Champagne Bollinger B16
Champagne Bollinger B16
$250, 12.5% alcohol, cork, Champagne/France.
Bready aromatics and an intense, long, powerful palate. Elegance is a key feature of this wine but it does not lack flavour or indeed presence. The strawberry notes here, both wild and concentrated, are clear and compelling; the nut, salt, baked apple, and candied citrus characters come served in deliciously harmonious form. There’s a subtle grip to this wine; there’s a feel to it. Its dying breaths, out through the finish, are too particularly well sustained. 94 points – Campbell Mattinson.
Bollinger’s “B” collection began in 2003 with By 2003. The B13 release came a decade later. This B16 is the third release in the series.
All the grapes came from Grands and Premiers Crus vineyards, mostly in latest-ripening areas of the Montagne de Reims.
Latest-ripening was important due to the unusual growing season. It was a cool year, even by Champagne standards, but it finished with a burst of warmth in late summer.
It spent seven years on lees and carries low dosage (4 grams).
It’s a blend of 73% pinot noir, 27% chardonnay.
