Bennett –
Outstanding champagne, perfect with mushrooms and brioche on the nose. Best I ever recall but the 1.5L bottle wasn’t as good as the first. Great splurge!
Reginald Markell –
Moden, mørk gul på farge. Modne epler, rund og fyldig. God vin, små elegante bobler, mangler litt friskhet.
Irene Calloway –
Cuvee Holiday Luncheon: Served with Grilled venison with cherry and marsala demi-glace, arugula, blackberry and guanciale. , Complex, muscular champagne with ripe fruit notes – while it’s no cab, proves bubbles can pair beautifully with red meat. , Lovely pink color, Gingerbread spice on the nose. Signature Bollinger oak-fermented produced slight vanilla. Ripe fruit produced great example of 2005. , Another spectacular pairing, but still 2nd to 1522 with smoked salmon canapé., We enjoyed from jeroboam, and it was in a great place. I am not sure I would hold for too long.
Hilario Smith –
Suited for those who prefer a more mature tasting champagne.
Kathleen Waller –
Fantastic wine with beautiful fruit and energy, needs some time to open up.
George Gutierrez –
Good, but not as good as the Pierre Peters we had at the same dinner.
Lloyd Ashton –
Young, beautiful acidity, toasty notes. Evolves when warmed in glass. Wait a few years.
Brad Barrett –
Expensive but worth it. Distinctive taste of bruised red apples, toasted oak, brioche, and mushrooms. Powerful, complex, and elegant. A top-notch champagne.
Christina Roberts –
Superb La Grand Annee with an aggressive, fine bead and bright nose. Purity, definition, and intensity on the palate with stony minerality, light toast, creamy texture, and balance. A great choice for early drinking. 94+ to 95(+)pts.
Odell Johnson –
Rating: 92. Complex aftertaste with dried apricots and honey. Ideal drinking age passed. Drink now-2030.
Jean Harris –
Great aged notes of toasty and dark caramel with deep flavor make Knights of Alba (KOA) BYO Barbaresco Dinner a truly lovely wine.
Nelson Baade –
“Indulge in the heavenly taste of berries and Chantilly cream with a shimmering gold touch. Turn the machines back on for more of this heady wine.”
Anthony Harper –
Impressions of cheese, nuts, and good freshness towards the end of a long night. Blind tasting of 2008 Champagne and older or floral reds (Imperial Grand).
Joseph Wait –
2008 Champagne and older or Imperial Grand floral reds: Blind. Balanced, acidic, slightly sweet and oxidative with long finish.
Michael Meyers –
Tasty, profound, lively.
Brian George –
Yvelin’s farewell is fresher than 99 or 02. Some didn’t think it was champagne. Good but not my favorite due to sweetness.
Kassie Ward –
Young champagne with green apple, grapefruit and lemon notes and high acidity. Needs 2-3 years to reach its drinking window.
Thomas Loaiza –
Excellent Bollinger with intense, full flavor, beautiful balance, and hints of bruised apple, rich, round, and spicy. Hard to imagine better champagne. Love it!
Mary Mercurio –
“Lonny’s Tete Cuvee is a pleasure with bold richness and fruit flavors. Excellent pairing with The Kenwood’s fries. “
Kelly Edrington –
Rich and developed with notes of apple, smoke, marzipan, and spice. Very high acidity and intense on the palate with a long finish. Best enjoyed now or in 5 years.
Charles Carns –
2005 Grand Année paired perfectly with intense four-year aged Gouda Gougeres. It was full-bodied, complementing the flavors well. Simply put, a big win!
David Joyce –
Indulgent golden wine with nutty and honey aromas, concentrated and rich on the palate with orchard fruit and brioche notes. Perfect for special occasions.
Rudolph Abernathy –
Magnum’s Sophienwald from Restaurant Holz und Feuer in Kirchheim, Germany is a good champagne but lacked excitement and depth compared to Krug 168. Needs more time. 91-92+.
Donald Keehn –
Not a fan of champagne, this one was acidic and lacked refreshment. Suitable for parties, not ideal for a fancy dinner.
Jessica Lutz –
Excellent balance of restrained yellow apple, almond, creamy peach, and lemon curd with hazelnut, biscuit, and brioche. Crazy acid. Heavenly upgrade from the standard bottling.
Graig Cropp –
Impressive and balanced champagne, ahead of Vilmart’s Coeur de Cuvee. 96.
Lesley Lowe –
Pale straw yellow with medium perlage. Nose initially restrained, but with air, brioche, green apple, and citrus notes emerged. Straightforward palate with good acidity and minerality. Accessible but too young for personal taste. Will gain complexity with age.
Sean Harris –
Unofficial notes. Cellar drank. Fantastic. Grateful for one more.
Genevieve Keller –
Initial butter biscuit notes with mineral undertones and a hint of citrus and mature, slightly oxidized apple. Rich and structured, supported by acidity and tropical fruit and grapefruit flavors, with a slight herbal finish. Mineral finish. 92/100.
Ashley Wellington –
Balanced and lemon-driven, this wine has at least a decade of aging potential. 93 points.
Kevin Houston –
Flavorful wine, but lacked vitality compared to others.
Janet Perez –
Pale gold with a lovely nose of caramel and dried fruit. Properly dry with a fine, salty finish. Excellent concentration.
Alejandra Bailey –
I feel like I should have decanted this. Wine was round and a bit flacid when first opened. After about 30-40 minutes it gained structure and some acid started to show. By the last glasses it was fabulous. Seem too early to drink – wait another five for remaining bottles. 95 potential.
James Wolfe –
This bottle felt a little tired and too oxidative.
Ryan Lockhart –
Sharp attack of lime and lemongrass with a pleasant sensation due to fine and regular bubbles. However, lacks notable flavor and complexity for its category.
Dorothy Nelson –
Still very medium straw color, extremely effervescent. Very oxidative with a crazy amount of yellow apple, lemon pastry, and sea salt. Strives for richness, but so uplifting and light on its feet. A hint of toasty oak and smoke emerges long after the last sip.
Annie Abbey –
Review: Pure gold in color with delicate bubbles. Aromas of baked apple, nougat, and ginger. The palate is elegant and finishes very long. Drink now or hold for aging potential.
Debbie Drain –
Rich, toasty, broad and concentrated with a lovely long finish. 4+.
Joseph Taylor –
Color: Straw-yellow. Aroma: Sherry, burnt toast. Taste: Complex, but past its prime.
Paul Tom –
Great BYOB spot – Vinminnen 15.
Evelyn Beeman –
Concentrated and tight. Light minerality with a touch of toast and smoke. Fresh yellow citrus fruit and nuttiness. Great with age. 93 now, can be 94-95+ later. More grapes from Verzinay in this colder year.
Andre Fritz –
Marvelous champagne with perfect balance and luscious beauty.
Regina Shields –
ESTG’s Champagne in West Seattle, WA offers a sweet and vibrant red fruit flavor with notes of cherry.
Virginia Shull –
Initially subdued, the Grande Annee came alive after half an hour, revealing brioche and honey on the nose and a balanced, powerful taste.
Dianna Poteete –
Sweet and slightly oxidized with notes of baked apples, quince paste, and haw. Balanced acidity with a long finish of Chinese apple drink and fizz.
Ruth Koth –
Excellent 2014 Bollinger. Elegant and powerful with great length. Perfect drinking window. 96.
Heather Rinaldi –
Delightful notes of hazelnut, breadcrumb, and yellow fruit. Excellent drinking experience.
Terry Hanisch –
This is a beautiful Champagne with vertical bubbles (may be glad dependent), luscious ripe fruit, and a long mouthwatering finish. It is very young at this state of its evolution and is likely to develop more complexity with bottle aging. Consumed on a close friend’s birthday with great pleasure.
Naomi Petruzzelli –
Impressive orphan gift bottle, golden in color with a Vegemite nose. Low cork pop but great fizz and taste. It’s a champagne worth cellaring.
Betty Taylor –
Straw-colored wine. Fresh, elegant and evolved over the decade. Vibrant, nuanced and refreshing. Perfect for the coronation. 4.5 stars.
Stanley Coffin –
Citrusy, creamy mousse, good length. Will improve over next few years. Atypical for GA with more precision than usual.
James Cornell –
Fresh and pure with vibrant lemon notes. Has potential for aging, but lacks the depth and finesse of R.D. 2008. Score: 95.
Gerry Gillian –
Delicious. Full-bodied.
Eric Aliberti –
Good but not great, this Bollinger GA falls short compared to previous vintages. Too sweet and clunky for a GA.
Ronna Clapp –
Fantastic wine, highly praised. Get it while you can.
WS –
Racy acidity drives this mouthwatering Champagne, enlivening the rich panoply of flavors. Features a fine and creamy mousse that’s still a lively springboard for aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, glazed tangerine, roasted hazelnut, ground coffee, pickled ginger and white blossoms. Long and satiny, with minerally salt and chalk notes gaining momentum on the lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2021. Drink now through 2037.
WE –
With the hallmark Bollinger richness that is derived from fermentation in wood and a high percentage of Pinot Noir in the blend, this grand wine is ripe, full of apple and spice flavors. It is drinkable now, but still young. Keep until 2024.
WA –
Offering up complex aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, confit citrus, frangipane, walnuts, dried white flowers and subtle hints of iodine, Bollinger’s 2014 Brut La Grande Année is medium to full-bodied, pillowy and vinous, with an elegantly fleshy core of fruit that’s underpinned by racy acids and complemented by a pretty pinpoint mousse. Concluding with a long, chalky finish, this is a charming but precise Grande Année that’s more giving and demonstrative than its immediate predecessor, the 2012, but which attains a very similar level of quality in a more challenging vintage—testimony to the serious viticulture that underpins Bollinger’s contemporary excellence. Best after 2021.
DEC –
The 2014 is very closely linked to the cold vintages, which express the characteristics of the different terroirs, the soil, and therefore the minerality,’ explains Denis Bunner, assistant cellarmaster at Bollinger. ‘This is a vintage of contrasts, with one of the hottest Junes in the last 50 years, but a very cool August, resulting in slow ripening. We harvested from 15 September, for two weeks, which makes it one of our shortest harvests. The most important thing for us was to manage the ripeness in order to obtain the best possible sorting window.’ A blend of 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay, this 2014 La Grande Année is from 19 villages, all grands and premiers crus, with 23% coming from Verzenay and 18% from Aÿ. It was aged for six months in small barrels. It has fresh and distinctive notes of lemon, herbs, red berries and gooseberries, and a splendid calcareous frame. The palate is mineral, tense and elegant with a dense structure, a perfectly balanced texture, fine bubbles, and a lingering finish.
JD –
Raised entirely in barrel, the 2014 Champagne La Grande Année Brut is all about finesse and capturing the cool, mineral tension and floral notes of the vintage. Enhancing those qualities, a bit higher proportion of Chardonnay was used for this release, making up 39% of the blend. It pours a pale straw, and it is layered and persistent with lightly toasted pastry, Mirabel plum liqueur, and saline. The palate is dry and more tightly wound at this stage, with driving citrus, a chalky texture, and a light phenolic finish. Subtle undercurrents of honey and butterscotch should continue to evolve beautifully over the coming decades. Drink 2024-2044. Disgorged December 2021, it has 7 grams per liter of dosage.
VIN –
The 2014 La Grande Année is stunning. In fact, it is one of the best recent editions I can remember tasting. What comes through most is the wine’s sizzling energy and tension, qualities that aren’t often associated with Bollinger, where the Champagnes tend to show more breadth and volume. In 2014, readers will find a Grande Année built on linear intensity and drive. The 2014 is a blend taken from 19 villages, 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay instead of the more typical 70/30 mix. For the second time in two decades (the first was 2007), Verzenay takes the lead in the Pinots over Aÿ, more or less an inverse from the norm. Verzenay, a north-facing village in the Montagne de Reims that saw less rain than Aÿ and most of the Vallée de la Marne, yields Pinots of energy more than volume. That, married with Chardonnays mostly from the Côtes des Blancs (predominantly Chouilly, Vertus, Oiry and Cramant), results in a truly magical Grande Année that will delight Champagne fans for several decades. I can’t recommend the 2014 highly enough. It’s a total knock-out. Disgorged: April, 2021. Dosage: 8 grams per liter.