Bollinger Champagne PNVZ16 Magnum

Very deep and youthful nose with a cornucopia of candied citrus and red berries, as well as a touch of herb. Stunning depth of chalky character and fantastic mineral freshness make this really stand out. Dramatic, yet so elegant at the very long finish. 100% pinot noir, of which 50% is from Verzenay and that gives it it’s name. The reserve wines are all Verzenays from 2006, 2009 and 2015. Disgorged January 2021. Drink or hold.

Produced exclusively from vineyards owned by Bollinger, this takes advantage os the dynamic equilibrium between the structured robust Pinot Noir grape and a terroir that is lateripining. Picking began on 25 September and delivered a wine with plenty of concentration and impressive freshness and balance, with ecpressive green apple fruit accented with notes of toast and smoke and a creamy supple, and open texture. Dosed at 6 g/l. Disgorged in November 2020.

Disgorged in January 2021, Bollinger's newly released NV Brut Blanc de Noirs PN VZ16 offers up notions of pear, apple blossom, jasmine, orange zest and fresh pastry. Medium to full-bodied, precise and elegantly vinous, it's layered and charming, with racy acids and a pretty pinpoint mousse, and it concludes with a sapid finish. It's based on the 2016 vintage, complemented by older reserve wines matured in magnum, and derives, once again, largely from the village of Verzenay.

Soft, open-knit and wonderfully inviting PN VZ 16 is a worthy follow up to the sublime 2015 that launched this new Blanc de Noirs in the Bollinger range last year. Sweet red cherry, Mirabelle, spice, mint and dried flowers all grace this wonderfully translucent, expressive Blanc de Noirs. North-facing sites in Verzenay that confer tension and energy make up about half the blend, with wines from Aÿ, Bouzy and Louvois playing supporting roles. Vinification is done in equal parts steel and oak. This release is based on 2016 (50% of the blend), with reserve wines that go back to 2006, including 23% from reserve magnums. Readers who enjoy Blanc de Noirs will adore the PN VZ 16. I find the interplay of vibrancy and the creamier notes that are so typical of the house style to be incredibly appealing. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.

Seamlessly knit and graceful, offering a lovely range of ripe cherry and nectarine fruit, with notes of slivered almond, orange blossom and fleur de sel slowly expanding on the palate via the finely detailed mousse and carried through the long, lacy finish by fine chinalike acidity. Pinot Noir. Disgorged January 2021.

(100% pinot noir from Verzenay is the main blend). Subtle nuances of maturity are present on the yeasty/toasty aromas of ripe citrus, cherry and pretty rose petal wisps. There is excellent complexity to the rich and relatively full-bodied flavors that are quite supple and forward while delivering a satisfying finish. This is not especially vibrant as the mousse is calm, even subtle, yet there is enough vibrancy to engage the palate. Overall, this full-flavored effort’s biggest plus is the excellent complexity and while this could be cellared further, for my taste it is ready to go.