Bollinger
R.D. Extra Brut Champagne Blend
Champagne, France
Christmas Day Champagne. The disgorgement date very much determines how the wine shows. The date for this wine is 19th December 2006. Tyson Stelzer has scored 96 points for disgorgement date of May 2012 and 100 points for November 2017. My notes for this wine: Mid to deep lemon in colour with a bronze tinge. Lemon citric notes with earthy notes of mushroom and truffle. Powerful on the palate - a kaleidoscope of flavours. A serious Champagne showing a powerful Pinot Noir presence of 70% in true Bollinger style, with 30% Chardonnay. 6 hours later - oxidative notes with a creamy texture retaining that lemon palate. My previous bottle 5 years earlier more impressive.
Christmas Day Champagne. The disgorgement date very much determines how the wine shows. The date for this wine is 19th December 2006. Tyson Stelzer has scored 96 points for disgorgement date of May 2012 and 100 points for November 2017. My notes for this wine: Mid to deep lemon in colour with a bronze tinge. Lemon citric notes with earthy notes of mushroom and truffle. Powerful on the palate - a kaleidoscope of flavours. A serious Champagne showing a powerful Pinot Noir presence of 70% in true Bollinger style, with 30% Chardonnay. 6 hours later - oxidative notes with a creamy texture retaining that lemon palate. My previous bottle 5 years earlier more impressive.
Dec 25th, 2020
So fresh! Fresh apricot, Meyer lemon, toasted Brioche, creme brûlée, baking spices, acid driven, medium+ finish. Can hold for at least another 5 years. 96’ disgorged in 4 April 2007. 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 75% Grand Cru sites, 25% 1er Cru sites.
So fresh! Fresh apricot, Meyer lemon, toasted Brioche, creme brûlée, baking spices, acid driven, medium+ finish. Can hold for at least another 5 years. 96’ disgorged in 4 April 2007. 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 75% Grand Cru sites, 25% 1er Cru sites.
Dec 6th, 2020Wedding Anniversary Special. A rich lemon in colour with the finest bead I have ever seen. Evidence of Autolysis - not surprising since it had 10 years on Lees. Lemon Sherbet, Apple cider, very minerally - Hemming said flinty. This champagne was disgorged in December 2006 according to the label. There have been 2 later disgorgements: May 2012 and November 2017. Tyson Stelzer gave 💯 points to the latter. He found the earlier date was spoilt by a touch of cork wood flavour. This fault was also noticeable in this champagne sadly. A minor blemish on a wonderfully complex champagne.
Wedding Anniversary Special. A rich lemon in colour with the finest bead I have ever seen. Evidence of Autolysis - not surprising since it had 10 years on Lees. Lemon Sherbet, Apple cider, very minerally - Hemming said flinty. This champagne was disgorged in December 2006 according to the label. There have been 2 later disgorgements: May 2012 and November 2017. Tyson Stelzer gave 💯 points to the latter. He found the earlier date was spoilt by a touch of cork wood flavour. This fault was also noticeable in this champagne sadly. A minor blemish on a wonderfully complex champagne.
Mar 3rd, 2020
This was part of one of the more incredible things I’ve been apart of doing my job. A Bollinger R.D. Master Class with the chef de cave of the winery. Strictly Bolly R.D. designed to show the intricacies of champagne. Two ‘96 vintages, one disgorged 6 months prior, another disgorged 6 years prior. 3 different 2002 vintage R.D.’s with 3 different dosages, 2 of which were made specially for this class. One zero dosage, one at 3 g/l, and another at 8 g/l. 2004 vintage poured 15 mins apart to showcase how the wine shows differently when exposed to just a bit of air. Finally another 2004 bottled in magnum to show how the bottle size can affect the wine. A truly eye opening experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity. Just stellar.
This was part of one of the more incredible things I’ve been apart of doing my job. A Bollinger R.D. Master Class with the chef de cave of the winery. Strictly Bolly R.D. designed to show the intricacies of champagne. Two ‘96 vintages, one disgorged 6 months prior, another disgorged 6 years prior. 3 different 2002 vintage R.D.’s with 3 different dosages, 2 of which were made specially for this class. One zero dosage, one at 3 g/l, and another at 8 g/l. 2004 vintage poured 15 mins apart to showcase how the wine shows differently when exposed to just a bit of air. Finally another 2004 bottled in magnum to show how the bottle size can affect the wine. A truly eye opening experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity. Just stellar.
Nov 13th, 2018
2nd time I've had this and it is wonderful and consistent. Rich and complex. I won't divulge where I uncovered these underpriced bottles!
2nd time I've had this and it is wonderful and consistent. Rich and complex. I won't divulge where I uncovered these underpriced bottles!
1 person found it helpfulDec 31st, 2013
Great bottle. Precision and intense acidity. Long finish. Not as rich and brioche as previous bottles.
Great bottle. Precision and intense acidity. Long finish. Not as rich and brioche as previous bottles.
Jul 10th, 2017