Vieilles Vignes, Francaises
    Bollinger

    Vieilles Vignes, Francaises, 2016

    98/100
    Robert Parker Wine Advocate
    Available Vintages
    En primeur
    1. New Release

      2016

      1x75cl

      EP

      £1,195.00

    Justerini & Brooks Tasting note

    A vintage of taut purity and classical structure played to the strengths of this cuvée: deep-set minerality, finely coiled red berry fruit, quince and dried stone fruit resound on the nose and palate, while toasted nuts and oyster shell appear on a finish that seems to echo endlessly. There is a savouriness that is more akin to Grand Cru Burgundy, with the autolytic character being closer to soy, sea salt and umami than it is to French pastry.

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    Critic Reviews

    98/100
    Kristaps Karklins,
    Robert Parker Wine Advocate
    The recently released 2016 Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Francaisesharvested on September 18th at a relatively modest 10.2% potential alcoholhas turned out beautifully. It unites the richness of Pinot Noir and the concentration of old vines with the freshness imparted by the growing season and recent disgorgement. This balance serves to temper some of the exuberance that VVF can display in warmer vintages. Disgorged in February 2025 with a dosage of four grams per liter, the wine unfurls from the glass with a deep bouquet of orange zest, crisp pear and peach, mingling with notes of freshly baked bread, nuts and spices. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, expansive and multidimensional, with tangy acidity and a pillowy mousse. Generous and intense yet impeccably harmonious, it culminates in a long, resonant finish. Those fortunate enough to secure one or two of the mere 1,000 bottles produced will likely face a dilemma: when to open it. Promising a superb drinking experience, it is likely to show at its full generosity between 17 and 25 years after the vintage. As is customary these days, Vieilles Vignes Francaises is sourced from two walled parcels of ungrafted Pinot Noir vinesClos Saint-Jacques and Clos Chaudes-Terreslocated adjacent to the Bollinger estate. These vineyards were replanted in the 1970s using massal selections from Ay and should not be mistaken for survivors of the pre-phylloxera era. While the soils here are not sandyan attribute that enabled vine survival in certain other Champagne sitesit is most likely the enclosing walls that have thus far shielded these vines from phylloxera infestation.
    drinking window 2026 - 2041
    date of review 07/2025

    product details

    Specifications

    Country:
    France
    Region:
    Champagne
    Appellation:
    Champagne
    Producer:
    Bollinger
    Grape Variety:
    Chardonnay
    abv:
    12%

    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.