Grape variety: 62% Pinot Noir and 38% Chardonnay
Origin: Grands and Premiers Crus from La Montagne de Reims and La Côte des Blancs
La Grande Année Rosé is a derivation from the blend of La Grande Année and is only produced when exceptional quality vintages occur. The grapes come exclusively from Grands and Premiers Crus.
A beautifully structured and full bodied wine, with a deep colour and which develops intense aromas.
The addition of 6.5 % of Pinot Noir from La Côte Aux Enfants and vinified as red wine gives the blend its colour and its ripeness.
Wines from 16 villages have been included, 77% from Grand Crus and 23% from Premier Crus. Bollinger use only the ‘cuvée’ juice in the making of La Grande Année Rosé.
The first fermentation is always carried out 100% in old oak barrels, which has become quite unique in Champagne. The Cru’s are fermented in small oak barrels which enables a rigorous selection. Bollinger uses only old barrels (5 years and more) in order to generate neither an oaky taste nor tannins. This method reinforces the aromatic complexity and the ageing potential of the wines.
At this stage the red wine from ‘La Côte Aux Enfants’ is blended with the Grande Année base wine in a proportion of 7 to 8%, which gives birth to La Grande Année Rosé.
Once the wine is bottled the second fermentation and cellar ageing are conducted under natural cork. This method, nowadays very seldom used in Champagne, is a guarantee of freshness. It allows the aromas to preserve all their bouquet.
La Grande Année Rosé then ages in the cellars for at least 5 years. After Manual riddling and disgorging, La Grande Année Rosé rests for a minimum of 3 months prior to shipment.