Bollinger RD 2008 Champagne: One of many Best Wines from a Sensational Classic

One other 2008 champagne, you say. Certainly. We’ve got targeted extra on this nice yr for the world’s best glowing wine than any earlier than it or since, for good motive. As talked about beforehand, it’s for me, essentially the most stellar champagne classic since 1988. So good in reality, that we’ve even featured this wine earlier than. Kind of. Enable me to elucidate.

Bollinger releases a classic as their Grand Année after which, assuming it to be of the model that works and of adequate high quality, once more later as their RD.

Within the years to come back, champagne lovers will little doubt debate the query of simply which 2008 champagne takes the gold. I’ve little doubt that each the Bollinger 2008, and likewise the Bollinger RD 2008, shall be within the dialogue.

Bollinger RD 2008 champagne

Although we’ve checked out RD champagnes previously, it’s price detailing the idea of RD.

It started a few years in the past when homes started together with a status champagne of their core vary. Moet et Chandon had Dom Perignon, Louis Roederer had Cristal, Taittinger with Comtes de Champagne and so forth. Madame Bollinger was recurrently requested what she deliberate to do. The reply was easy. Nothing in any respect.

Madame Bollinger

The rationale was that Madame Bollinger had at all times said that the champagnes they made had been pretty much as good as they could possibly be. She maintained it could not be attainable to make a status cuvee for the home as a result of they had been already providing their greatest. So how may they do higher? As well as, in the event that they had been to try to take action, it could imply depriving their current champagnes of essential high quality materials.

Apparently it was Madame Bollinger herself who got here up with the reply. This concerned leaving their Grand Année (their classic champagne) on its lees for an prolonged time frame to reap the benefits of what they conveys. Which means the disgorgement of these bottles occurs a few years past what is common.

After all, like a lot else that occurs in Champagne, nothing occurs shortly.

The choice to do that was made with the 1947 classic, nevertheless it was not till 1963 that these bottles hit the market, although it was a tiny launch to their American agent. It will need to have been properly obtained as this system was put into full swing thereafter. In 1967, the home launched three vintages of this cuvee – the 1952 in England, the 1953 in Switzerland and France, and the 1955 in the USA and Italy. These had been adopted by the 1959, a well-known classic, and the wine’s status was properly on the way in which to being firmly established.

Evidently, it was not that straightforward. They needed to discover a identify and plenty of had been thought-about earlier than they settled on ‘RD’. This labored properly as in French, it represents ‘récemment dégorgé’ and in English, ‘just lately disgorged’. There was additionally the query of dosage. This was an period when dosage ranges had been properly above what we see immediately (a generalization, in fact).

The additional time on lees, nevertheless, removes the necessity for a lot dosage in any respect Bollinger settled at 3 grams/liter, which continues to be the usual for immediately. The Grand Année 2008 noticed 8 grams/liter dosage and the 2008 RD, the three grams. 100% malolactic fermentation.

Bollinger RD 2008 champagne

As with all wines which spend a really very long time on lees, the strain is barely lowered. The same old strain in a bottle of champagne sits round 6 atmospheres, much like that of a London bus tire. By the point the RD is disgorged, it has receded to round 4.5 to five atmospheres.

One factor to notice. This prolonged interval on lees may end up in minor bottle variation. Any wine below cork is prone to be topic to that, and the longer it’s below cork at any stage of its life – pre and submit launch – the extra the probability. I properly bear in mind one English critic writing about how they cherished the concept that their case of outdated Haut Brion was prone to differ somewhat, bottle to bottle.

Personally, I can’t think about the winemaker pleased to see their wines at something however their greatest (with out wishing to revive the outdated closure debate, this is among the causes so many Australian and New Zealand winemakers moved to screwcap). I point out the variation for causes which can turn out to be obvious.

As of late, vintages of RD might bear a sequence of disgorgements, relatively than unexpectedly. This may also imply very minor variations within the closing wine, however nothing dramatic. For instance, we’ve the primary launch of the 2008 RD hitting cabinets world wide.

There shall be an extra disgorgement later this yr for delivery in 2024 and a closing one in 2024 for delivery in 2025. If that conveys the impression that this implies there shall be a lot obtainable, neglect it. For those who get the possibility, seize it now. It is a tiny launch and every tranche will barely create a ripple.

Bollinger cellar in Champagne

Regardless of its comparatively excessive profile, it’s price remembering that Bollinger is a small champagne home. Grand Année is just a small proportion of its manufacturing and RD varieties solely 10-15% of that (we had been instructed on the launch of the Grand Année 2008 some years in the past, that Bollinger deliberate to carry again extra of that classic than some other for RD – that also doesn’t quantity to a lot).

To place all this in perspective, Bollinger produces lower than one % of the area’s champagne, and RD is lower than 1% of Bollinger’s total manufacturing (on common, 30,000 bottles, however keep in mind that usually this should be unfold throughout three or 4 years).

Have in mind, the subsequent RD which shall be launched shall be 2012 (this can must be confirmed within the years to come back, however as there have been no classic releases by Bollinger from 2009 to 2011, and 2012 was one other spectacular classic, it appears a no brainer). So if you wish to get pleasure from RD over the subsequent few years, don’t hesitate.

The worth is basically commensurate with different nice status cuvees at round A$500 to A$600 (sure, sadly we discover that champagne is quick following the stratospheric rises we’ve seen with Burgundy).

Bollinger RD 2008 champagne

England is by far Bollinger’s most vital market with 30% of manufacturing exported there. The home market in France is subsequent with 10%, adopted by Australia, the USA, after which Italy, however total, they service properly over 100 international locations.

RD normally has at the very least twice the time on lees because the Grand Année, give or take. The 2008 RD has 14 years on lees, a unprecedented size of time. It’s uncommon, although not unknown, for a Grand Année to be thought-about unsuited for RD standing. 2005 was one instance. Equally, it’s nearly extraordinary for a classic to be RD-worthy however not have been launched as a Grand Année. 1981 is the one certainly one of which I can suppose.

As talked about, 2008 was a wonderful classic. Man de Rivoire, Worldwide Gross sales Director for Bollinger, was again on the town just lately to launch the brand new RD. He in contrast the model of the classic to 1976, 1986 and 2002 (of these, 1976 has actually proved its longevity, although I at all times most well-liked the 1975s; 1986 ended up a good classic although maybe by no means lived as much as unique expectations; whereas 2002 is among the greats). It was a yr with no frosts, no rain at inopportune moments, no hail, and at that stage, not one of the results we at the moment are seeing with international warming.

The wine itself is a mix of 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay (there may be at all times at the very least 60% Pinot Noir, however 71% is sort of excessive). The Pinot, all from Grand Cru vineyards, hails principally from Ay, vineyards which face the south, and Verzenay, the place they face northeast, a a lot cooler prospect. There’s some Verzy and Ambonnay as properly. The Chardonnay, nearly all Grand Cru, is usually Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant. In whole, 91% of the wine is from Grand Cru vineyards.

There are 18 completely different wines included within the closing mix (which makes one notice what an unbelievable cut price their Particular Cuvee – their NV or extra appropriately, Multi-Classic – is, with greater than 300 wines within the closing mix). Even 18 is greater than normal for the Grand Année/RD, with 13 to 16 being extra frequent.

For me, the RD 2008 is a deep golden bronze shade. The fast impression was two issues. First, a powerful array of nutty notes. Hazelnuts actually, but in addition walnuts and a contact of almond. Certainly, Bollinger at all times hyperlinks one thing to their wines – with the 2007, it was saffron; with 2008 it’s hazelnuts from Piedmont. I can’t communicate to the specifics of Piedmontese hazelnuts, however assuming that they don’t differ an excessive amount of from these with which I’m acquainted, I couldn’t agree extra.

The second impression was that, whereas a wonderful wine, the character is extra Bollinger (the DNA of the home, in case you like) than 2008. It is a wine of complexity, energy, class, richness, concord, persistence and extra – all hallmarks of nice Bollinger champagnes.

Bollinger Pinot Noir grapes

The Pinot Noir – and Bollinger is nothing if not a Pinot Noir home – could be very a lot to the fore. I wish to suppose that I’d have had little issue in figuring out the wine as a Bollinger if served blind, however I doubt I’d have picked 2008.

If it had been one other time, the richness and energy for me, was paying homage to 1985. Others dispute this and have talked 1979 (I at all times cherished 1985 greater than 1979, although each nice years, so I’m wondering if that performs a job? It will even be honest to say that I’m within the minority right here with extra references to ’79 than ’85, if one scours the web opinions). If not 1985 or 1979, maybe a extra refined 1996? After all, this brings us again to minor bottle variations. Did our bottles give various experiences? We’ll by no means know. No matter yr the 2008 reminds certainly one of, it’s a fabulous wine.

Stonefruit, tobacco leaves, brioche and people infinite hazelnuts. Hints of acacia florals and ginger. A beautiful intense creamy texture and nice size. It is a wine with focus and depth with the palate providing extra apricot kernels, hints of toast and people nuts. High-quality acidity and traces of salinity run the size, and this can be a very lengthy wine certainly. As an ’08, there may be little doubt it should proceed to age and enhance, however for the way lengthy? I believe properly cellared bottles will get pleasure from at the very least one other ten to twenty years.

If I look again at our notes for the Grand Année 2008, it very a lot mirrored the fantastic 2008 classic. “An actual chalk be aware comes by on the nostril with minerally backing. Limes and a recent saline, nearly oystershell be aware. On the palate, the flavors transfer extra to hints of stonefruit, grapefruit and the merest whiff of vanilla bean. Contemporary as is conceivable, it presents the intense, vibrant acidity of the 2008 classic. There’s nice depth, complexity, size and steadiness, with a seductive texture. Fuller than many, as one expects from Bolly, however the steadiness by no means wavers.” It exhibits simply how a lot time on lees can result in adjustments in a wine.

The query is usually requested. Is a champagne that spent prolonged time on lees higher than the identical wine which didn’t? For me, the reply is completely different, not essentially higher. That stated, if I ever get the possibility to sit down down with a bottle of the 2008 Grand Année and the 2008 RD, I’ll let you realize.

Bollinger RD 2008 champagne

On the time of the discharge of the 2008 Grand Année, additionally with Man de Rivoire, he and I mentioned that query of home vs classic. Man famous, of the 2008 Grand Année, that “you could possibly simply begin to see the Bollinger character coming by”, one thing with which I agreed. On the time, I stated that usually “you’ll anticipate even classic Bollingers to be exhibiting rather more of the Home model in addition to the classic, at this stage. Whereas hardly a fault, that isn’t actually occurring but, although little doubt it should.” For me, it most actually has occurred, much more than I may have predicted.

Bolly first, 2008 second, however no matter one thinks, a cracking champagne that deserves to be in each champagne lover’s cellar. 98.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t pay tribute to Bollinger’s current chef de cave for a decade, Gilles Descôtes, who so sadly handed away late in 2022. Gilles was chargeable for this wine and plenty of extra fantastic champagnes. Throughout his tenure, he labored on bettering the purity and precision of the Bollinger champagnes and there’s a good argument that they’ve by no means been higher. He’s succeeded by Denis Bunner, with whom he labored for a few years. Gilles shall be significantly missed and with this wine, he has left us with a unprecedented legacy.

For extra data, please go to www.champagne-bollinger.com/en/wine/bollinger-rd-2008/