RD, Extra Brut
    Bollinger

    RD, Extra Brut,

    Destination

    vintage

    Bollinger, RD, Extra Brut, 1996

    Justerini & Brooks Tasting note
    Bollinger, RD, Extra Brut, 1996

    RD is aged for a minimum of eights years under cork, and after manual riddling and degorgement is kept for a further 3 months before shipment. The 1996 is a firm, concentrated wine, taut and powerful with a rich but brooding structure, packed with crisp, crunchy red fruits characteristics, citrus rind, with notes of toast, nut and undergrowth. This will develop gradually and gracefully, requiring at least 3- 4 years before being approached.

    ABV:
    12%
    98/100
    Sarah Mayo, The Wine Independent
    Emerging like a genie from a bottle, so full of life and magic, the Bollinger R.D. 2008 unwinds gradually to reveal aromatic layer after layer of white peach, Meyer lemon confit, kumquat, wafer cookies, wet stones and acacia honey intermingling with bready and faintly oxidative, nutty notes. Medium to full-bodied and full of high-toned energy, the palate is wonderfully silky and lithe with a super fine, creamy mousse full of stimulating acid freshness, exquisite saline intensity, and a chalky finish with a beautiful citrus peel note. A blend of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay, it was disgorged 09 December 2022 and finished Extra Brut with a three gram per liter dosage. As beautiful as it is now, it has many years of excellent drinking ahead.
    Date Reviewed:
    11/2023
    Drinking Window:
    2023 - 2040
    96/100
    Antonio Galloni, Vinous
    Bollinger’s 2008 R.D. is a powerful, vinous Champagne. Apricot, dried pear, tangerine oil, hazelnut, dried flowers, chamomile and brioche all race across the palate. The 2008 boasts notable depth and textural intensity, with a feeling of phenolic, almost tannin-driven grip from the Pinot that propels the finish. At times the R.D. is quite exotic, even if there is a good kick of energy from the bright, salivating acids and low dosage. The 2008 R.D. is very much a Champagne for the dinner table, a wine that benefits immensely from aeration. In 2008, the blend comprises fruit from 18 villages, 71% Pinot Noir, mostly from Aÿ and Verzenay and 29% Chardonnay, mostly from Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant. Dosage is 3 grams of dosage. I would give this a few more years in bottle to fully come together. Disgorged: October 28, 2022.
    Date Reviewed:
    05/2023
    Drinking Window:
    2025 - 2043

    specifications

    country:
    France
    region:
    Champagne
    Appellation:
    Champagne
    Producer:
    Bollinger
    style:
    White
    Grape Variety:
    Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
    Allergen Information:
    This product may contain sulphites. Full allergen information is available upon request, please call our Customer Relations Team on +44 (0)20 7484 6430.

    Champagne

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    Bollinger

    Bollinger

    There are seldom few who are not familiar with the Champagne house, Bollinger. Firmly positioned as a Grande Marques, Bollinger dates back to 1829, when Jacques Bollinger and Paul Renaudin began creating these exquisite and highly traditional wines. The house flourished under the leadership of Madame Lily Bollinger, who often rode her bicycle around the vineyard and was known for remarking when asked about her 1955 Vintage, “I drink it when I’m happy, and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty.”

    Now, her great-nephew, Ghislain de Montgolfier is at the helm. Fermentation takes place in used oak barrels and extended ageing sur lies last between 6 and 9 years prior to disgorging. Doseage is low to ensure balance and finesse, with many wines being riddled by hand, including the simply stunning Grande Annee.

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