Bollinger - Champagner Grande Annee brut 2005

FALSTAFF: "Mittleres Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe, gut anhaltendes, sehr feinperliges Mousseux. Facettenreiches Bukett, Anklänge von frischer gelber Birne, ein Hauch von Mandarinen, Haselnuss und Karamell klingen an. Am Gaumen stoffig und elegant strukturiert, gelbe Apfelfrucht, saliner Touch, gut anhaltend und balanciert, feine Honigsüße im Finale, ein viel­­seitiger Speisenbegleiter."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Disgorged January 2016. Magnum. Tasted blind. Very rich nose. Then slight fade on the end. Very well-balanced wine. Some sweetness on the end."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Impressive concentration and power here. This is really assertive with ripe yellow orchard fruits and citrus within a core encased in a layer of more savory, toasty notes on both the nose and palate. There's that gentle hint of aldehyde that is the traditional stamp of the house plus savory woody notes, white mushrooms and some chalk and spices, too. The palate has a fleshy opening, filling out with peach and hazelnut flavors before a smooth ride to the finish. Approachable and complex. Drink it now through to 2020."

WEINWISSER: "Strohgelb mit goldenen Reflexen strahlt der Champagner aus dem Glas heraus. Das warme Jahr ist eine Assemblage aus 70% Pinot Noir und 30% Chardonnay aus 13 Lagen, darunter 95% Grand Crus und 5% Premier Crus. Bereits in der Nase verspricht er Vielschichtigkeit: Reife Mirabelle und die Süsse von geröstetem Brioche und Haselnuss machen den Auftakt, verwandeln sich in feinwürziges Honigbrot, gefolgt von sanft erdigen, an Roggen erinnernde Noten. Am Gaumen reichhaltig und reif, mit feincremigem Mousseux, begleitet von reifer Aprikose, Mirabelle und Anklängen von Orangenkonfit. Spiegelt den warmen Jahrgang wider."

WINE SPECTATOR: "A powerful, structured and graceful 2005, showing deft integration of the rich, chalky underpinning, firm acidity and expansive flavors of crushed black currant, spring blossom, toasted almond, crystallized honey and preserved lemon. Offers a fine, raw silk—like mousse and a long, spiced finish. Disgorged February 2015. Drink now through 2030. 1,125 cases imported."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Bollinger's 2005 La Grande Année is a classical but comparatively precocious rendition of this cuvée that's already drinking well, offering up aromas of honeyed yellow apples, dried white flowers, English walnuts, praline and tea leaves. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and vinous, with a fine mousse, ripe acids and a dry, richly saline finish. It was disgorged with six grams per liter dosage after more than nine years sur lattes. While this isn't a historic vintage for Bollinger—or for Champagne as a whole—it's a persuasive Grande Année that exemplifies the house style."