“I only drink champagne when I’m happy, or sad…” Lily Bollinger’s words have been heard around the world, and they perfectly encapsulate the house: Bollinger, founded in Aÿ in 1829 and still family-run, is a house of character. Pinot Noir dominates its blends; its wines ferment in oak barrels; its reserve wines are aged in magnums under cork; and its 178 hectares — Aÿ, Bouzy, Verzenay, Verzy — are among the finest grands crus of the Montagne de Reims. James Bond has been drinking it since 1973. This guide reviews the cuvées available in our cellar, along with their current prices.
The Bollinger style: Pinot Noir and oak
Three key choices define the style. Pinot Noir, which makes up the majority of all cuvées, provides structure and vinosity. Oak barrels, in which the house systematically ages its vintage wines and some of its reserve wines, providing body and longevity — the house still employs a cobler. And the reserve wines in magnums, kept under cork for years, which give the Special Cuvée its depth. The result is a dense, brioche-like, almost Burgundian champagne, which is just as enjoyable with a meal as it is as an aperitif. Its neighbour in Aÿ, Ayala, belongs to the same family and cultivates the exact opposite style.
The Bollinger range at a glance
- Special Cuvée — the non-vintage brut, available in standard bottles and magnums.
- Rosé — the Special Cuvée coloured with a house red wine.
- PN — the ‘blancs de noirs’ series, released once a year.
- La Grande Année — the prestigious vintage cuvée, available in white and rosé.
- R.D. — La Grande Année with late disgorgement.
The house also produces the Vieilles Vignes Françaises, a blanc de noirs made from ungrafted vines, which we do not currently stock.
Special Cuvée: the benchmark
The Special Cuvée is the most full-bodied non-vintage brut amongst the great houses: a deep golden colour, fresh brioche, Golden Delicious apple, dried fruit, subtle oaky notes from oak ageing, and a dense, long finish. It holds its own against roast poultry, a mushroom risotto or a mature Comté. €56 per bottle, €127.90 for a magnum. Our article on the Bollinger spirit explores what this style inspires in winemakers.
Rosé: the structure of a Bollinger
At Bollinger, they also produce superb red wines, and it is one of these that lends its colour to the Rosé: a salmon hue with ruby highlights, wild strawberries, redcurrants, cherries, hints of spice and toasted hazelnut, with a touch of minerality. A rosé for fine dining, priced at €72.80.
PN AYC: the blanc de noirs
Launched in 2020, the PN series is a 100% Pinot Noir ‘blanc de noirs’, with each release highlighting a main cru and a benchmark vintage: AYC for Aÿ. The PN AYC reveals notes of honey, fruit jelly, quince, candied citrus, marzipan and a hint of menthol, set against a golden colour with bronze highlights. €109, positioned between the Special Cuvée and La Grande Année. Compare it with our other Blanc de Noirs champagnes.
La Grande Année 2014: the prestige cuvée
Vinified exclusively in small oak barrels and riddled by hand, La Grande Année embodies the house’s artisanal expertise. The 2014 is precise and aromatic: cherry, lemon and bergamot, followed by hazelnut, peach and mirabelle plum, with a taut, mineral palate and a distinctive salinity. €195. To see where 2014 ranks amongst the great vintages, read about the best Champagne vintages.
R.D. 2008: the Grande Année disgorged late
R.D. stands for ‘Récemment Dégorgé’ (Recently Disgorged): an idea conceived by Lily Bollinger, who decided in 1967 to release an old vintage that had just been disgorged after a long period of ageing under cork, and dosed as extra-brut. The R.D. 2008, from one of the greatest vintages of the century, is rich and complex: marzipan, stewed apricot, honey, breadcrumb, and very fresh bergamot. €375, for connoisseurs who appreciate what a decade in the cellar brings to a great Pinot Noir. On the Bollinger page, explore champagne in literature and cinema.
Bollinger Awards: what to expect
| Cuvée | Observed prices (including VAT, 75 cl unless otherwise stated) |
|---|
| Special Cuvée | €56 (magnum €127.90) |
| Rosé | €72.80 |
| PN AYC | €109 |
| La Grande Année 2014 | €195 |
| R.D. 2008 | €375 |
Prices recorded in our cellar in September 2026; they vary as the house releases new vintages. The Special Cuvée is more expensive than most non-vintage bruts from the great houses: you’re paying for the barrel, the reserve wines in magnums and an unusually high proportion of grands crus.
Which Bollinger for which occasion?
- A meal, poultry, mature cheese: the Special Cuvée.
- A celebration where you want some character: the Special Cuvée in a magnum.
- A table rosé: the Rosé.
- For a Pinot Noir enthusiast: the PN AYC.
- An exceptional gift: La Grande Année 2014, or the R.D. 2008 for a collector.
Serving and storing Bollinger
Bollinger is served less chilled than average: 10 °C for the Special Cuvée and the Rosé, 12 °C for the PN, La Grande Année and the R.D., in a wide white wine glass or even a Burgundy glass. The Special Cuvée can easily be kept for three to five years; La Grande Année and the R.D. for ten years or more. Our storage and serving advice sets out the rest in detail. All available cuvées are listed on the Bollinger website.
