Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2008

At the beginning of the 20th century, the vines of Champagne were ravaged by phylloxera. To fight off this devastating insect, all vines in Champagne needed to be replanted using American rootstock. All but two Bollinger lots in Aÿ classified as Grand cru which remained untouched: Chaudes Terres and Clos St Jacques. To this day, these two plots are grown the traditional way, following the ‘provignage’ method, worked by hand and even sometimes with the help of a horse! Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises is a symbol of a bygone era: a moving and extraordinary legacy. Only 3,180 numbered bottles of the 2008 Vieilles Vignes Françaises vintage were produced. 

Spectacular wine. One of the finest vintages of the last 20 years, with excellent ripeness yet superb balance. The fruit from the ungrafted Pinot Noir in Aÿ was picked on 16 September and fermented in cask before being aged for 10 years, dosed at 8g/L. The result is still youthful, with bright primary apple and quince fruit and hints of almond, spice from the cask ferment, and a touch of yeasty autolysis. The texture is lush yet vibrant with plenty of volume and an exquisite elegance that endures through the luxuriously long finish. - Decanter, 99 Points

The Finer Details
Style - Champagne
Varietal - Pinot Noir Grand cru (Blanc de Noirs)
Country - France
Region - Champagne
Vintage - 2008
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12%