Cinnamon had made a beautiful appetizer of smoked salmon with crème fraiche for our Valentine’s Day aperitif, and we cracked open this 2012 to go with it. This Champagne had lovely, subtle pie crust and meyer lemon curd on the nose and in the mouth. The power of the Grand Cru Ay Pinot Noir was here for sure, with lots of the dark cherry fruit and vivid, crisp, chalky cut. As always, the barrel work is deft here, and I could not taste the oak at all, but rather just the fine toast from the long ageing on the lees. The finish is the most impressive thing about this wine now, with the creaminess of the top-quality Chardonnay only coming to the front after swallowing the wine. This is long finishing stuff, with plenty of richness.

This wonderful treat is well worth the price! Traces of crisp apple, lemon and floral notes hits your senses and leaves them tingling for more! Super easy to drink and pairs well with mostly anything,.. this champagne is ready to drink now and would be absolutely lovely even 5-10 years from now. Savor and enjoy!

If you are looking for one of the better deals in prestige vintage cuvées, you shouldn't pass up the Grande Annee from Bollinger. Vinified exclusively in oak from 21 meticulously selected sites, then hand-riddled and aged for 7 years on a cork (instead of the less expensive crown cap), and finally hand-disgorged for a stunning and uniquely Bollinger expression of Champagne. Notes of meyer citrus, lychee and guava, and ranier cherries intermingle with distinct minerality and subtle spices seamlessly. The texture is incredible, rich and layered but also light and crisp, buoyed by the signature 2012 acidity. The beautiful flavors last on the palate for over a minute. What a ride! Well worth the price of admission.