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Champagne Bollinger

R.D. 1st disgorgement 08

Champagne

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A small revolution in the world of Champagne. In 1967, Bollinger releases R.D. 1952. There is no comparable Champagne on the market at the time. This bold and brilliant Champagne takes the pillars of what makes Champagne Bollinger so unique, and pushes them to their ultimate level. It is, very simply, a masterpiece.

R.D. stands for “recently disgorged.” The majority of Champagne Houses have always kept a collection of old wines in order to share with their family, close friends and special guests. The custom was that these old wines were especially disgorged only a very short time before being tasted, so that those invited could share a perfect moment when the wine, disgorged just recently, would offer an extraordinary contrast of freshness and complexity from age.

Bollinger is the producer most associated with a single grape variety in Champagne, namely Pinot Noir. This more demanding grape to grow makes up a minimum of 60% of all of Bollinger’s Champagne, and for R.D. is truly the backbone that allows the Champagne to age. The harmony of Pinot Noir’s richness and elegance becomes ever more complex with the time this Champagne sees before release. Then there is the other association that Bollinger is so well known for: winemaking in barrel. As virtually every Champagne producer in the latter half of the 20th century moved to fermenting in large lots in stainless steel tanks, Bollinger persisted to oversee fermentation barrel by barrel for all vintage Champagnes. Another peculiarity of Bollinger’s vintage Champagnes is the aging under cork rather than crown capsule, to allow oxygen to continue to slowly work its magic on the development of the wine. Why do other producers not do this? Because every single bottle must subsequently be riddled by hand and then hand-disgorged. Lastly, this wine is is typically aged 10-15 years before release, with an aging potential that if not quite immortal, will outlast all of us.

Lastly, we have to say it – it’s no wonder R.D. is the Champagne of choice for James Bond.

Vineyard

R.D. 2008 is sourced from a total of 18 crus, 84% of which are Grand Cru and 16% of which are Premier Cru.

Additionally, Bollinger was accredited with a “High Environmental Value” certification in 2012 (more here).

Winemaking

The 2008 is a blend of 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay from 18 Crus: Predominantly from Ay and Verzenay for Pinot Noir, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant for Chardonnay. 84% of the vineyards are Grands Crus and 16% Premiers Crus. Only the cuvée or first press is used. R.D. is vinified 100% in older oak barrels, specifically used 228 liter barrels and 400 liter casks that are up to 40 years old. The wine remains in barrel for 6 months, undergoing both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barrel, a point of distinction from the minute remaining producers who do ferment in barrel. The wine is then bottled under cork to undergo its secondary fermentation, rather than crown capsule. As a result, every bottle has to be hand-riddled and hand-disgorged.

After 14 years on the lees, the wine is given a dosage of only 3 grams per liter, making it Extra Brut.

Vintage

Only the greatest vintages are elevated to the level of Bollinger R.D., and 2008 was an exceptional year marked by a bountiful yield of Pinot Noir and magnificent Chardonnay. The wines were richly aromatic from the start, the Chardonnays lively and powerful, and Pinot Noirs expressive and balanced. Unanimously acclaimed by the team as one of the best vintages ever produced of R.D. The first release will showcase the disgorgement date of October 28, 2022 (hence the name ‘Recently Disgorged’). The second and third releases will happen in 2024 and 2025.
For the first time with the 2008 vintage, R.D. will be sold in Bollinger’s signature bottle shape, used throughout the range for all wines since the 2008 vintage. Like the R.D. 2007, the 2008 vintage continues to feature the same material and design as the original 1952 front label, with the disgorgement date displayed prominently on the front label, a nod to the fact this inaugural R.D. was the first Champagne released to specify a disgorgement.

Tasting Note

“A rich, precise mousse. Citrus notes are followed by flavors of Mirabelle plums and vine peaches. A very vivacious wine which unfolds to reveal exceptional complexity. Notes of fresh hazelnut and salinity combine to create an extremely long finish.” – THE BOLLINGER TEAM

Food Pairing

Sometimes you come across a match that brings together complexity of flavors, textures and even stories in a memorable way to create the ultimate pairing.

The 14 years that Bollinger R.D. 2008 spent aging on the lees results in an extraordinary range of primary, secondary and tertiary characteristics that come in a frame of almost unimaginable tension of developed richness and freshness.

In their quest to find the best way to serve Bollinger R.D. at the estate, the food-obsessed team at Bollinger came to the conclusion that pairings based on hazelnut offers extraordinary pleasure and an array of both complementary and supplementary flavors and textures to R.D. Gruyere cheese is another exceptional suggestion.

Color

White

Blend %

100% Sparkling Blend

Appellation

Champagne

Alcohol

12.5%

Suggested Retail Price

$1100

Reviews

99

James Suckling - March 16, 2023

98+

Wine Advocate - March 10, 2023

97

Wine Spectator -

96

Vinous - March 7, 2023

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