Bollinger Special Cuvee is a rich and powerful Pinot Noir dominated Champagne which is, quite rightly, regarded as one of the very best Non-Vintage Champagnes around. It is a complex wine with a lovely citrus core surrounded by pear, orange peel, rich toasty notes and spiced apple. Although a big name, Bollinger is still a relatively small house in terms of production. It has always been a case of quality over quantity. The Special Cuvee is made from a high percentage of reserve wines of which some are kept in magnum for between 7 and 15 years. The blend has a high percentage of Pinot Noir (60%) which does set it apart from other houses. It is pure class.
Champagne Bollinger was founded in 1829 by Joseph Bollinger and Athanase de Villermont. The company built a reputation for quality through the years in both France and England, but it was the arrival of a lady of Scottish decent, Elizabeth Law Lauriston-Boubers, who married Jacques Bollinger in 1923, that set the house on the path to greatness. Lily, or Madame Bollinger as she was known with her graceful charm, was the driving force behind Bollinger R.D. She was a brilliant brand ambassador and dauntless businesswomen. Today, the brand is famous for its association with James Bond and Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous – what an amazing marriage that would have made!
