Bollinger La Grande Année Rosé 2018
A hue with delicate pink and salmon reflections. The nose blends strawberry and redcurrant with citrus and vine peach, with a hint of mint on the opening. The palate has the crispness of red berries and a juicy character, leading to an expressive finish of citrus zest and blood orange. Serve between…
ALL CHAMPAGNES FROM BOLLINGERThe expert verdict
The structure of this champagne
TASTING NOTES
A hue with delicate pink and salmon reflections. The nose blends strawberry and redcurrant with citrus and vine peach, with a hint of mint on the opening. The palate has the crispness of red berries and a juicy character, leading to an expressive finish of citrus zest and blood orange. Serve between 10 and 12 °C; to be enjoyed now or cellared, as the house presents it as a truly great wine for ageing.
The composition
Terroirs
Nineteen crus, all classified as grand cru or premier cru. Pinot noir, 67% of the blend, comes mainly from Verzenay, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ; 5% of the blend is a red wine from La Côte aux Enfants, the house's own hillside plot in Aÿ, vinified as red only in years of full ripeness. Chardonnay, 33%, comes from Chouilly and Cuis. The 2018 vintage: a very rainy winter, a mild spring, then the rain stopped in mid-June and heatwaves followed one after another; harvest began on 23 August. The entire cuvée ferments in oak barrels, takes its mousse under cork, and remains in the cellar for more than twice the duration required by the appellation; riddling and disgorgement are done by hand. Dosage 7 g/L, 12.5% vol.
About this house
A family-owned, independent house founded in Aÿ in 1829, Bollinger ferments its wines in oak barrels, keeps its reserve wines in magnums under cork, and still hand-rotates its great cuvées. The house also owns, in Aÿ, La Côte aux Enfants, a pinot noir hillside plot from which it produces a rare red wine.
Madame Bollinger long hesitated to make a rosé; once she decided to do so, she wanted it to be millésimé from the very start. Created in 1976, La Grande Année Rosé is, according to the house, "the subtle blend of a great champagne and a unique red wine." The 2018, presented in Aÿ in March 2026, is the last vintage signed by former cellar master Gilles Descôtes.
The perfect pairing
Aperitif
The red berries and citrus notes of the rosé pair with salmon, and the bubbles lighten its richness.
Starter
The house's importer serves it with beef carpaccio: the crispness of the red berries pairs with the raw meat, the blood orange with the parmesan.
Main course
The house cites lobster among its pairings: the juicy fruit and the blood orange finish accompany the grilled flesh.
Other champagnes
from Maison Bollinger
Wine information
- Appellation
- Champagne
- Volume
- 75 cl
- Allergens
- Contains sulphites
L'abus d'alcool est dangereux pour la santé, à consommer avec modération.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Consume in moderation.
