Blend of the 2009 vintage
100% Pinot Noir Grand cru (Blanc de Noirs). At Bollinger, only the highest quality harvests become a vintage: In 2009, the Vieilles Vignes Françaises parcels were harvested on 16 September and produced a superb Pinot Noir.
Maturation
Cellar aged for more than twice the time required by the appellation.
Dosage
Low, 4 grams per liter.
Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2009 can be paired with the finest dishes but can also help create a special occasion on its own; wine connoisseurs will share it thoughtfully, enjoying the opportunity to try its rare unmatched flavours, if only once… To fully appreciate its unique style, bouquet and aromas, it is best to serve Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2009 between 8 and 10°C. You can enjoy Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2009 right away, or choose to age it in your cellar.
History
In the early 20th century, the vines of Champagne were destroyed by phylloxera. In order to fight the devastating insect, everything had to be replanted using American rootstock. Everything, except two Bollinger plots in Aÿ classified as Grand cru which remained untouched: Chaudes Terres and Clos St Jacques. To this day, these two plots are grown the traditional way, following the ‘provignage’ method, worked by hand and even sometimes with the help of a cart-horse. Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises is a symbol of a bygone era: an extraordinary and moving legacy.
A total of 2,420 numbered bottles of the 2009 Vieilles Vignes Françaises vintage were produced.