a fine wine tasting archive
3 notes
The name was invented in 1911 by a London agent who thought 'non-vintage brut' undersold the wine. What makes it Bollinger is what nobody sees: old barrels, and a library of reserve wines kept under cork in magnums for years before they are riddled, disgorged and poured back into the blend.
Bollinger's R.D. is La Grande Année left on its lees for years longer and disgorged late. The same 2002 base wine, in its first release, opened a few months after the R.D. had been — a chance to taste the difference time on the yeast makes.
R.D. is not a prestige cuvée in the usual sense — it is a vintage Bollinger left on its lees for years longer than anyone asked, then disgorged late and sent straight out. The 2002 is the argument in its most flattering year.