Champagne Bollinger

La Côte aux Enfants 2013

Coteaux Champenois

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A stunning and extremely rare, still red wine produced only for the greatest vintages. This wine harmoniously combines 100% Pinot Noir Grand Cru fruit from an exceptional vineyard with traditional Burgundian style winemaking. Historically, Pinot Noirs from Aÿ were the most popular wines of the French court, specifically a favorite of King Henri IV, and La Côte aux Enfants comes from a steep plot just outside of the village. This wine is the purest expression of Pinot Noir, offering a fine, delicate texture in the mouth, and a tautness giving it a beautifully long finish.

VINEYARD

This exquisite wine is 100% Pinot Noir Grand Cru from Aÿ. Beginning in the early 20th century, Bollinger started to acquire more than 50 differently owned plots and now owns all four hectares of this legendary vineyard. Since 2009, all vines grown there are farmed organically.

WINEMAKING

La Côte aux Enfants harmoniously combines Grand Cru fruit from an exceptional vineyard with traditional Burgundian style winemaking for a pure expression of Pinot Noir. Before bottling, the wine is aged 8 months in small oak barrels.

VINTAGE

The season experienced a cool spring and one of the later harvests in 20 years. Summer hail caused concern in the region, however the Pinot Noir fruit at Bollinger developed well, with great structure and flavor concentration. The 2013 vintage shows great aging potential.

TASTING NOTE

The distinctive terroir characteristics are clearly present and its bouquet of bright fruit makes it hard to put the glass down. The 2013 exhibits notes of licorice, morello cherries and elderflower jam, developing towards hints of cocoa. The fruitiness is shines through, offering a rich mouth feel with a beautiful tannic structure; a final note of cherry and kirsch.

FOOD PAIRING

This wine is surprisingly concentrated and powerful. It will go particularly well with veal, beef filet and red wine sauce, or even a rich duck.

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Pinot Noir

Appellation

Coteaux Champenois

Farming

Since 2009, all vines grown on this vineyard plot are organically farmed.

Alcohol

11.5%

Suggested Retail Price

$155

Trade Materials

Other Wines by this Producer

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