Bollinger PN VZ 15

Bollinger PN VZ 15 

All Bollinger's champagnes consist primarily of Pinot Noir, that is because the champagne house is located in Aÿ, Champagne. In Aÿ there is primarily Pinot Noir grapes, which explains why this is the house's style and hallmark. The exclusive and rare cuvée Vieilles Vignes Francaises is made exclusively from Pinot Noir - and now this cuvée gets a little sister in Cuvée PN. Cuvée PN is a tribute to the Pinot Noir grape, which is the cornerstone of all Bollinger's champagnes. At the same time, this cuvée is Bollinger's take on a terroir champagne. PN is actually a NV, non vintage, but the base wine still consists of a single vintage, which is why we choose to write the vintage on. The basic wine is supplemented with reserve wine from different vintages - in this version there is, among other things, reserve wine from 2009. At the same time, the base wine will always come from a single Cru - in this case Verzenay. But the Cru will change from time to time that this wine is released. Like all Bollinger's other champagnes, the wine is bottled in magnum bottles. Cuvée PN is made in a limited number of bottles. The wine possesses the classic and complex Bollinger richness that is the signature of all the house's wines - this is a newborn classic with rich notes of delicate fruit, a hint of brioche and honey. We have also visited Bollinger in their champagne house in Aÿ, you can find a few photos of our visit on the product page.

Comments from a tasting:

"A bright new star has arisen from deep within the pinot noir firmament. The first new permanent addition to the hallowed portfolio of Bollinger in 12 years is a monumental blanc de noirs that encapsulates the generosity of the house within its ever more detailed regime. Departing its home on the southern slopes of the Montagne de Reims, it has tactically jumped over the hill to the cooler northern aspect of the fabled grand cru of Verzenay in the warm 2015 vintage, yet very much retaining the beloved DNA of the house. The result is a deeply spicy and exuberant expression of this elegant terroir, abounding in mixed spice, anise and cardamom and deep, luscious strokes of blackberries and bright red cherries. There are subtle flitters of fruit mince spice and orange rind along for this dynamic ride. Bollinger's characteristic old barrel fermentation builds depth of creamy texture and signature layers of complexity. The brightness of the great slopes of Verzenay shines through, even in the warm 2015 season, charged with wonderfully ripe yet vibrant acidity and omnipresent chalk minerality of glittering, crystalline energy. The phenolic structure inherent to this season is neatly and masterfully woven into its folds. It's emphatically Bollinger, definitively Verzenay, exactingly pinot noir and characteristically 2015 - a wonderful yet difficult balance to achieve. A triumph for the season, and downright delicious." og han fortsætter: "The winner of a blind tasting contest between the winemaking team was built primarily on Verzenay (hence VZ), with support from Aÿ, Bouzy and Tauxières, 50% barrel fermented, based on the 2015 vintage (hence 15) with 20% reserves from vintages back to 2009, aged in magnums. Its unique black bottle and black label are a tribute to the black grape, and a nod to its big brother, Vieilles Vignes Françaises. In each successive vintage a different village will be chosen by blind tasting. Production volume is roughly equivalent to La Grande Année. Global release in September 2020 at a price between Special Cuvée and La Grande Année"

97/100

Tyson Stelzer, TysonStelzer.com

Product information

Size: 0,75 L 
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Dosage: Brut
Notes: blackberries, orange, anise, cardamom, chalk minerality
ABV: 12.5% Vol.
Made in: France, Champagne
Produced by: Bollinger, France
Including: champagne
Condition: Brand new, (may have minor imperfections from shipping)
Other information: contains sulfites