2008 Champagne Bollinger La Grande Annee 750 ml

“A Regal and Heroic Bollinger.”

”Follow its aromatic journey to heaven.”

That’s what Decanter said about today’s 2008 Bollinger La Grande Année, the estate’s premier offering, and one that is going down as the best Bollinger in over twenty years.

Wine Access members have made Champagnes like this disappear, so when we heard the advance praise for this stunning, 11-year old bottling we booked tickets to Paris. January is a notoriously awful month to be in France, but we braved the bone-chilling winter rain and trekked to Bollinger’s headquarters in Champagne. Naturally, we refused to leave without an allocation—and luckily were armed with our CEO and Head of Wine to negotiate.

It was over lunch with Guy de Rivorire, the estate’s commercial director, that we secured just 30 cases to share. Wine Access loyalists have made quick work of previous allocations of this exceptional wine, hastily proclaiming it “Outstanding,” and “worth every penny” on our customer review forums. This vintage goes a step further, with critics declaring it the best vintage in a generation.

Now that Decanter has honored the 2008 with a glowing 98-point review, these bottles are going to disappear even faster: “This is a regal and heroic Bollinger characterized by restrained power and energetic energy. I love meeting this untouched force and carefully analysing its sublime elements, but at the same time I have to admit that we are dealing with a real ‘vin de garde’ that will not reach its maximum capacity before its 25th birthday.”

Born in 1829 of a partnership between the Bollinger, Renaudin, and de Villermont families, the house has never given up its independence: It was only a decade ago when Bollinger first allowed a non-family member to run the firm. For wine lovers, that means no investors forcing shortcuts in exchange for quick profits. La Grande Année is only produced in exceptional vintages, and 2008 proves power and elegance can coincide in Champagne—and can do so beautifully.

Today’s 2008 Bollinger La Grande Année, the top cuvée from the region’s most quality-obsessed producer, is the result of our fanatical quest for the best in Champagne and quite literally a golden opportunity to add Bollinger’s tête de cuvée (and the signature wine of James Bond) to your cellar at a price far below the Champagne standard. Whatever you’re celebrating in the next twenty years, the 2008 La Grande Année is the wine you’ll want by your side.