This is a blend of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay (Grand Années highest ever percentage of chardonnay). It also followed in the footsteps of the 2000 Grande Année with eight years on lees (previously it was six years). I tasted it in Champagne in July, and two months later in Australia, and it is a truly superb wine. Bright gold, it has all the legendary complexity and power of Bollinger, yet has great purity, precision, freshness and balance through to the finish of its very long lemon/citrus zest palate. A large amount has been put aside for the Bollinger RD programme. Rating: 97 points, $240; James Halliday Top 100 for 2011; The Weekend Australian, November 19th
Having worked a very tight cork from the neck of the bottle, the 2002 Bollinger La Grande Année was poured out to reveal a rich hue, already showing some fine lemon-golden tones. Not the richness of age, more likely the density of considerable concentration. And there is a moderate sized bead also indicative of the wine's youth. The nose is hugely expressive, with a really surprising minerally character, showing lots of chalky, powdery, talcy nuances as an edge to the very primary aromas of sweet-apple, pithy-citrus fruit and thyme. It has a stony firmness, but whereas many wines with this sort of character come across as rather withdrawn, emaciated even, the open character here suggests richness and generosity instead. Indeed, this is found to be true on the palate, which starts off with an immediately apparent balance of creamy texture, with a full and almost sherbetty depth of primary, minerally fruit, set against a firm acidity. It is perhaps the most rounded, stony-creamy, richly textured young Grande Année I have ever tasted. Through the midpalate this character evolves, the mousse of the wine bringing an extra textural quality here, defining and yet somehow expanding the wine within the mouth. It lifts as we go, until finding in the finish of the wine a crescendo of sherbetty minerals, texture and acidity, fading into a clean, lingering finish. This is plainly very youthful at present, but all the components are here, in concentrated abundance. This is very convincing stuff, and will be a must for all Bollinger fans. 18.5+/20 (15/11/10) The Wine Doctor
12% alcohol. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. 71% Grand Cru, 29% Premier Cru. Fermented in small French oak, with the second fermentation under natural cork; hand-disgorged (July 2010). Very precise, taut, pithy, citrussy nose is complex with lovely fresh apple notes. The palate is concentrated, dense and structured with very fresh citrus fruit dominating at the moment. Still primary, with grapefruit pith freshness. Really pure and with plenty of potential for further development. 94/100; Jamie Goode; Wine Anorak
La Grande Année is Bollinger’s Prestige Cuvée creation and it is only produced in exceptional vintages. The 1996 was one of the most profound wines that I have ever tasted. It is typically Bolly, being rich, lusty, decadent and distinguished and it still seems remarkably youthful today. I remember drumming into readers, some years ago, that they must buy every bottle they could because it was such a remarkable release. Fast forward six years and we have enjoyed a series of delicious, moreish LGA vintages, but none have commanded the senses and engineered perfection into the DNA of the wine like this incredible 2002. It is flawless Champagne – soaring, resplendent, unnervingly firm, precise, joyous and noble. Lily Bollinger’s timeless quote has never been more apposite – ‘I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and I drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it, unless I’m thirsty.’ I wish that she could have tasted this wine – she would have been bursting with pride at the dizzying trajectory that this House follows. I can only add that I drink ‘02 Bollinger LGA to experience the art of wine in one of its most perfect forms. Matthew Jukes
Extremely promising combination of the completeness and potential of the 2002 champagne vintage and Bollinger's distinctive mushroomy perfume, full Pinot-dominated palate and dry finish. This should make great old bones and, thanks to 2002's power, is already much more approachable than many previous young vintage Bollingers. Notes of putty and, oddly, roast chicken(!). Complex, satisfying and extremely promising. Not heavy - just substantial. 19 points, Jancis Robinson (November 2010)