GaryWEdwards

9.5

This is a pleasant stunner of citrus zest and tart apple. Whoa! Note to self: 12 is not sufficient supply. — a month ago

Christian Fischer

9.4

A brutally strenuous week is coming to a close, a week full of professional and personal disappointments. What lies ahead is a weekend in NYC with vintage champagnes and other goodies - to be posted soon. Back to this lovely 164 Krug that I found when pulling bottles for the Saturday tasting. This is in a great place right now, vibrant with mellowing acidity, brioche and just, what can you say, a Krug. — 12 days ago

DJ Johnson

9.3

Starts out similar to a Pinot then gets heavier. Very nice! — 2 months ago

Katya

9.2

Очень близко к Вдовушке по насыщенности и сладковатости, свежий бисквит. — 3 months ago

Willem Booij

9.7

Soms heb je zo’n glas waar alles samenkomt.

Pascal Cotat, Sancerre Le Grande Côte 2015.
En wát een wijn is dit weer zeg, zo blij met mijn geduld 😃

Alles waar je op hoopt bij rijping, gebeurt hier. De spanning is er nog, maar nu verweven met rijp fruit, een bijna wasachtige textuur en die zilt-minerale diepgang die maar blijft doorgaan. Dit is geen frisse, strakke Sauvignon Blanc, dit is gelaagd, complex en serieus indrukwekkend.

Het mooiste?
Dit bevestigt precies waarom geduld loont. Deze wijn hééft tijd nodig. En als je ‘m dat geeft, krijg je iets terug dat echt buitencategorie is.

Ik zeg het niet snel, maar: dit is echt mijn wijn. En dat terwijl ik normaal geen uitgesproken liefhebber ben van deze druif.

Maar dit… dit is gewoon geniaal. 🍷

#sancerre #loirewines #pascalcotat — 4 months ago

Naoki Kondo

9.2

2016 vintage matured in cognac cask. Strong Ale beer with sweet &spicy note! I bought this in Tokyo and have kept at home over 5 year! Good.
— 5 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.3

Aged beautifully with brioche and baked apples. Delicious with excellent QPR — 6 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut NV – Champagne AOC, France 🇫🇷

Overview
One of Champagne’s enduring benchmarks, Special Cuvée combines approximately 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Meunier, with a significant portion of reserve wines contributing depth and consistency. Rich, layered, and unmistakably Bollinger, it delivers remarkable complexity at a price point that remains accessible compared to many prestige bottlings.

Aromas & Flavors
Golden apple, ripe pear, citrus zest, baked brioche, roasted nuts, and subtle spice unfold in layers. Notes of fresh bread dough and orchard fruit intertwine with hints of honey and toast.

Mouthfeel
Vibrant and energetic with a creamy mousse and impressive depth. A delicate kiss of yeast adds texture and contrast, while the wine’s concentration and freshness remain beautifully balanced through the finish.

Food Pairings
Lobster, seared scallops, roast chicken, truffle dishes, aged Comté, oysters, or simply enjoyed as a celebratory aperitif.

Verdict
A richly textured and multi-layered Champagne that continues to justify its reputation as one of the region’s benchmarks. Complex, expressive, and consistently rewarding, it offers a level of sophistication that punches well above its category.

Did You Know?
Unlike many large Champagne houses, Bollinger ferments a portion of its wines in old oak barrels and maintains an extensive reserve wine program, helping create the signature richness and depth that define Special Cuvée.

🍷 Personal Pick
Few non-vintage Champagnes deliver this combination of richness, complexity, and value. The layered fruit, subtle autolytic character, and vibrant texture make Special Cuvée one of my favorite benchmark Champagnes and a bottle I never hesitate to revisit. — 2 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.3

Continues to drink well. Long day of house cleaning needs some reward :) — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I am seldom dumbfounded when it comes to wine. So, I appreciate it when that happens.

This 1990 La Grande Dame was amazing and so fresh. Full disclosure, I am not normally impressed by this producer and this cuvée. Unusual for a champagne of 35 yrs to be so fresh in my experience from inception. So much so, if poured blind many would call it N/V or a fairly recent vintage. The color was even palish straw. Mags were brought from their Champagne House.

Excellent with the dessert of the evening, “Lemon Meringue Pie Cookie.”

Enjoyed at the 2026 “From Cellar Event” Pebble Beach Food and Wine.

Creator is Sumaiya Bangee.
NEW YORK, NY
All in Hospitality and Thulathan
@_sumaiya_bangee_ — 3 months ago

Lasse KR

9.4

Når det kommer til champagne, er jeg åbenbart meget basic. 🤷‍♂️ — 5 months ago

Jason Keefer

9.1

Smells like an Oregon pinot! Had a lot of minerality, almost a little graphite-y, with a slight tartness. Great! — 5 months ago

with Natasha

Ericsson

9.5

Old Sancerre, such a rarity, preserves that precision focused acidity and notes of dried lemon, dried pineapple and dried peach. Finish is refreshing. Wow. — 6 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Slightly brighter and more ruby garnet appearance . Narrow garnet rim . This has more crunchy , cherry fruit focus , with some chalky , dried flowers , wet stone hints . On the palate this mineral note is also present but with strawberry and red cherry , a bit more structure , tannins a little more present , but still with good refreshing acidity . Lightly mineral , cherry tinged finish . Pretty decent length and freshness , though the Malconsorts does appear to have more layers . This is slightly rustic , less polished in comparison with the Malconsorts, a little more nervy and edgy . Pretty young still , I would give this a bit more time, another 3-5 years or so , and then should drink well over the following 5-10 years . — 14 days ago

Donald Williams

9.5

Everything I like in a sparkling wine. — 21 days ago

with Bonnie

Jean-Louis Carbonnier

9.3

From late 1990's; Premiere wine merchants, nyc — 2 months ago

Irina Georgieva

9.1

Well balanced wine, deep and rich taste — 4 months ago

Jason Sliwa

9.6

Toasted notes set this apart from other champagnes for me. This was fantastic. — 4 months ago

with Eli

Mark Rosse

9.4

163 ÈME Edition In a very good spot. — 5 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.6

Here we are again. It’s a 2004 rose and this is just amazing. Why oh why did I just buy a case of this and not more? Shame on me. This is a spectacular champagne that keeps over-delivering — 6 months ago