The producer
Bollinger has made amazing steps to improve their wines over the last twenty years or more. These changes start in their large vineyard holdings in the communes surrounding their base in Ay. With a wealth of Grand and Premier Cru vineyards in the most respected villages, and a dominance of Pinot Noir in all their wines, all the elements are in place for something very special.
100% of vintage and reserve wines are barrel-fermented, which adds texture, complexity, and balance. NV wines have a minimum of three years on lees and vintage wines now at least eight years. Bollinger is a house continually on the move.
The wine
“Recemment Degorge” is simply the La Grande Annee cuvee aged much longer on its lees, usually a dozen or more years. The extra ageing on lees means less dosage is needed and the wine qualifies as “Extra Brut”, taking on more development characters but still the clarity of its red Pinot Noir fruit and spice. RD can be the complete example of aged but vibrantly fresh Champagne.
