Bollinger La Grande Annee 2014

Bollinger La Grande Année 2014 is a vintage Champagne from the house of Bollinger, bottled at 12% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Rated 98 points by Antonio Galloni of Vinous — who called it "one of the best recent editions I can remember tasting" — this release stands as one of the most critically acclaimed prestige cuvées of its vintage year.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12%  |  Origin: Aÿ, Champagne, France  |  Vintage: 2014  |  House: Bollinger (Est. 1829)

Production & Heritage

Bollinger was founded in 1829 in the village of Aÿ, at the heart of Champagne's Montagne de Reims. La Grande Année 2014 is a blend of 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay drawn from 19 crus, with fruit sourced primarily from Aÿ and Verzenay for the Pinot Noir and Chouilly and Oiry for the Chardonnay. Fermentation takes place entirely in seasoned oak barrels approximately 20 years old — a practice that makes Bollinger one of the last remaining Champagne houses to vinify its top wines in wood. Each bottle undergoes secondary fermentation sealed under natural cork rather than the industry-standard crown capsule, which means every single bottle must be hand-riddled and hand-disgorged — a painstaking step that contributes to the wine's distinctive texture and aging potential.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with crisp yellow orchard fruit and confit citrus before giving way to layers of frangipane, toasted brioche, and roasted hazelnut. Beneath those primary notes sit more subtle suggestions of dried white flowers, walnut, and a faint mineral iodine quality that signals the wine's depth.

Taste: On entry, the mousse is exceptionally fine and creamy, carrying flavors of glazed tangerine, lemon custard, and crème de cassis across the palate. At mid-palate the wine tightens into a focused, linear shape with a mouth-watering saline minerality and a richness reminiscent of salty buttery streusel. Ground coffee and pickled ginger emerge as the wine warms, adding complexity without weight.

Finish: The finish is long and persistent, guided by chalky minerality and lingering citrus zest. A final impression of toasted bread and lemon curd holds steady, leaving a clean, appetizing saltiness that invites the next sip.

How to Drink La Grande Année 2014

Serve chilled to around 10–12°C in a tulip-shaped glass to allow the complex aromatics room to develop; this is a Champagne built for attentive sipping on its own or alongside a meal. In a French 75, the wine's structured citrus notes and fine mousse replace standard sparkling wine with real authority. A Champagne Cocktail (sugar cube, Angostura, and a lemon twist) pairs well with its toast and brioche character. For a minimalist serve, a Kir Royale made with high-quality crème de cassis mirrors the wine's own dark-fruit undercurrent without overwhelming its finesse.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone anniversary, birthday, or promotion with a world-class bottle
• Gifting a serious wine collector who appreciates vintage Champagne
• Pairing with a multi-course tasting menu at a dinner party
• Adding to a cellar for further aging — the 2014 vintage has strong long-term potential

Frequently Asked Questions

What does La Grande Année 2014 taste like? It delivers a rich yet focused palate of glazed tangerine, lemon custard, roasted hazelnut, and brioche, underscored by a persistent saline minerality and an exceptionally fine, creamy mousse.

How does La Grande Année 2014 compare to Louis Roederer Cristal 2014? Both Champagnes share chart-topping honors from Vinous, each earning 98 points for the 2014 vintage. La Grande Année tends toward a weightier, more oxidative style due to its barrel fermentation and cork aging, while Cristal generally presents a more reductive, laser-focused mineral profile.

Is La Grande Année 2014 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its complexity, length, and layered aromatics make it one of the most rewarding Champagnes to drink on its own, ideally at a cool cellar temperature of 10–12°C.

Where is La Grande Année 2014 made? It is produced by the house of Bollinger in Aÿ, a Grand Cru village in the Champagne region of northern France, using fruit from 19 different crus across the appellation.

What foods pair well with La Grande Année 2014? Its saline minerality and citrus richness match beautifully with raw oysters, seared scallops with brown butter, lobster thermidor, aged Comté cheese, and roasted chicken with truffle jus.

What sizes does La Grande Année 2014 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, and magnums (1.5L) are also produced by the house in select vintages.

Is La Grande Année 2014 worth the price? La Grande Année positions as Bollinger's prestige vintage cuvée, sitting in the upper echelon of luxury Champagne alongside peers like Cristal and Dom Pérignon. Its hand-riddled, cork-fermented production and near-universal critical acclaim at 95–98 points place it firmly among the top-value options in the prestige category.

Why La Grande Année 2014?

The 2014 vintage stands out in the La Grande Année lineage for the sheer breadth of critical praise it has received: 98 points from Vinous, 97 points and a Cellar Selection designation from Wine Enthusiast, 96+ from The Wine Independent, and 95 points from both Wine Advocate and TimAtkin.com. Beyond scores, the wine is distinctive because of Bollinger's commitment to barrel fermentation in aged oak and secondary fermentation under natural cork — techniques that are labor-intensive, increasingly rare in Champagne, and directly responsible for the wine's signature richness and textural depth. For those seeking a prestige Champagne that pairs heritage craftsmanship with a truly exceptional vintage, this release makes a compelling case.