New Release. Price £450.00. This is Madame Bollinger’s ultimate gift, the result of rare conditions: a blend between a great champagne and one of the very best red wines of the Champagne region, both from the same vintage. The quality and power of a red wine produced from the legendary Côte aux Enfants, a single plot of Aÿ Grand cru Pinot Noir. Introduction: Madame Bollinger agreed to a Bollinger rosé under one condition, it had to be extraordinary, and that is how La Grande Année Rosé was born: the unique blend between a great vintage champagne and a red wine from a unique plot, the legendary Côte aux Enfants. To produce a red wine of such high quality in the champagne region is a challenge: a rare treat, a true Bollinger. Tasting Notes: A delicate coral tint. To the nose, Redcurrant and dried fig aromas accompanied by a minty touch: notes of blond tobacco and dried flowers. A wine with fine, delicate flavours; notes of mirabelle plum, kirsch and freshly cut grass; a beautiful aromatic structure. Food Pairing: La Grande Année Rosé 2007 enhances and complements perfectly the subtlest gourmet experiences. Suggested pairings; Duck breast, quail, pigeon or guinea fowl. Venison sauce Grand Veneur. Exotic or oriental cuisine. Rhubarb and red berry crumble Serving: This powerful and complex champagne is perfect for a romantic dinner, adding a touch of infinite seduction. To fully appreciate its unique style, bouquet and aromas, La Grande Année Rosé 2005 is best served between 8 and 10°C. You can enjoy La Grande Année Rosé 2007 right away, or choose to age it in your cellar. Production: Exclusive use of the cuvee. Fermented entirely in barrels. At Bollinger, only very high quality harvests become a vintage: The year 2007 was an exceptional one, revealing a very refreshing champagne that brings out the full impact of the fruit. Maturation: Cellar aged for more than twice the time required by the appellation. Sealed with a natural cork whilst ageing. Dosage: Low, 7 grams per litre. Grape Variety: Blend of the 2007 vintage: 72% Pinot Noir, 28% Chardonnay. 14 crus: mainly Aÿ and Verzenay for the Pinot Noir; Cramant and Oger for the Chardonnay – 92% Grands crus and 8% Premiers crus. 6% red Côte aux Enfants wine. Background Information: La Grande Annee Rose is an extension of the Grande Annee by the addition, at blending, of a red wine from one of the House’s emblematic vineyards, La Cote Aux Enfants, located in the village of Ay. This plot of Grand Cru, measuring less than one hectare, is only used for red when the grapes are perfectly ripe. Made exclusively of Grand Crus and Premier Crus from Champagne, the grapes selected are from the cuvee to keep nothing but the best juice. 13 crus make up the composition of the Grand Annee Rose, of which 95% are Grand Crus and 5% are Premier Crus. The first fermentation is done in small oak casks, lot by lot, cru by cru, grape variety by grape variety. This allows Bollinger to use a very strict selection process. Bollinger only uses old casks (5 years old or older) to ensure that neither tannin or oak flavours are imparted to the wines. This method increases both the aromatic complexity and the ageing capacity of such wines. Grande Annee Rose ages in the cellars under natural cork. After bottling, the second fermentation and the ageing in the cellars is done using a real cork stopper, which ensures a better barrier against oxidisation than the crown cap. This process, quite unique in champagne, is a guarantee of freshness and allows the aromas to keep their bouquet and clarity. The intense colour is due to an addition during initial blending of 5% red wine, made with grapes from La Cote Aux Enfants.