Bollinger : RD Récemment Dégorgé 2004

Bollinger’s dazzling daring in an exceptional champagne

The estate

Nicknamed “Boll” by those from Champagne or “Bolly” by the English, the timeless and legendary Bollinger Champagne House forms part of a small circle of three great Champagne houses. Bollinger champagne’s style is defined through its remarkable precision, which is brought to every moment of production. With a respect for tradition, riddling done by hand, natural corks for magnum reserve bottles and the last permanent cooper in the region, excellence has symbolised Bollinger champagne culture since its creation in 1829 in Aÿ. More than an art, it is a heritage.

The vineyard

The Bollinger Champagne House stands out for its 174 hectares spread out through seven main vineyards in Champagne, 85% of which are Grand and Premier Crus, allowing the house to be one of the few which produces its own grapes for its blends. The house’s signature grape variety, Pinot Noir, represents 60% of the vineyard’s total grape varieties.

The wine

It was during the 1960s that the house first produced the R.D. “Récemment Dégorgé” cuvée, a symbol of Bollinger’s creative daring. Conceived by the illustrious Madame Bollinger, the R.D. cuvée is a vintage Extra Brut champagne that was aged on lees, offered at tastings just after disgorging. Freed from the shackles of time, the Bollinger R.D. cuvée offers a unique taste borne from a revolution in the world of Champagne.

An exceptional cuvée produced only during great years, Bollinger R.D. 2004 reveals the exceptional aromatic expression of its vintage in a champagne that has taken the time to develop, all while retaining its radiance.

Winemaking and ageing

After a fermentation entirely carried out in barrels, the Bollinger R.D. cuvée begins to mature under natural corks. The R.D. Bollinger cuvée has an exceptionally long maturation time, four times longer than appellation specification rules. This champagne has a very low dosage (3g/litre) and thus takes time to create a perfect alchemy through developing its aromas.

Blend

Pinot Noir (66%)
Chardonnay (34%).

Tasting

Colour
The wine is a beautifully deep golden colour.

Nose
Refined and complex, the nose opens with notes of stewed fruits, aromas of dried fruits and scents of sweet spices. At aeration, notes of yellow fruits which bring to mind mirabelle plum and scents of candied orange are revealed.

Palate
The wine expresses its generous personality through deploying indulgent flavours of candied fruit and tarte tatin which envelop the palate in perfect harmony. An exceptional champagne in an old vintage with freshness still intact.

To serve

For the best tasting, serve at 8°C. For the full “Bollinger R.D. experience,” the R.D. Bollinger 2004 cuvée can be tasted in the year following its date of disgorgement indicated on the bottle’s label.

Storage

This champagne with an exceptional laying down potential will achieve the fullness of its age over the years.