From jeroboam. Plenty of fine bubbles, although did not persist that long after pouring. On palate full and vinuous - not the most complex but enjoyed by all.
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Nose: Brioche, apricot, hints of steel, creme brulee, crispy pear, hints of water chestnut, red apple Notes: 6g dosage. Drank from a magnum, disgorged Oct 2014. Still quite fresh and vibrant and in a very good condition. I'd say that there's a good balance of everything here with a delicate nose which is complex and well integrated. While this is drinking nicely now I would say the prime time is still a couple of years away - I'm guessing another 5-6 years would bring the best out of this already delicious Champagne. Drink: 2030+ Rating: 92
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Deep golden color. Intense almost opulent roasted almonds and hazelnuts brioche and a bit of yellow fruits. Full bodied with fine bubbles and well balanced acidity and excellent length
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Thanksgiving Mondo Dinner 2023 (Atlanta, GA): Dinner Champagne. Non-Blind. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. To be honest, I didn't pay much attention to it as I was focused on the food and conversation.
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Afternoon Champagne with Gougeres is a Saturday treat in our house. Decided to open a bottle of the 2005 Gramd Année, as we wanted something a little more full bodied than the endless parade of extra brut/brut nature Blanc de Blancs that seem to pass our way. This certainly fit the bill, and if not the most interesting vintage of GA, it got the job done, especially as an accompaniment to the Gougeres. We make ours with four year aged Gouda, so they have an intensity of flavor that worked really well with the wine. I wasn’t even thinking about aromas or flavors, just that the wine and the food were really good together. That’s a big win!
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Cuvee Holiday Luncheon: Served with Grilled venison with cherry and marsala demi-glace, arugula, blackberry and guanciale. Complex, muscular champagne with ripe fruit notes - while it's no cab, proves bubbles can pair beautifully with red meat. Lovely pink color, Gingerbread spice on the nose. Signature Bollinger oak-fermented produced slight vanilla. Ripe fruit produced great example of 2005. Another spectacular pairing, but still 2nd to 1522 with smoked salmon canapé. We enjoyed from jeroboam, and it was in a great place. I am not sure I would hold for too long.
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(Blind tasting) Full and developed nose. Yellow apple, plum and toast. Rich and immediate. Fullish, toasty palate. Rich and balanced. Ripe apple and almost coffee hints. Very good length, but lacking some intensity and grip.
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New Years Day: Vrai Champagne, Fifth Annual Edition (Brad & Marcia's Place, St. Paul, MN): Light gold plus color. Tasting pour. There's a good whoosh on opening, though the bead is less energetic in glass, needing to open and have some time, this gradually builds. Truly vinous, this is complex and thoughtful. Marzipan, brioche, pastry dough, oxidative though well in context, quince, red apple and kumquat, full and caressing, creamy, round, and long. Going out strong.
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wow. Definitely no lack of character to the aromas. Lots of pineapple fruit. Is there such a thing as a pineapple croissant? Layers and layers. Pineapple upside down cake palate. Medium minus golden color. Palate lines up a little out off kilter, but still in excellent territory. Has some sandalwood elements to the palate for floral spice. Buttery palate, accented and balanced by some extract on thr pate still. Definitely lots of life ahead. Drink to 2030+.
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This was a disappointment as it showed fairly strong oxidation in this bottle which shouldn't be there. Still had perfect fine bubbles, killer concentration on the palate, rich, creamy, powerful stuff, long, intense. But very nutty-walnutty. But actually paired well with one dish: snap peas with white chocolate and macadamia. Insanely good and the nuttiness of the dish was a surprise bridging ingredient, as was the tiny chunks of light white chocolate. Rustic Canyon you killed it! Also excellent: the bread/butter, endives, pork belly, seabass. Pork chop was very inventive but ok, and went the best with the Martinelli Pinot. Rustic Canyon w/S&L
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not blind I was surprised about the freshness and, not oxidative and not too much burned roasted aromas. In a good dri king window if you like it fresh. For older aged champagner lovers no reason to hurry up. 93-94
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Ripe golden color. Lots of Sunday butter brioche roasted almonds exotic fruits like lychee jackfruit and pink grapefruit. Medium bodied with perfectly balanced acidity and very fine bubbles very long and persistent finish.
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Clear, light straw color. Excellent mid sized, long lasting bubble stream. Absolutely delicious. Bright fruit, clean, med body with just a touch of nut and caramel. Very fresh. Exceptional finish of mouth puckering intense fruit. Extraordinary sparkler.
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Oxidized. Big foreboding cheesy note upon opening one hour before. Medium gold color; very few visible bubbles, which is alarming for a 16 years old champagne only that was kept untouched since its purchase from a direct source. Took some time in the glass to reveal some roasted almonds and coffee notes, but the weird cheese note stayed under everything the whole time. Absolutely no fruit or minerals whatsoever and completely dark and unidimensional on the palate. Ok to drink but no pleasure at all. Oh well!
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Magnum, degorged 01/2016 light golden color Brioche, biscuit, hazelnut, long finish excellent Champagne, now very well to drink but will stay for another couple of years
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Best bottle so far. Golden metallic yellow, vivacious tiny bubbles. Nose of brioche, mature DP style, mineral, and perfumed yellow fruits. Very buttery and rich on the palate, a champagne to accompany great food, and a long finish.
Purchased for our engagement in 2016, now enjoying on our 3rd wedding anniversary!
Very fine bead. Golden in colour. Nose of overripe peach, slight nectarine, and hints oxidative dessert wine. Palate is rich and long and I mean long. It lingers and lingers. Stewed green apples, chalky overripe lemon, nuttiness in cashew and apple strudel with clove. It's not yeasty or bready or brioche, its mealy flavours are like sweet pastry or doughnuts with stewed fruits.
We enjoyed this with charcuterie as it does need food. It's not overly complex but it's bold and big in an elegant, rich and creamy way. Drink now or soon.
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Un nez qui s'ouvre lentement sur des senteurs de fruits mûrs, golden, des notes de miel. Un semblant oxydatif mais la mousse légère et fraîche balance la côte cremeux de ce vin. Le pamplemousse rose contribue a la fraîcheur de l'ensemble. Un vin droit, solide tout en élégance.
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See previous note. Reminded me of a 1990 DP although this had Earl Grey tea on the nose, brioche and flowers. Not sure of longevity on this champagne which on the palate strikes me as a sparkling Meursault or Corton Charlemagne. Very buttery and fat finish and I can see why this may not be a champagne for everyone’s taste but I can definitely appreciate it and I believe this is best paired with food.
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Shared it w friends in a great tasting involving Dom P, Krug, Comtes de Champagne and Cristal. Oppulent, rich and full bodied, perfect balance, typical Bollinger of a great year.
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Networking with Brunello (67 Pall Mall): My first time trying this vintage of Bolly. This bottle seemed in a good place; it might not have the savour that (good bottles of) the 2000 and 2002 currently offer, nor the cut and complexity of the 2008, but it was just so nice to drink! Admirable balance and energy.
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I think I need to try a couple more bottles to confirm how I feel about this champagne. Agree with some comments that this might be headed downhill as it reminded me color, aroma and palate of a 1969 Dom Pérignon I had years ago which was past its prime. Golden yellow color super evolved, vivacious bubbles at the outset but which start to fade one or two hours after opening the bottle. Nose dominated by yeast, toast, baked golden apples, very metallic on the palate with citrus and apples dominating and very strong but not bothersome acidity. A couple of hours later the minerality and freshness drop but the acidity remains and the finish is quite decent. Will retest this champagne in few weeks and see...
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Similar to bottle last year, slightly more developed, baked apple, toast, lemon, nice acid, showing well and I think in a good window now and will probably be for a while, but doubt this goes past 20 years.
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Dégustation à l'aveugle entre amis: Mon offrande au groupe, nous passons à la vitesse supérieur. Le nez le plus élégant, complexe et aérien de la soirée. Il y a de la brioche, pain grillé, pomme verte. En bouche, tout est en place, long et rond. L'acidité est limite sur ma bouteille, alors je ne garderais pas les autres bouteilles pendant de nombreuses années encore. Honnêtement, La Grande Année est un champagne qui ne déçoit jamais, alors je n'imagine pas dans un grand millésime. Excellent
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Light gold. A: earthy, apple tart, slight mature notes. F: red fruit, spice, red apple, mineral citrus finish that was a bit clipped initially.
Rounds out after being open a few hours and the finish becomes a longer and balanced game of richness and energy. The richness probably wins out. A very good champagne that is expensive for the outcome in this case. 90-91, lower listed due to price!
Similar notes from 10/31/2020. Consumed a bit warmer and lended more expressive notes from the start. Plenty of concentration and richness, but with a lot of mineral grip. Moves this up to a 92 on this one.
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No better than ok. Currently I enjoy the NV far more than I did this bottle. I find this no little distressing, as I am - most certainly a Bolly fan. I have purchased the 2008 Grande Annee and look forward to reviews of the impending release of the 2012 GA. If I were you, I would give the 2005 a body swerve and look to the 2007!
Straw gold. Aroma of lemon peel, sour dough, brioche and metallic steel. Palate entry with nice acidity, brioche and gentle caramel. Mid-palate of mango, pecan but a bit alcoholic hotness. Medium short finish with vanilla, rust, brioche and dough yeast. Good full body and high acid champagne with caramel and brioche taste, but detracted by the alcoholic hotness and slightly short finish.
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By the glass, bottle 3/4 empty. Disgorged February 2016.
Lazy mousse, mid-gold colour. Oxidized notes, ripe red apple, mushroom, toast and brioche. Rich and pinot noir to the fore, very creamy texture with some flor. Fine acid, energetic - the wine's volume really fans out in the mouth, deep bass.
Enjoyable now, however comparison with a Dom 08 last week provides sharp contrast - this Bolli is likely best consumed from now and the next few years.
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One of my favorites! Not as great as my last bottle of this vintage, but still fantastic. Dark gold color. Massive nuts and butter, and very refined. Lacked a little punch, but still lovely.
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Très bien, bulles assez fines, bien meilleur une fois réchauffé par contre avec des notes de pain grillé entre autres. Grosse préférence pour 2002. Bu les deux millésimes à 4 ou 5 occasions et aucun doute dans mon esprit.
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Small taste as this was finished rather quickly by the group. Slightly more developed than previous bottle, still with zippy acidity, medium bubbles, medium bodied and still needs to put on some weight. Hopefully will gain a little more complexity with a little more time. I will wait a bit before opening my next bottle.
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Stylistically reminds me of a mini-Krug with broad, expansive flavors of citrus and brioche. Plenty of acidity and a medium finish. The bead felt just a bit tired. Unlike Krug, not very concentrated nor quite as harmonious. I’d drink this sooner rather than later.
red apples, nice toasty notes, slightly reductive and oxidative, touch of balsamic, soy sauce. Good depth but was expecting more length. Very good champagne not on par with the greatest vintages of the grande annee
Last bottle from the cellar. This is a great champagne (ti drink now) from a difficuelt year - but if you have this vintage in the cellar go for drinking it in the next couple of years.
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Dinner with Tom and Deb Mortimer of Le Cadeau: A Mix of Le Cadeau and Other Gems (I Nonni, St. Paul, MN): Drank a glass over 90 minutes. This seemed like it might be corked initially. It seemed to largely blow off, but it never really was doing it for me. Some of that is probably the style, which I have become less enamored with over time. There are many similarities to my previous note, but this one was less than expected. Lots of apple peel on the nose; with a lot of chalk on a strongly oxidative palate. No score tonight.
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One of the best champagnes I’ve ever had! Lively with structure and finesse. Dark gold in color. Truffles, brioche, nuts, and butter in perfect balance throughout. Loved it!
DG October 2014 and completely ready. Some lemon fruit, round and bready with some complexity. Just finishes a fraction short compared to my memory of vintage bolly.
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WSET course Level 3, 10th session: Clear, pale gold Clear, med+ intensity of tertiary yeasty aromas of brioche, potato, earth, pumpkin, courgette, Developing brut, high acidity, med body, med alcohol, med+ intensity Med mousse creamy med+ finish Very good can drink now - over the peak
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I took this to La Trompette in Chiswick and it showed all the classic BGA characteristics: White Chocolate, nuts and red apple. Very good. Drink or hold.
(Didn't get the disgorgement date.)
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Poised and classy. Fine bubbles. Highly appealing substance draping a firm and precise frame. It paired beautifully with all food we paired with it. Delightful!
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Not as exciting as some other vintages, this is open for business. Dominated by brioche, the nose is full and round with nuances of dried apricot and white chocolate. Texture is good on the palate, good mineral backbone but lacking on the finish and bubbles fading quickly.
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IMW 2018 Champagne - Prestige Tasting (Hyatt, San Francisco): $128, Cask fermented, aged under cork, pinot-dominant (70-30 pinot-chard). 6 months on lees after primary, 6 years on tirage. Medium yellow color. Wow what a nose. Vinous madeira-coffee-date skin notes with aromatic lemon. Green apple pie - baking. Faint savory yeast - almost like the umami of bbq duck skin or seaweed (truffle?), or green tea. Feels 5g dosage (actual 6g) - it holds it well, like the sweetness is mostly ripe fruit. Yellow apple baked apple pastry. The midpalate explodes with apple and coffee autolysis. Long finish. High acid - pretty good considering 2005 was warm.
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VHR Vertical Tasting with Bruce & Heather Phillips (Oak Knoll, CA): Nose has a bit of toast. On the palate this is still quite youthful and bright, bubbles are light to medium intensity, more in the cleaner style than rich. Nice was to wake up the palate prior to the start of the vertical tasting.
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Oro viejo. Vinoso. Nariz peculiar con notas de sopa de pollo y recuerdos a crema de espárragos, fruta compotada, toques de levaduras. A ciegas me desconcertó. En boca el ataque es bueno, el carbónico ligero con un paso que recuerda casi a un blanco tranquilo, excelente acidez, sensaciones bastante maduras, algo goloso, muy rico, largo y con profundidad. Para mi, la decepción de la cata, aunque en boca estaba su nariz, tan particular, me dejó desconcertado.
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My first vintage Champagne. It took a while to open up, 30 minutes or so, but once it did it was wonderful. Toasted apple pie notes on the nose carried through to the taste which promptly fizzled away any tastes on the tongue, like I expect only good champagne to do.
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Feb 2016 disgorgement, so this bottle should be early in its window. Light gold color and a light, lazy mousse. Very profound nose of yeasty sourdough bread, baked apple pie, sweet orange and lemon. Rich, almost luscious mouthfeel which gets bumpered with subtle, yet definite acidity. I think there is just a lot of fruit still taking charge now. A beautiful finish with extra length leads me to have faith in its future. 4+13+17+9= 93
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Hommage a DryCab - Washington Wines release; 5/3/2018-5/5/2018 (Various spots in Walla Walla): Had with champagne biscuits from Paris which were a first for me. I was originally a touch skeptical, but actually it was a nice combination. The bubbles worked with the dry cookies (strawberry) and strawberry is a nice combination with champagne. Given there were the biscuits, didn't get a good taste of this on it's own, but suspect it's a wine that needs to lay down for longer (I like my champagne old enough it's slightly oxidized). This was very far from that.
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Have to agree with Elliott the previous bottle was much heavier/creamy but last nights bottle was much brighter and lively with citrus and sea salt. Lots of bottle variation going on here.
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Boneyard Fried Chicken and Bubbles with the Boys (Sherman Oaks): At dinner. Brief note. Much different than what I remember my last bottle being. Ton of marine influence on this, very saline, ocean spray, crisp mountainous air, toasty, lemony, racy and sexy. Very nice.
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A lot more developed than tasted two years ago. A lovely light golden yellow hue, fine and delicate bubbles. More yeasty like fresh baked bread and a bit nutty as well, the fresh fruits aromas are fading. Personally think that now is not the right time to drink - leave it untouched for 2-3 years and the tertiary flavours will be more complex and enjoyable. The acidity hinted that this 2005 will age well.
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Had this for dinner with friends and everyone loved it. Outstanding - about as good as it gets. Lovely melding of flavors resulting from its maturing, but there was still a freshness to the fruit.
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Tasting at Kevin's 3/10/18. WOW! Incredible wine. Wonderful nose; toasty, fresh sea breeze, green apples. Explosive full bodied lush mouth feel. long lingering finish. Hints of lemon and minerality. Very fine bubbles, which were still evident (but fewer) an hour in the glass.
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A Last Minute Saturday Evening: Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. I like the nose, complex with marzipan, apple peel, lots of chalk, toast and a foamy mousse. The palate is medium plus bodied, honey, marzipan, apple, apple peel, poached pear, dough, moderate oxidative style, chalk and citrus finish. Very solid.
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At dinner. Brief note. Pours a day-bright golden straw color in the glass. Mousse and perlage are particularly fine. Nose and palate are rich yet really well balanced showing creme brûlée, honeyed lemon, biscuits and brioche, marzipan, and chalky mineralité that leant a nice texture to the full and creamy midpalate. Balance is key here between the acid, texture, richness and fruit. Complex finish dances between citrus, almond butter, and crushed limestone. So good.
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2017 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/16/2017-10/25/2017 (New York City, NY): Straw-colored and extremely active (and small) on the bubble front, the '05 iteration of Bollinger's standard vintage champagne has classic aromas and flavors of lemon zest, brioche, almonds and wet stones. Medium-bodied, vibrantly acidic and with a creamy tactile lingual sensation on the mid-palate, it progresses to a tart, lengthy finish. This is quite nice, albeit a bit austere. Drink now-2025.
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Lovely depth of flavor and continues to develop nicely in the glass. Could certain use a few more years to improve. Still lots of bitterness in the loverly aftertaste. Perhaps lacks a bit of acidity...
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Malgré le millésime, le vin était très agréable, un peu trop "rond" peut-être, en manque d'un trait d'acidité mais la classe est tout de même au rendez-vous. Nous l'avons dégusté en accompagnement d'un ceviche de cabillaud royal, c'était excellent.
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Weiter ging es blind mit einem Champagner, gespendet von Ingo. Als Bollinger Grande Annee 2002 getippt, war aber 2005. War überrascht wie gut mein ungeliebter Jahrgang sein kann. Viel Power, etwas Nuß, wenig Botrytis (sprich reife Frucht), zupackende Säure. Aktuell gut trinkbar, eher kein Langstreckenläufer. 93
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Champagne Flight (K&L Wines, San Francisco): Medium yellow, some residual fine bead. Full on oxidative aromatics. Full bodied. Dark red/black fruit shouts Pinot. Good length but not a great deal of grip or underlying structure. I found this much more dull than the '07 that followed, but then again, I have never been a fan of the Bollinger style that I found here.
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All the right Bollinger GA elements, but softer and simpler, a little lower in acidity, and a bit more autolytic. Even very slightly oxidized with a hint of brown butter. Enjoyable, but I don't expect that the 05s have a long life ahead of them.
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popped and poured. Drank over an hour. Hopefully this wine develops and integrates much more with time. OK and acceptable but forgettable too. Will wait five years for the next bottle but that said I am not real hopeful. So far the '05 vintage across the board has been disappointing.
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Doftar fat, jäst, gula äpplen, lantbröd. Fyllig smak av pomelo, grape och lätt karamelliserat med ganska kort smak. Mycket god, kommer köpa fler, men kommer också att låta dem ligga ett gäng år. Tror att den kommer att utvecklas mycket mer än där den redan befinner sig.
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Vanilla, yeast and sweet ginger ale on the nose; lots of tiny bubbles; biscuity with a slightly sour lemony tang on the finish; experience didn't equal price
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Deep autolysis, brioche, toast, irritating green hints that most likely will dissapear in a couple of years i bottle. Keep some years i cellar, or buy something else. This is truly a fantastic wine, but i want more for this amount of money
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Impressive young wine. Deep, autolytic pinot-driven blue fruits and floral notes. A broad fruit profile on the palate, but clipped short by an aggressive structure and mousse. Young, obviously, and I'm reluctant to age Bollinger anymore, but plenty to enjoy now.
This bottle was very mature. It was fully bodied and a touch sweet and not as crisp as my last bottle. This is not a vintage to keep. Good to drink now.
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Golden wheat color. Somewhat muted nose, Stones, vanilla, silent in many ways. The opposite on the palate with Upfront heavy wood (oxidative as described by others), Dough, the website for the house says pastry and that is accurate, paint, cream soda and vanilla with a Lemon zest on the finish. Definitely interesting stylistically. The Pinot clearly dominates but in an interesting way.
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Disgorged May 2015. Medium color with fine carbonation.Typical Bolli nose with roasted nuts, exotic cirtrus, baked apple and orchard fruit notes. Rich but lively with meaty, Pinot-centric flavors. Long and persistent. Quite forward and precocious. The last few ounces, tasting at room temperature several hours later, were remarkable. Drink now through 2021.
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Mid yellow gold, quite deep for such a relatively young wine. Buttered toast on the nose at first - real toast, not the saline-tuna "toast" note I get in a lot of champagnes. Apple and caramel lurking in the background. The taste is quite unexpected. Everything on the nose is there, it promises to build into something big - but then slips away. Almost a hole on the midpalate. It's not bad at all, just a lot softer than I'd expect from vintage Bollinger. Maybe it's in an awkward phase. The presentation with very heavy card box and booklet is excellent, as usual. 70% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay; 95% grand cru, 5% premier cru; vinified in oak barrels. Disgorged October 2014. [Cork + cage; 12% abv; Oddbins, on offer at £75].
Very rich, brioche and digestive biscuits. Full bodied, not a million miles off RD marmite, lovely minerality, almost steely backbone, fino sherry opulence and great finish. I do think it is perfect now. Beautiful wine.
Quick note from memory. This was the better bottle of the 6 I have tasted. While it felt fully mature upon release now it has gained some developed notes and some funk - which I do not mind. It is not an extraordinary champers but a very decent one still. I decided early on to drink up my bottles rather quickly, instead relying on my 02 and 04s which I feel has much more potential. Think this one could have lived on for some years and perhaps gained a bit more, but not much. 92-93p.
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Tasting Group Holiday Party (Grange, Mouton, Schrader, de Capo and more) (Trent's): A great way to start our holiday tasting. Golden in color with a fine mousse. Lots of tiny bubbles. The nose is intriguing. A bit smokey/toasty with some red apples. Just a hint of ginger and tea. Slightly oxidized notes (in a good way). On the palate, less defined than the nose but still quite good. Its best attribute is an almost piercing acidity. Some fruit, maybe cooked apples. Long finish. It got better with air.
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My second taste of this vintage and my third vintage of lga (2002, 2004 and 2005). This is very good and I'm close to 94. Quite a lot of apples, a bit oxidised and enough acid to make this a great champagne.
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BOLLINGER (Wijnhandel Peeters @ Rotterdam , the Netherlands.): Great complexity on the nose with honey, subtle notes of hazelnut and dried fruits. On the palate great aromatic ripeness, supple and full, with some refreshing acidity on the finish.
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Mid straw Penetrating aromas of marmite, yeast extract and toasted brioche. Excellant mousse persistency. Clean, almost biting acidity on entry with a savoury element carving through it. Flavours of ripe green apples, cut lemon and toasted croissant with honey. There is a citric edge on the mid-palate, whereby it appears partially ripe fruits sit in the background parked on a mineral edge. Fairly full in body, as per Bollinger, there is a creamy texture with great persistence and length. Wonderful dynamics.
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A great way to start the evening. This was really lovely with the appetizer. Very crisp, even with a high 70% PN part. Good minerality and exceptional quality for this vintage. I was surprised how balanced and ready this was.
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Bollinger Showing (Bodega Santa Cecilia - Madrid): Disgorged on November 2015. A truly infanticide. Initially, PM really hits. Very cool but at the same time very rustic bakery notes. Slightly metallic before baked apple or memories from honey. Over time aniseed odours dominated also from wild flowers. In the mouth unmemorable. How it will evolve, a mystery but after all probably just better because right now I miss its traditional creaminess. For food rather than reflexion. A pity.
Degüelle noviembre 2015. Un verdadero infanticidio. Inicialmente, golpe de Meunier. Muy fresco pero con notas de panadería muy rústicas. Ligeramente metálico antes que manzana asada o recuerdos procedentes de la miel. Con el paso del tiempo predominan los olores a anís y a flores silvestres. En boca no tiene nada especial. Como será su evolución, pues sólo a mejor porque en este momento añoro su tradicional cremosidad. Para comer más que para reflexionar. Una pena.
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Not much has happened to this wine since previous bottle one year ago. Nice champagne but no lift or extraordinary character. Lacks a decent spine for sure. 91-92p.
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11th Cellier Wine Fair (Hilton Athenaum Hotel): 70% Pinot Noir 30% Chardonnay, disgorged March 2015. Explosive in the nose, citrus, lime, yeast. The palate is equally explosive only a step back in intensity, lime, citrus, a few candied fruit notes, nice body and mouth-feel, nice length, great for now and one to hold on to as well.
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IMW 2016 Champagne - Prestige Tasting (Hyatt, San Francisco): 70% Pinot, full malo. 6 years tirage. Some oak (neutral barrels) Medium straw, hint of gold. Mushroomy character to the fruit - maybe signature of Pinot Noir. More baguette-heavy, led by brioche with ripe apples. Slight fresh sheepsmilk cheese (development of autolysis). On the palate: heavier - but not due to dosage - it's lower here, (6g) High acid. Beautiful and shifting finish - yellow apple, mushroom, baguette crust. Around 9-9.5 $200
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Disgorged December 2015. Rich but lively colour, hint of gold, pin-prick bubbles; mature but fresh nose, lovely warmth from the wood, vinous, salty minerals, hedgerow and citrus, light oxidative note; rich and weighty palate, big and flavoursome, red berry flavours, acidity seems low at first but it tougher than you'd think; complete and layered finish, very good length. Just what you'd expect Grande Année 2005 to be like. Will not make old bones though.
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A blend of Pinot Noir (70%) and Chardonnay (30%), sourced from Grand Cru (95%) and Premier Cru (5%) vineyards. The wine is first fermented and aged in old oak before being bottled. The wine is aged for 7 years before release, of which the wine ages in bottles with the lees for at least 5 years before disgorgement. Dosage 6 g/l.
Pale lime green color. Cool, somewhat restrained and rather dark-toned nose with aromas of oxidative, nutty complexity, spicy Pinosity, some autolytic yeasty notes and a little bit of brioche, light chalky mineral tones, a hint of baked apple and a touch of coffee. The wine is ripe, rich and juicy on the palate with quite fruity and concentrated flavors of peachy stone fruits and succulent exotic fruits, pronounced autolytic toasty character, some baked apple, a little bit of toffee, light mocha tones, brooding, almost Burgundian undercurrent of vaguely oaky and slightly oxidative spice, a hint of nuttiness and a touch of honeyed richness. The wine feels surprisingly rich and even slightly sweet-toned despite the relatively low dosage for LGA. The acidity is moderately high - meaning that it is high enough to keep the wine well in balance and nicely structured, but it is far from the racy acidity the best vintages of LGA can have. The mousse feels very soft, fine and creamy. The finish is rich, long and quite ripe with dark-toned flavors of peach-driven stone fruits, some brooding coffee tones, a little bit of oxidative nutty complexity, a hint of stony minerality and a touch of sweet, golden apples.
This is a massively big, very impressive and wonderfully complex Champagne by any standards, yet still the wine somewhat underdelivers for La Grande Année. I have a soft spot for the burly house style of Bollinger and LGA is one of my favorite Grande Marque Champagnes, but this vintage is a bit of a let-down: the nose shows the typical complexity of LGA, but still it feels relatively underwhelming and although the dosage is a little bit lower than usual, the wine still comes across softer, fruitier and sweeter-toned. The wine lacks the freshness and racy acidity I look for in LGA and instead it is very rich, supple and dominated by ripe stone fruit flavors. To conclude: this is an excellent Champagne and one I'd love to drink any day, but knowing how exceptional LGA can be in the best vintages, this one doesn't manage to reach that bar.
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Lunch at 67 Pall Mall (67 Pall Mall): Medium yellow/gold appearance. Good lively but soft mousse - creamy. Citrus, cooked apples, brioche/bready/yeasty, earthy notes. Complex nose with a lot going on that I find hard to break down into components. Quite oxidative, surprisingly so. High refreshing acidity. Quite full bodied with a long finish. Excellent wine.
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Je ne crois pas qu'il serait possible de faire mieux. Bel assemblage pinot noir/ chardo, qui fait en sorte qu'on a une longueur digne de grand vin, petite acidité rien d'agressant. Bien heureux d'en avoir 2 autres.
5/5
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70/30 Pinot/Chard. Sees 10 years on the lees before disgorgement. Medium plus nose shows baked fruit, bready, brioche, fresh floral notes, earthy tones. Palate is a lovely style, really nice development paired with freshness, really wows you right away. Expressive fruit that I honestly don't have the Champagne experience to describe well. Overall spectacular and one of the first times I've loved Champagne.
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A Night of Truly Diverse Wines (Newtown, Sydney): Surprisingly advanced, though I didn't find it as oxidative as some others. Dense nose of nutty brioche, with some honey. Tart and a bit monolithic on the palate, less expressive than expected yet still very much in the Bollinger style.
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The nose is delivered with the subtlety of Agamemmnons fist. Huge biscuity, marmite and toast . Had i had it blind i would have said it was an RD, such is the yeasty stench. Incredible full length of flavour with dashes of lemon and lime acidity that are straddled either side of the sheer weight in the mouth. Caramel, toffee and vanilla. Beautiful.
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A classic and enjoyable Bolly. It is quite pure, has a nice structure, refined bubbles and a somewhat creamy texture. Well made, fairly enjoyable now, it will age well.
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Light golden in colour, instant feeling of greater complexity and depth compared to the N.V cuvees. Aromas of honey, flowers and hints of almonds. Medium rich mouth feel, early mature feeling, orange peel, ripe fruit, bread, vanilla.
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This has to be the most accessible BGA since the 1997. I didn't make notes at the time but I think it's worth pointing out that this is ready to go now. (I doubt this will run for many years but I need an early drinking BGA while I wait for my 2002s and 2004s.
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Quite dark, with a vineous nose and palate, already showing signs of depth and complexity. My third vintage of LGA (2002, 2004 and 2005), and they are consistently on a high level. 93+. I agree with Slimes on the drinking window.
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Rich gold/amber colour with tight, fine mousse. Rich cooked apples on the nose, with a little of the yeasty note. Definitely too young, unless you like it rich and fruity like this. I would hold for at least 3 years or so...
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Massive nose with apples and toast. Kept evolving during the evening. Mouthfeel is superbly creamy with perfect balance. Very long taste with apples, citrus, minerals and some slight notes from oxidation. Superb now but I would still wait a few years. 93-96.
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Much more mature than last time. Dan opened a bottle of this at work on Xmas eve and it was so good that I bought a bottle and had it that night on the train home. One to drink while waiting for the 04s and 02s.
A lovely wine. First impression is of sun warm green apples accompanied by minerals and a vivid array of citrus zest. There is brioche and white to medium toast as well. The palate follows through in a similar fashion with balance as its main component. Everything is in place but maybe integration will improve with another year in the cellar. Mid palate is a bit thin compared to what I am used too for the GAs but the 40 second length on the finish convinces me this effort is well worth seeking out. (score is 92+)
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Crush's Annual Champagne Clusterfuck 2015: So the Bolly style plus the rich and ripe 05 vintage combine to create something approximating bubbly liquid french toast. Rich and sweet on the nose - bread, almonds and a bit of spice. Sweet and bready on the palate with nuts, french toast with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Other 05's I've had, like the CdC or the Clos des Goisses seem disjointed and hot with 05, but the Bolly goes all in and works it. It's not hot or heavy, just sweet and rich. Not what I want all the time, but this has its place. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16-16.5/20.
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My fifth bottle. While I am still very much enjoying this wine I do have moderated my views on it somehow. It clearly has great immediate (and, I have found, broad) appeal, expressive and mature as it is. However, I do think it lacks extraordinary character. In short It is really nice but nothing special - well, maybe apart from the fact that it gives so much already at this stage. 92-93p
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100% Barrel fermentation. ripe citrus palate, modest leesiness. lead pencil to the palate. big sugar cookie note on the palate. potpourri and sandalwood after some time open. great acid and well integrated. 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 95% GC, 5% 1erCru. 6-8 years aging. 13 crus in the blend. Only using the 'cuvee' juice.
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CIVC Champagne Tasting 2015: Lime, earth, candy and lemon. Medium bodied, with some richness poking through from the middle to the finish. Doesn't taste overly dense as the fruit holds an edge of brightness. Very good but I wasn't loving this today.
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Hello?! Fully mature upon release! - or at least not that far from it. If I did not know I would have guessed a substantially more mature wine. Still some room for further development, however if you are looking for some nice fizz to pour off the rack then do not miss out on this one. Possible the score (and my notes!) would have been even better if this was not consumed at a family dinner but rather a tasting. Paired lovely with the organic chicken. 93-94p
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2/24/2024 - TheGreenFrog Likes this wine: 93 Points
From jeroboam. Plenty of fine bubbles, although did not persist that long after pouring. On palate full and vinuous - not the most complex but enjoyed by all.
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2/11/2024 - TWSA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose: Brioche, apricot, hints of steel, creme brulee, crispy pear, hints of water chestnut, red apple
Notes: 6g dosage. Drank from a magnum, disgorged Oct 2014. Still quite fresh and vibrant and in a very good condition. I'd say that there's a good balance of everything here with a delicate nose which is complex and well integrated. While this is drinking nicely now I would say the prime time is still a couple of years away - I'm guessing another 5-6 years would bring the best out of this already delicious Champagne.
Drink: 2030+
Rating: 92
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12/23/2023 - The_Cat wrote: 94 Points
Deep golden color. Intense almost opulent roasted almonds and hazelnuts brioche and a bit of yellow fruits. Full bodied with fine bubbles and well balanced acidity and excellent length
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11/19/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine:
Thanksgiving Mondo Dinner 2023 (Atlanta, GA): Dinner Champagne. Non-Blind. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. To be honest, I didn't pay much attention to it as I was focused on the food and conversation.
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7/29/2023 - burgburgburg wrote: 92 Points
A prominent vintage from the house. Nutty, floral and fruity aroma paired with very fine palate and acidity. Great performance tonight.
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3/11/2023 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Afternoon Champagne with Gougeres is a Saturday treat in our house. Decided to open a bottle of the 2005 Gramd Année, as we wanted something a little more full bodied than the endless parade of extra brut/brut nature Blanc de Blancs that seem to pass our way. This certainly fit the bill, and if not the most interesting vintage of GA, it got the job done, especially as an accompaniment to the Gougeres. We make ours with four year aged Gouda, so they have an intensity of flavor that worked really well with the wine. I wasn’t even thinking about aromas or flavors, just that the wine and the food were really good together. That’s a big win!
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2/6/2023 - hectic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Suited for those who prefer a more mature tasting champagne.
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2/5/2023 - Bubbly Babes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cuvee Holiday Luncheon: Served with Grilled venison with cherry and marsala demi-glace, arugula, blackberry and guanciale.
Complex, muscular champagne with ripe fruit notes - while it's no cab, proves bubbles can pair beautifully with red meat.
Lovely pink color, Gingerbread spice on the nose. Signature Bollinger oak-fermented produced slight vanilla. Ripe fruit produced great example of 2005.
Another spectacular pairing, but still 2nd to 1522 with smoked salmon canapé.
We enjoyed from jeroboam, and it was in a great place. I am not sure I would hold for too long.
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1/29/2023 - northpolewine wrote: 92 Points
Moden, mørk gul på farge. Modne epler, rund og fyldig. God vin, små elegante bobler, mangler litt friskhet.
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6/11/2022 - Argrath wrote: 94 Points
(Blind tasting)
Full and developed nose. Yellow apple, plum and toast. Rich and immediate.
Fullish, toasty palate. Rich and balanced. Ripe apple and almost coffee hints. Very good length, but lacking some intensity and grip.
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6/2/2022 - olalar wrote: 93 Points
Very consistent notes. Drinks superbly now.
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2/2/2022 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last bottle did not disappoint. Drank at wine dinner. Elegant Champagne. Drink or Hold,,, wish I had more.
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1/1/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
New Years Day: Vrai Champagne, Fifth Annual Edition (Brad & Marcia's Place, St. Paul, MN): Light gold plus color. Tasting pour. There's a good whoosh on opening, though the bead is less energetic in glass, needing to open and have some time, this gradually builds. Truly vinous, this is complex and thoughtful. Marzipan, brioche, pastry dough, oxidative though well in context, quince, red apple and kumquat, full and caressing, creamy, round, and long. Going out strong.
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12/31/2021 - nzinkgraf wrote:
wow. Definitely no lack of character to the aromas. Lots of pineapple fruit. Is there such a thing as a pineapple croissant? Layers and layers. Pineapple upside down cake palate. Medium minus golden color. Palate lines up a little out off kilter, but still in excellent territory. Has some sandalwood elements to the palate for floral spice. Buttery palate, accented and balanced by some extract on thr pate still. Definitely lots of life ahead. Drink to 2030+.
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12/30/2021 - bajayngo wrote:
Always a stunner with tight mousse, focused and balance and laser beam on the palate.
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12/29/2021 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
This was a disappointment as it showed fairly strong oxidation in this bottle which shouldn't be there. Still had perfect fine bubbles, killer concentration on the palate, rich, creamy, powerful stuff, long, intense. But very nutty-walnutty. But actually paired well with one dish: snap peas with white chocolate and macadamia. Insanely good and the nuttiness of the dish was a surprise bridging ingredient, as was the tiny chunks of light white chocolate. Rustic Canyon you killed it! Also excellent: the bread/butter, endives, pork belly, seabass. Pork chop was very inventive but ok, and went the best with the Martinelli Pinot. Rustic Canyon w/S&L
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12/8/2021 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 93 Points
not blind
I was surprised about the freshness and, not oxidative and not too much burned roasted aromas. In a good dri king window if you like it fresh. For older aged champagner lovers no reason to hurry up. 93-94
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11/20/2021 - The_Cat Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ripe golden color. Lots of Sunday butter brioche roasted almonds exotic fruits like lychee jackfruit and pink grapefruit. Medium bodied with perfectly balanced acidity and very fine bubbles very long and persistent finish.
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10/21/2021 - Barry Notes Likes this wine:
Clear, light straw color. Excellent mid sized, long lasting bubble stream. Absolutely delicious. Bright fruit, clean, med body with just a touch of nut and caramel. Very fresh. Exceptional finish of mouth puckering intense fruit. Extraordinary sparkler.
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8/28/2021 - soyhead wrote:
nose - hazlenut
mouth - toasted coconut, brioche, caramel, touch confected
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6/7/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Hugely rich and massive. Time to drink up too!
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4/19/2021 - nmichaud1 Likes this wine:
Encore une fois, phénoménal comme champagne. J'aurais fini la bouteille à moi tout seul. Similaire à ma note de l'an dernier.
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4/11/2021 - Krugalex wrote: flawed
Oxidized. Big foreboding cheesy note upon opening one hour before. Medium gold color; very few visible bubbles, which is alarming for a 16 years old champagne only that was kept untouched since its purchase from a direct source. Took some time in the glass to reveal some roasted almonds and coffee notes, but the weird cheese note stayed under everything the whole time. Absolutely no fruit or minerals whatsoever and completely dark and unidimensional on the palate. Ok to drink but no pleasure at all. Oh well!
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3/14/2021 - drwinston Likes this wine: 92 Points
Magnum, degorged 01/2016
light golden color
Brioche, biscuit, hazelnut, long finish
excellent Champagne, now very well to drink but will stay for another couple of years
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2/25/2021 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Best bottle so far. Golden metallic yellow, vivacious tiny bubbles. Nose of brioche, mature DP style, mineral, and perfumed yellow fruits. Very buttery and rich on the palate, a champagne to accompany great food, and a long finish.
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2/20/2021 - benjaminpaul wrote: 92 Points
Purchased for our engagement in 2016, now enjoying on our 3rd wedding anniversary!
Very fine bead. Golden in colour. Nose of overripe peach, slight nectarine, and hints oxidative dessert wine. Palate is rich and long and I mean long. It lingers and lingers. Stewed green apples, chalky overripe lemon, nuttiness in cashew and apple strudel with clove. It's not yeasty or bready or brioche, its mealy flavours are like sweet pastry or doughnuts with stewed fruits.
We enjoyed this with charcuterie as it does need food. It's not overly complex but it's bold and big in an elegant, rich and creamy way. Drink now or soon.
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1/15/2021 - Antoine G wrote: 96 Points
Un nez qui s'ouvre lentement sur des senteurs de fruits mûrs, golden, des notes de miel. Un semblant oxydatif mais la mousse légère et fraîche balance la côte cremeux de ce vin. Le pamplemousse rose contribue a la fraîcheur de l'ensemble. Un vin droit, solide tout en élégance.
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1/8/2021 - the player Likes this wine: 91 Points
See previous note. Reminded me of a 1990 DP although this had Earl Grey tea on the nose, brioche and flowers. Not sure of longevity on this champagne which on the palate strikes me as a sparkling Meursault or Corton Charlemagne. Very buttery and fat finish and I can see why this may not be a champagne for everyone’s taste but I can definitely appreciate it and I believe this is best paired with food.
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1/1/2021 - Doc Malvern Likes this wine: 88 Points
Rich and golden. Perhaps kept for a couple of years too long for my palate. Fine mousse, gentle bubbles. Flavours of apple and some honey.
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12/31/2020 - empire80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Creamy baked apple, hint of spice, lovely rich brioche.
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12/18/2020 - UlfSall wrote: 93 Points
Shared it w friends in a great tasting involving Dom P, Krug, Comtes de Champagne and Cristal.
Oppulent, rich and full bodied, perfect balance, typical Bollinger of a great year.
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12/10/2020 - NickA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Networking with Brunello (67 Pall Mall): My first time trying this vintage of Bolly. This bottle seemed in a good place; it might not have the savour that (good bottles of) the 2000 and 2002 currently offer, nor the cut and complexity of the 2008, but it was just so nice to drink! Admirable balance and energy.
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11/27/2020 - the player wrote: 90 Points
I think I need to try a couple more bottles to confirm how I feel about this champagne. Agree with some comments that this might be headed downhill as it reminded me color, aroma and palate of a 1969 Dom Pérignon I had years ago which was past its prime. Golden yellow color super evolved, vivacious bubbles at the outset but which start to fade one or two hours after opening the bottle. Nose dominated by yeast, toast, baked golden apples, very metallic on the palate with citrus and apples dominating and very strong but not bothersome acidity. A couple of hours later the minerality and freshness drop but the acidity remains and the finish is quite decent. Will retest this champagne in few weeks and see...
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11/13/2020 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 92 Points
Similar to bottle last year, slightly more developed, baked apple, toast, lemon, nice acid, showing well and I think in a good window now and will probably be for a while, but doubt this goes past 20 years.
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7/11/2020 - nmichaud1 Likes this wine:
Dégustation à l'aveugle entre amis: Mon offrande au groupe, nous passons à la vitesse supérieur. Le nez le plus élégant, complexe et aérien de la soirée. Il y a de la brioche, pain grillé, pomme verte. En bouche, tout est en place, long et rond. L'acidité est limite sur ma bouteille, alors je ne garderais pas les autres bouteilles pendant de nombreuses années encore. Honnêtement, La Grande Année est un champagne qui ne déçoit jamais, alors je n'imagine pas dans un grand millésime. Excellent
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6/21/2020 - gmbdds wrote: 92 Points
Big, cloudy bubbles. Bread, red apple and ginger. Quite a bit of body. Maturing (slight oxidative note), but still fresh.
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6/20/2020 - CPSchoeff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light gold. A: earthy, apple tart, slight mature notes. F: red fruit, spice, red apple, mineral citrus finish that was a bit clipped initially.
Rounds out after being open a few hours and the finish becomes a longer and balanced game of richness and energy. The richness probably wins out. A very good champagne that is expensive for the outcome in this case. 90-91, lower listed due to price!
Similar notes from 10/31/2020. Consumed a bit warmer and lended more expressive notes from the start. Plenty of concentration and richness, but with a lot of mineral grip. Moves this up to a 92 on this one.
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6/7/2020 - Taffy-on-Tour wrote: flawed
Being brutal - utter garbage!!
The colour bordered on orange, there was no significant nose and on the palate - all I got was a recently departed Norwegian Blue! lol
My experience of the 2005 GA, has been less than spectacular.
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4/4/2020 - Buddrow Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just what I needed.
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4/4/2020 - domco wrote:
Decided to open a birth year wine for Anne’s shelter in place 15th birthday :(
Starting to add some color but still a lot of crisp citrus to it. In a nice window but I think this will hang on for quite a few more years.
A very good wine to toast a wonderful birthday girl.
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3/25/2020 - BigJ wrote: flawed
oxidized
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2/11/2020 - Taffy-on-Tour wrote: 89 Points
No better than ok. Currently I enjoy the NV far more than I did this bottle. I find this no little distressing, as I am - most certainly a Bolly fan. I have purchased the 2008 Grande Annee and look forward to reviews of the impending release of the 2012 GA. If I were you, I would give the 2005 a body swerve and look to the 2007!
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2/8/2020 - wihong wrote: 89 Points
Straw gold. Aroma of lemon peel, sour dough, brioche and metallic steel. Palate entry with nice acidity, brioche and gentle caramel. Mid-palate of mango, pecan but a bit alcoholic hotness. Medium short finish with vanilla, rust, brioche and dough yeast. Good full body and high acid champagne with caramel and brioche taste, but detracted by the alcoholic hotness and slightly short finish.
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1/21/2020 - SLIMES Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had this at The Glass House in Kew. Really nice richness. It's not going to get better from here.
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12/29/2019 - peternelson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good, rich, fuller bodied, good with the philipino food, esp the salmon soup, fried chicken, squash dish.At Maam-Sir w/S&L
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12/26/2019 - empire80 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Superb balance of lemon freshness and bready richness
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12/16/2019 - Trydebull Likes this wine: 92 Points
Helblint Gothenburg 191119
Skrev:
Doften honungsmelon, salt, pomelo, kolasnören
Smaken moget, komplext, röda äpplen, röd rabarber
92+
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11/18/2019 - lightning wrote: 91 Points
By the glass, bottle 3/4 empty. Disgorged February 2016.
Lazy mousse, mid-gold colour. Oxidized notes, ripe red apple, mushroom, toast and brioche. Rich and pinot noir to the fore, very creamy texture with some flor. Fine acid, energetic - the wine's volume really fans out in the mouth, deep bass.
Enjoyable now, however comparison with a Dom 08 last week provides sharp contrast - this Bolli is likely best consumed from now and the next few years.
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10/19/2019 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 95 Points
One of my favorites! Not as great as my last bottle of this vintage, but still fantastic. Dark gold color. Massive nuts and butter, and very refined. Lacked a little punch, but still lovely.
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10/11/2019 - Mario17 Likes this wine:
Très bien, bulles assez fines, bien meilleur une fois réchauffé par contre avec des notes de pain grillé entre autres. Grosse préférence pour 2002. Bu les deux millésimes à 4 ou 5 occasions et aucun doute dans mon esprit.
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8/20/2019 - Vinophiliac559 wrote:
Small taste as this was finished rather quickly by the group. Slightly more developed than previous bottle, still with zippy acidity, medium bubbles, medium bodied and still needs to put on some weight. Hopefully will gain a little more complexity with a little more time. I will wait a bit before opening my next bottle.
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7/19/2019 - CMN wrote:
Stylistically reminds me of a mini-Krug with broad, expansive flavors of citrus and brioche. Plenty of acidity and a medium finish. The bead felt just a bit tired. Unlike Krug, not very concentrated nor quite as harmonious. I’d drink this sooner rather than later.
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7/5/2019 - fedro Likes this wine: 91 Points
red apples, nice toasty notes, slightly reductive and oxidative, touch of balsamic, soy sauce. Good depth but was expecting more length. Very good champagne not on par with the greatest vintages of the grande annee
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6/29/2019 - mveller Likes this wine:
Last bottle from the cellar. This is a great champagne (ti drink now) from a difficuelt year - but if you have this vintage in the cellar go for drinking it in the next couple of years.
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6/8/2019 - nicbr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still very good but I liked him better two years ago.
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6/1/2019 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
From mag, nice flinty nose and broad green apple profile. A smudge of dosage and faint yeast on the effervescent finish.
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3/2/2019 - rocknroller wrote:
Dinner with Tom and Deb Mortimer of Le Cadeau: A Mix of Le Cadeau and Other Gems (I Nonni, St. Paul, MN): Drank a glass over 90 minutes. This seemed like it might be corked initially. It seemed to largely blow off, but it never really was doing it for me. Some of that is probably the style, which I have become less enamored with over time. There are many similarities to my previous note, but this one was less than expected. Lots of apple peel on the nose; with a lot of chalk on a strongly oxidative palate. No score tonight.
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3/2/2019 - Mneumeier wrote: 92 Points
Drinking great...a lot more life on this one.
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1/19/2019 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 98 Points
One of the best champagnes I’ve ever had! Lively with structure and finesse. Dark gold in color. Truffles, brioche, nuts, and butter in perfect balance throughout. Loved it!
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12/31/2018 - empire80 Likes this wine: 91 Points
DG October 2014 and completely ready. Some lemon fruit, round and bready with some complexity. Just finishes a fraction short compared to my memory of vintage bolly.
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12/26/2018 - vintage1949 wrote: 89 Points
Sharp, austere and one dimensional. Predominant taste was lemon, lemon,lemon. Have a case, hope aging will add complexity to this raw champagne.
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12/19/2018 - Yagil wrote: 86 Points
WSET course Level 3, 10th session: Clear, pale gold
Clear, med+ intensity of tertiary yeasty aromas of brioche, potato, earth, pumpkin, courgette,
Developing
brut, high acidity, med body, med alcohol, med+ intensity
Med mousse creamy
med+ finish
Very good
can drink now - over the peak
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11/18/2018 - SLIMES Likes this wine: 91 Points
I took this to La Trompette in Chiswick and it showed all the classic BGA characteristics: White Chocolate, nuts and red apple. Very good. Drink or hold.
(Didn't get the disgorgement date.)
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10/25/2018 - Motz wrote: 93 Points
Poised and classy. Fine bubbles. Highly appealing substance draping a firm and precise frame. It paired beautifully with all food we paired with it. Delightful!
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9/30/2018 - matt182 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not as exciting as some other vintages, this is open for business. Dominated by brioche, the nose is full and round with nuances of dried apricot and white chocolate. Texture is good on the palate, good mineral backbone but lacking on the finish and bubbles fading quickly.
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9/26/2018 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 95 Points
Love this Champagne. Grippy delicious. Second of three.
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9/24/2018 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 92 Points
IMW 2018 Champagne - Prestige Tasting (Hyatt, San Francisco): $128,
Cask fermented, aged under cork, pinot-dominant (70-30 pinot-chard). 6 months on lees after primary, 6 years on tirage.
Medium yellow color. Wow what a nose. Vinous madeira-coffee-date skin notes with aromatic lemon. Green apple pie - baking. Faint savory yeast - almost like the umami of bbq duck skin or seaweed (truffle?), or green tea. Feels 5g dosage (actual 6g) - it holds it well, like the sweetness is mostly ripe fruit. Yellow apple baked apple pastry. The midpalate explodes with apple and coffee autolysis. Long finish. High acid - pretty good considering 2005 was warm.
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8/26/2018 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
VHR Vertical Tasting with Bruce & Heather Phillips (Oak Knoll, CA): Nose has a bit of toast. On the palate this is still quite youthful and bright, bubbles are light to medium intensity, more in the cleaner style than rich. Nice was to wake up the palate prior to the start of the vertical tasting.
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8/7/2018 - burgburgburg wrote: 90 Points
Balanced fruits and acidity. Good value.
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8/3/2018 - dlcass Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delightful wine. Delayed entry. Enjoyed on first date with Carmela.
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7/21/2018 - PacoHigon Likes this wine:
Oro viejo. Vinoso. Nariz peculiar con notas de sopa de pollo y recuerdos a crema de espárragos, fruta compotada, toques de levaduras. A ciegas me desconcertó. En boca el ataque es bueno, el carbónico ligero con un paso que recuerda casi a un blanco tranquilo, excelente acidez, sensaciones bastante maduras, algo goloso, muy rico, largo y con profundidad. Para mi, la decepción de la cata, aunque en boca estaba su nariz, tan particular, me dejó desconcertado.
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6/17/2018 - evjoh wrote:
My first vintage Champagne. It took a while to open up, 30 minutes or so, but once it did it was wonderful. Toasted apple pie notes on the nose carried through to the taste which promptly fizzled away any tastes on the tongue, like I expect only good champagne to do.
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6/2/2018 - fingers Likes this wine: 93 Points
Feb 2016 disgorgement, so this bottle should be early in its window. Light gold color and a light, lazy mousse. Very profound nose of yeasty sourdough bread, baked apple pie, sweet orange and lemon. Rich, almost luscious mouthfeel which gets bumpered with subtle, yet definite acidity. I think there is just a lot of fruit still taking charge now. A beautiful finish with extra length leads me to have faith in its future. 4+13+17+9= 93
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5/22/2018 - bmattfeld Does not like this wine:
Wine was too old.
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5/6/2018 - danckie Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Didn’t enjoy this at all. Austere, small bubbles. Not a lot of acidity. Kinda boring actually. Maybe a dormid phase?
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5/5/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Hommage a DryCab - Washington Wines release; 5/3/2018-5/5/2018 (Various spots in Walla Walla): Had with champagne biscuits from Paris which were a first for me. I was originally a touch skeptical, but actually it was a nice combination. The bubbles worked with the dry cookies (strawberry) and strawberry is a nice combination with champagne. Given there were the biscuits, didn't get a good taste of this on it's own, but suspect it's a wine that needs to lay down for longer (I like my champagne old enough it's slightly oxidized). This was very far from that.
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5/1/2018 - scott w Likes this wine:
Have to agree with Elliott the previous bottle was much heavier/creamy but last nights bottle was much brighter and lively with citrus and sea salt. Lots of bottle variation going on here.
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5/1/2018 - ESTEELE90 Likes this wine:
Boneyard Fried Chicken and Bubbles with the Boys (Sherman Oaks): At dinner. Brief note. Much different than what I remember my last bottle being. Ton of marine influence on this, very saline, ocean spray, crisp mountainous air, toasty, lemony, racy and sexy. Very nice.
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4/14/2018 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very nice bubbly. Fresh citrus. Some yeastiness. All around delicious. Drink or hold
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4/3/2018 - ETT95 wrote: 91 Points
A lot more developed than tasted two years ago. A lovely light golden yellow hue, fine and delicate bubbles. More yeasty like fresh baked bread and a bit nutty as well, the fresh fruits aromas are fading. Personally think that now is not the right time to drink - leave it untouched for 2-3 years and the tertiary flavours will be more complex and enjoyable. The acidity hinted that this 2005 will age well.
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3/20/2018 - Bruce 1er wrote: 98 Points
Had this for dinner with friends and everyone loved it. Outstanding - about as good as it gets. Lovely melding of flavors resulting from its maturing, but there was still a freshness to the fruit.
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3/16/2018 - BillyT wrote:
No notes. Bottle shock.
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3/10/2018 - robertgf wrote: 94 Points
Tasting at Kevin's 3/10/18. WOW! Incredible wine. Wonderful nose; toasty, fresh sea breeze, green apples. Explosive full bodied lush mouth feel. long lingering finish.
Hints of lemon and minerality. Very fine bubbles, which were still evident (but fewer) an hour in the glass.
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3/10/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
A Last Minute Saturday Evening: Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. I like the nose, complex with marzipan, apple peel, lots of chalk, toast and a foamy mousse. The palate is medium plus bodied, honey, marzipan, apple, apple peel, poached pear, dough, moderate oxidative style, chalk and citrus finish. Very solid.
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2/25/2018 - ESTEELE90 Likes this wine:
At dinner. Brief note. Pours a day-bright golden straw color in the glass. Mousse and perlage are particularly fine. Nose and palate are rich yet really well balanced showing creme brûlée, honeyed lemon, biscuits and brioche, marzipan, and chalky mineralité that leant a nice texture to the full and creamy midpalate. Balance is key here between the acid, texture, richness and fruit. Complex finish dances between citrus, almond butter, and crushed limestone. So good.
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2/24/2018 - mveller Likes this wine: 90 Points
Toast, small bubbles, Dark colour.....not going to last for many years in the celler
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2/17/2018 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice bubbly. Has improved a bit over the last two years. No sign of decline.
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10/20/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
2017 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/16/2017-10/25/2017 (New York City, NY): Straw-colored and extremely active (and small) on the bubble front, the '05 iteration of Bollinger's standard vintage champagne has classic aromas and flavors of lemon zest, brioche, almonds and wet stones. Medium-bodied, vibrantly acidic and with a creamy tactile lingual sensation on the mid-palate, it progresses to a tart, lengthy finish. This is quite nice, albeit a bit austere. Drink now-2025.
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10/10/2017 - canan wrote: 92 Points
Lovely depth of flavor and continues to develop nicely in the glass. Could certain use a few more years to improve.
Still lots of bitterness in the loverly aftertaste. Perhaps lacks a bit of acidity...
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8/19/2017 - Fid Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank at Mastro's in Malibu at M&D 50th anniversary dinner celebration. Very enjoyable. Crisp, delicious and a great champs to toast a big occasion.
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8/3/2017 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 92 Points
Wines of Good Hope: Summer 2017; 7/29/2017-9/14/2017 (River's Inlet, British Columbia): Ripe yellow and red apple and good brioche on the nose. Very ripe apple fruit palate with some nice reduction and a lot of yeast. More developed than expected. Pleasant.
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7/1/2017 - Ericsson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Malgré le millésime, le vin était très agréable, un peu trop "rond" peut-être, en manque d'un trait d'acidité mais la classe est tout de même au rendez-vous.
Nous l'avons dégusté en accompagnement d'un ceviche de cabillaud royal, c'était excellent.
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6/16/2017 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Weiter ging es blind mit einem Champagner, gespendet von Ingo. Als Bollinger Grande Annee 2002 getippt, war aber 2005. War überrascht wie gut mein ungeliebter Jahrgang sein kann. Viel Power, etwas Nuß, wenig Botrytis (sprich reife Frucht), zupackende Säure. Aktuell gut trinkbar, eher kein Langstreckenläufer. 93
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6/10/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
Champagne Flight (K&L Wines, San Francisco): Medium yellow, some residual fine bead. Full on oxidative aromatics. Full bodied. Dark red/black fruit shouts Pinot. Good length but not a great deal of grip or underlying structure. I found this much more dull than the '07 that followed, but then again, I have never been a fan of the Bollinger style that I found here.
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5/20/2017 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 89 Points
All the right Bollinger GA elements, but softer and simpler, a little lower in acidity, and a bit more autolytic. Even very slightly oxidized with a hint of brown butter. Enjoyable, but I don't expect that the 05s have a long life ahead of them.
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5/15/2017 - Elvis1969 wrote: 89 Points
Champagnedagen 2017 på Grand Hôtel.
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4/14/2017 - Oskiwawa wrote: 88 Points
popped and poured. Drank over an hour. Hopefully this wine develops and integrates much more with time. OK and acceptable but forgettable too. Will wait five years for the next bottle but that said I am not real hopeful. So far the '05 vintage across the board has been disappointing.
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3/30/2017 - Trydebull Likes this wine: 92 Points
Doftar fat, jäst, gula äpplen, lantbröd. Fyllig smak av pomelo, grape och lätt karamelliserat med ganska kort smak. Mycket god, kommer köpa fler, men kommer också att låta dem ligga ett gäng år. Tror att den kommer att utvecklas mycket mer än där den redan befinner sig.
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3/16/2017 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Vanilla, yeast and sweet ginger ale on the nose; lots of tiny bubbles; biscuity with a slightly sour lemony tang on the finish; experience didn't equal price
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3/8/2017 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brioche, lemon, fresh and rich with nice saline tang.
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3/4/2017 - Anton_Wallin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep autolysis, brioche, toast, irritating green hints that most likely will dissapear in a couple of years i bottle. Keep some years i cellar, or buy something else.
This is truly a fantastic wine, but i want more for this amount of money
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3/4/2017 - psmith wrote: 93 Points
Impressive young wine. Deep, autolytic pinot-driven blue fruits and floral notes. A broad fruit profile on the palate, but clipped short by an aggressive structure and mousse. Young, obviously, and I'm reluctant to age Bollinger anymore, but plenty to enjoy now.
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2/8/2017 - MarcelloW Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle was very mature. It was fully bodied and a touch sweet and not as crisp as my last bottle. This is not a vintage to keep. Good to drink now.
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1/22/2017 - T.E.D. wrote: 91 Points
Golden wheat color. Somewhat muted nose, Stones, vanilla, silent in many ways. The opposite on the palate with Upfront heavy wood (oxidative as described by others), Dough, the website for the house says pastry and that is accurate, paint, cream soda and vanilla with a Lemon zest on the finish. Definitely interesting stylistically. The Pinot clearly dominates but in an interesting way.
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1/21/2017 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 93 Points
Mogna äpple, citrus, rostade hasselnötter, lite oxidativa toner, underbart tillgänglig redan nu.
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1/17/2017 - tcarter Likes this wine: 94 Points
Flannery Beef & Bordeaux (Kali Restaurant): Clean, short finish. But great bubbles.
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1/6/2017 - jfagan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disgorged May 2015. Medium color with fine carbonation.Typical Bolli nose with roasted nuts, exotic cirtrus, baked apple and orchard fruit notes. Rich but lively with meaty, Pinot-centric flavors. Long and persistent. Quite forward and precocious. The last few ounces, tasting at room temperature several hours later, were remarkable. Drink now through 2021.
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1/4/2017 - Jean-Philippe M Likes this wine:
Encore une fois, la profondeur de ce champagne est époustouflante ! Rien à dire de nouveau, allez-vous en acheter !!
5/5
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1/2/2017 - S-C-S Likes this wine: 93 Points
Love this champagne.
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12/31/2016 - guitarkim Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep straw yellow
Aroma: smoke, caramel, honey, yeast, slightly oxidative style.
Full-bodied with excellent acidity.
Excellent length.
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12/31/2016 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 93 Points
92-93: Surprisingly open for business
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12/25/2016 - scyrene Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mid yellow gold, quite deep for such a relatively young wine. Buttered toast on the nose at first - real toast, not the saline-tuna "toast" note I get in a lot of champagnes. Apple and caramel lurking in the background. The taste is quite unexpected. Everything on the nose is there, it promises to build into something big - but then slips away. Almost a hole on the midpalate. It's not bad at all, just a lot softer than I'd expect from vintage Bollinger. Maybe it's in an awkward phase. The presentation with very heavy card box and booklet is excellent, as usual. 70% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay; 95% grand cru, 5% premier cru; vinified in oak barrels. Disgorged October 2014. [Cork + cage; 12% abv; Oddbins, on offer at £75].
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12/24/2016 - scott w Likes this wine:
Baked apples lots of brioche and bread dough. Very rich with great acid. I loved it!
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12/24/2016 - Eclipse1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very rich, brioche and digestive biscuits. Full bodied, not a million miles off RD marmite, lovely minerality, almost steely backbone, fino sherry opulence and great finish. I do think it is perfect now. Beautiful wine.
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12/23/2016 - BSA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Quick note from memory. This was the better bottle of the 6 I have tasted. While it felt fully mature upon release now it has gained some developed notes and some funk - which I do not mind. It is not an extraordinary champers but a very decent one still. I decided early on to drink up my bottles rather quickly, instead relying on my 02 and 04s which I feel has much more potential. Think this one could have lived on for some years and perhaps gained a bit more, but not much. 92-93p.
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12/21/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
Tasting Group Holiday Party (Grange, Mouton, Schrader, de Capo and more) (Trent's): A great way to start our holiday tasting. Golden in color with a fine mousse. Lots of tiny bubbles. The nose is intriguing. A bit smokey/toasty with some red apples. Just a hint of ginger and tea. Slightly oxidized notes (in a good way). On the palate, less defined than the nose but still quite good. Its best attribute is an almost piercing acidity. Some fruit, maybe cooked apples. Long finish. It got better with air.
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12/8/2016 - Sundbyberg wrote: 93 Points
My second taste of this vintage and my third vintage of lga (2002, 2004 and 2005). This is very good and I'm close to 94. Quite a lot of apples, a bit oxidised and enough acid to make this a great champagne.
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12/6/2016 - Rupert wrote:
Wine Gang Ultimate Champagne Evening (Polish Club, South Kensington , London): Stewed apple nose. Oxidative character. A bit sickly.
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11/19/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private dinner at a friend's (London, UK): Disgorged December 2015. Identical to my previous note.
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11/18/2016 - Barry Rothof wrote: 92 Points
BOLLINGER (Wijnhandel Peeters @ Rotterdam , the Netherlands.): Great complexity on the nose with honey, subtle notes of hazelnut and dried fruits. On the palate great aromatic ripeness, supple and full, with some refreshing acidity on the finish.
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11/16/2016 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 94 Points
Mid straw
Penetrating aromas of marmite, yeast extract and toasted brioche. Excellant mousse persistency.
Clean, almost biting acidity on entry with a savoury element carving through it. Flavours of ripe green apples, cut lemon and toasted croissant with honey. There is a citric edge on the mid-palate, whereby it appears partially ripe fruits sit in the background parked on a mineral edge. Fairly full in body, as per Bollinger, there is a creamy texture with great persistence and length. Wonderful dynamics.
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11/15/2016 - theeagle03 wrote: 88 Points
Sweet peach, little oxidative
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11/15/2016 - theeagle03 wrote:
Peach, citrus fruits. Bit rounder than '07, some acidity but some round sweet peach & honeysuckle
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11/11/2016 - JWdeSommelier wrote: 92 Points
Champagne Bollinger Master Class (Wijnhandel Peeters): 70% PN, 30%CH, 6YR aging, 100% Oak fermented. 95%GC Vineyards. Intense nose, ripe, broad, floral, honeyed, ripe stone fruit, hazelnuts, smoke, pronounced minerality. Very good finish.
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11/10/2016 - MarcelloW Likes this wine: 93 Points
A great way to start the evening. This was really lovely with the appetizer. Very crisp, even with a high 70% PN part. Good minerality and exceptional quality for this vintage. I was surprised how balanced and ready this was.
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11/8/2016 - SLIMES Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had two of these in the space of a couple of weeks. Both bottles showed well with classic white chocolate and Praline notes.
While I've had more refined Champagnes, this has real wow factor and at a recent tasting I did enjoy drinking this more than the DP '06.
As I've said previously, I think this will be a good wine to drink while waiting for the 2002s to mature. I'll still be keen to age some however.
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11/3/2016 - Harley1199 wrote:
Bollinger Showing (Bodega Santa Cecilia - Madrid): Disgorged on November 2015. A truly infanticide.
Initially, PM really hits. Very cool but at the same time very rustic bakery notes. Slightly metallic before baked apple or memories from honey. Over time aniseed odours dominated also from wild flowers.
In the mouth unmemorable. How it will evolve, a mystery but after all probably just better because right now I miss its traditional creaminess. For food rather than reflexion. A pity.
Degüelle noviembre 2015. Un verdadero infanticidio.
Inicialmente, golpe de Meunier. Muy fresco pero con notas de panadería muy rústicas. Ligeramente metálico antes que manzana asada o recuerdos procedentes de la miel. Con el paso del tiempo predominan los olores a anís y a flores silvestres.
En boca no tiene nada especial. Como será su evolución, pues sólo a mejor porque en este momento añoro su tradicional cremosidad. Para comer más que para reflexionar. Una pena.
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10/20/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Oysters and sea shells and just open. A powerhouse. Lots of Sous Bois and richness.
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10/8/2016 - BSA wrote: 91 Points
Not much has happened to this wine since previous bottle one year ago. Nice champagne but no lift or extraordinary character. Lacks a decent spine for sure. 91-92p.
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10/2/2016 - kostaslonis Likes this wine: 93 Points
11th Cellier Wine Fair (Hilton Athenaum Hotel): 70% Pinot Noir 30% Chardonnay, disgorged March 2015.
Explosive in the nose, citrus, lime, yeast. The palate is equally explosive only a step back in intensity, lime, citrus, a few candied fruit notes, nice body and mouth-feel, nice length, great for now and one to hold on to as well.
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9/26/2016 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 92 Points
IMW 2016 Champagne - Prestige Tasting (Hyatt, San Francisco): 70% Pinot, full malo. 6 years tirage. Some oak (neutral barrels)
Medium straw, hint of gold.
Mushroomy character to the fruit - maybe signature of Pinot Noir.
More baguette-heavy, led by brioche with ripe apples. Slight fresh sheepsmilk cheese (development of autolysis).
On the palate:
heavier - but not due to dosage - it's lower here, (6g)
High acid.
Beautiful and shifting finish - yellow apple, mushroom, baguette crust.
Around 9-9.5
$200
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9/17/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged December 2015. Rich but lively colour, hint of gold, pin-prick bubbles; mature but fresh nose, lovely warmth from the wood, vinous, salty minerals, hedgerow and citrus, light oxidative note; rich and weighty palate, big and flavoursome, red berry flavours, acidity seems low at first but it tougher than you'd think; complete and layered finish, very good length. Just what you'd expect Grande Année 2005 to be like. Will not make old bones though.
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9/16/2016 - startinoz wrote: 93 Points
Lemon, apples and chicory.
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9/15/2016 - forceberry wrote: 91 Points
A blend of Pinot Noir (70%) and Chardonnay (30%), sourced from Grand Cru (95%) and Premier Cru (5%) vineyards. The wine is first fermented and aged in old oak before being bottled. The wine is aged for 7 years before release, of which the wine ages in bottles with the lees for at least 5 years before disgorgement. Dosage 6 g/l.
Pale lime green color. Cool, somewhat restrained and rather dark-toned nose with aromas of oxidative, nutty complexity, spicy Pinosity, some autolytic yeasty notes and a little bit of brioche, light chalky mineral tones, a hint of baked apple and a touch of coffee. The wine is ripe, rich and juicy on the palate with quite fruity and concentrated flavors of peachy stone fruits and succulent exotic fruits, pronounced autolytic toasty character, some baked apple, a little bit of toffee, light mocha tones, brooding, almost Burgundian undercurrent of vaguely oaky and slightly oxidative spice, a hint of nuttiness and a touch of honeyed richness. The wine feels surprisingly rich and even slightly sweet-toned despite the relatively low dosage for LGA. The acidity is moderately high - meaning that it is high enough to keep the wine well in balance and nicely structured, but it is far from the racy acidity the best vintages of LGA can have. The mousse feels very soft, fine and creamy. The finish is rich, long and quite ripe with dark-toned flavors of peach-driven stone fruits, some brooding coffee tones, a little bit of oxidative nutty complexity, a hint of stony minerality and a touch of sweet, golden apples.
This is a massively big, very impressive and wonderfully complex Champagne by any standards, yet still the wine somewhat underdelivers for La Grande Année. I have a soft spot for the burly house style of Bollinger and LGA is one of my favorite Grande Marque Champagnes, but this vintage is a bit of a let-down: the nose shows the typical complexity of LGA, but still it feels relatively underwhelming and although the dosage is a little bit lower than usual, the wine still comes across softer, fruitier and sweeter-toned. The wine lacks the freshness and racy acidity I look for in LGA and instead it is very rich, supple and dominated by ripe stone fruit flavors. To conclude: this is an excellent Champagne and one I'd love to drink any day, but knowing how exceptional LGA can be in the best vintages, this one doesn't manage to reach that bar.
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8/20/2016 - HStaal wrote: 91 Points
Lunch at 67 Pall Mall (67 Pall Mall): Medium yellow/gold appearance. Good lively but soft mousse - creamy. Citrus, cooked apples, brioche/bready/yeasty, earthy notes. Complex nose with a lot going on that I find hard to break down into components. Quite oxidative, surprisingly so. High refreshing acidity. Quite full bodied with a long finish. Excellent wine.
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8/11/2016 - KVM wrote:
Medium yellow. Citrus, oxidative nose. It is candy in the mouth, browned sugar, lush and deep. Full ml ferment in barrel. 6 gms/l, 8 years sur latte.
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7/23/2016 - Jean-Philippe M Likes this wine:
La perfection !
Je ne crois pas qu'il serait possible de faire mieux. Bel assemblage pinot noir/ chardo, qui fait en sorte qu'on a une longueur digne de grand vin, petite acidité rien d'agressant. Bien heureux d'en avoir 2 autres.
5/5
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7/19/2016 - GTFreek wrote:
70/30 Pinot/Chard. Sees 10 years on the lees before disgorgement. Medium plus nose shows baked fruit, bready, brioche, fresh floral notes, earthy tones. Palate is a lovely style, really nice development paired with freshness, really wows you right away. Expressive fruit that I honestly don't have the Champagne experience to describe well. Overall spectacular and one of the first times I've loved Champagne.
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6/16/2016 - JonnyG wrote: 90 Points
A Night of Truly Diverse Wines (Newtown, Sydney): Surprisingly advanced, though I didn't find it as oxidative as some others. Dense nose of nutty brioche, with some honey. Tart and a bit monolithic on the palate, less expressive than expected yet still very much in the Bollinger style.
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6/10/2016 - Eclipse1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
The nose is delivered with the subtlety of Agamemmnons fist. Huge biscuity, marmite and toast . Had i had it blind i would have said it was an RD, such is the yeasty stench. Incredible full length of flavour with dashes of lemon and lime acidity that are straddled either side of the sheer weight in the mouth. Caramel, toffee and vanilla. Beautiful.
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5/25/2016 - Vinum Deorum wrote: 91 Points
A classic and enjoyable Bolly. It is quite pure, has a nice structure, refined bubbles and a somewhat creamy texture. Well made, fairly enjoyable now, it will age well.
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5/23/2016 - Markus IWC wrote: 93 Points
Light golden in colour, instant feeling of greater complexity and depth compared to the N.V cuvees. Aromas of honey, flowers and hints of almonds. Medium rich mouth feel, early mature feeling, orange peel, ripe fruit, bread, vanilla.
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4/30/2016 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Grande Année. Complex, great length and perfectly balanced. Maybe a bit more straight forward than usual. Drink or hold until 2026.
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4/16/2016 - SLIMES Likes this wine: 92 Points
This has to be the most accessible BGA since the 1997. I didn't make notes at the time but I think it's worth pointing out that this is ready to go now. (I doubt this will run for many years but I need an early drinking BGA while I wait for my 2002s and 2004s.
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2/19/2016 - Sundbyberg wrote: 93 Points
Quite dark, with a vineous nose and palate, already showing signs of depth and complexity. My third vintage of LGA (2002, 2004 and 2005), and they are consistently on a high level. 93+.
I agree with Slimes on the drinking window.
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1/27/2016 - barolo300 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich gold/amber colour with tight, fine mousse.
Rich cooked apples on the nose, with a little of the yeasty note. Definitely too young, unless you like it rich and fruity like this. I would hold for at least 3 years or so...
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1/16/2016 - olalar wrote: 93 Points
Massive nose with apples and toast. Kept evolving during the evening. Mouthfeel is superbly creamy with perfect balance. Very long taste with apples, citrus, minerals and some slight notes from oxidation. Superb now but I would still wait a few years. 93-96.
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1/1/2016 - SLIMES Likes this wine: 91 Points
Much more mature than last time. Dan opened a bottle of this at work on Xmas eve and it was so good that I bought a bottle and had it that night on the train home. One to drink while waiting for the 04s and 02s.
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12/31/2015 - Christoffer78 wrote: 92 Points
A lovely wine. First impression is of sun warm green apples accompanied by minerals and a vivid array of citrus zest. There is brioche and white to medium toast as well. The palate follows through in a similar fashion with balance as its main component. Everything is in place but maybe integration will improve with another year in the cellar. Mid palate is a bit thin compared to what I am used too for the GAs but the 40 second length on the finish convinces me this effort is well worth seeking out. (score is 92+)
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12/30/2015 - RolfT Does not like this wine: 79 Points
Deg 05/15. Oxidative nose. Ripe fruit. A hint of butterscotch. Creamy and medium lenght finish.
With some air this suddenly looses its freshness and the oxidative notes begin to seem oxidated.
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12/3/2015 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Crush's Annual Champagne Clusterfuck 2015: So the Bolly style plus the rich and ripe 05 vintage combine to create something approximating bubbly liquid french toast. Rich and sweet on the nose - bread, almonds and a bit of spice. Sweet and bready on the palate with nuts, french toast with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Other 05's I've had, like the CdC or the Clos des Goisses seem disjointed and hot with 05, but the Bolly goes all in and works it. It's not hot or heavy, just sweet and rich. Not what I want all the time, but this has its place. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16-16.5/20.
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10/25/2015 - BSA Likes this wine: 92 Points
My fifth bottle. While I am still very much enjoying this wine I do have moderated my views on it somehow. It clearly has great immediate (and, I have found, broad) appeal, expressive and mature as it is. However, I do think it lacks extraordinary character. In short It is really nice but nothing special - well, maybe apart from the fact that it gives so much already at this stage. 92-93p
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9/29/2015 - wihong wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged in November 2014. Color: Light straw gold, strong effervescence Aroma: Yeasty, brioche, melon, white pepper, ginger and lime. Palate entry: Refreshing, tropical fruits, grapefruits. Mid-Palate: Creamy, lemonade, sweet toffee. Finish: Vanilla, brioche, persimmon, ginger, long floral finish. Mild, smooth and gentle Champagne, muted, try again next year.
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9/18/2015 - nzinkgraf wrote:
100% Barrel fermentation. ripe citrus palate, modest leesiness. lead pencil to the palate. big sugar cookie note on the palate. potpourri and sandalwood after some time open. great acid and well integrated.
70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 95% GC, 5% 1erCru. 6-8 years aging. 13 crus in the blend. Only using the 'cuvee' juice.
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9/14/2015 - CamWheeler wrote: 90 Points
CIVC Champagne Tasting 2015: Lime, earth, candy and lemon. Medium bodied, with some richness poking through from the middle to the finish. Doesn't taste overly dense as the fruit holds an edge of brightness. Very good but I wasn't loving this today.
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9/10/2015 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Taste at TETE.
Gorgeous elegant aromas of light nutty, yellow flowers, peaches and cream.
Fine bubbles. Very clean finish.
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7/25/2015 - BSA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hello?! Fully mature upon release! - or at least not that far from it. If I did not know I would have guessed a substantially more mature wine. Still some room for further development, however if you are looking for some nice fizz to pour off the rack then do not miss out on this one. Possible the score (and my notes!) would have been even better if this was not consumed at a family dinner but rather a tasting. Paired lovely with the organic chicken. 93-94p
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7/19/2015 - peterk Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully - served this as well as the 2004 at an island day-time summer party
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