Champagne Bollinger PN AYC18.
Champagne Bollinger’s PN Series: Showcasing Pinot Noir’s Terroir-Driven Elegance.
Champagne Bollinger’s PN series provides a focused exploration of Pinot Noir’s diverse expressions across Champagne’s varied terroirs. Launched in 2020, the series has become a cornerstone of Bollinger’s portfolio, showcasing the grape’s versatility by featuring a different cru and base vintage with each release. The PN AYC18 is a standout Champagne, exemplifying how Bollinger continues to elevate Pinot Noir, offering a distinctive interpretation that beautifully captures the essence of its terroir.
PN AYC18: A Tribute to Aÿ Terroir
The PN AYC18 edition is the fourth release in the PN series, and it places the spotlight on the Aÿ terroir. Located in the southern part of the Montagne de Reims, Aÿ’s chalk-rich soils lend a distinctive minerality and freshness to its Pinot Noir. The base year for this cuvée is 2018, a vintage defined by high yields and early harvests due to a warm and dry growing season. The Pinot Noir grapes from Aÿ, reaching 11% alcohol at harvest, brought richness and depth to the final blend.
In addition to Aÿ, the blend includes Pinot Noir from Tauxières and Verzenay, as well as reserve wines dating back to 2009. Aged for four years on its lees, PN AYC18 develops a textured profile with aromas of apricot, peach, honey, and mocha, along with a lingering smoky note. The freshness, balanced by a moderate dosage of 6 grams per liter, ensures the wine remains vibrant and expressive, with the terroir of Aÿ shining through.
Our Review
Based predominantly on the 2018 vintage, with reserve wines dating back to 2009, this Champagne presents a golden straw hue with a subtle blush tint, hinting at the ripeness and depth within. On the nose, it offers a luxurious bouquet of golden orchard fruits, baked apples, and honeycomb, complemented by layers of buttered toast, dried white flowers, and a touch of sweet vanilla.
On the palate, the PN AYC18 is plush yet refined, with a medium to full-bodied texture that feels both vinous and pillowy. The ripeness of the 2018 vintage brings forth flavors of red cherries, ripe plums, and peach compote, while underlying notes of grilled hazelnuts, smoky oak, and a hint of tar add complexity. The mid-palate showcases a lively acidity that lifts the wine, maintaining freshness and energy. The mousse is fine and elegant, leading to a long, chalky finish with lingering hints of citrus zest and saline minerality.
This Champagne is a true expression of Aÿ’s power and character, with its muscular structure and depth playing against the vibrant purity of the fruit. While it is approachable now with its supple and generous fruit profile, the PN AYC18 will continue to evolve beautifully over the next decade, peaking around 2030–2035.
We reward this edition of Champagne Bollinger’s PN Series with a 94-point DWA score.
Conclusion:
Bollinger’s PN AYC18 is a stunning showcase of Aÿ Pinot Noir, encapsulating the bold, generous fruit of the 2018 vintage while maintaining the house’s signature complexity and precision. With its combination of power, elegance, and finesse, this Blanc de Noirs offers a captivating drinking experience that will appeal to both connoisseurs and casual Champagne lovers alike. Ideal for enjoying now or cellaring for further development, it exemplifies Bollinger’s expertise in crafting terroir-driven, age-worthy Champagne.
Bollinger’s Pinot Noir Vision
The PN series exemplifies Bollinger’s deep-rooted dedication to Pinot Noir, a grape that has been at the heart of the house since its inception.
Through meticulous selection, blending, and extended lees aging, Bollinger pushes the limits of what Pinot Noir can achieve in Champagne. The PN series, with its terroir-driven focus, invites wine enthusiasts to discover the unique expressions of this iconic grape.
Showcasing Bollinger’s mastery and the grape’s versatility, the PN collection highlights the elegance of terroir through wines like the PN AYC18 and PN VZ19, offering a dynamic and evolving experience that continues to set Bollinger apart in the world of Champagne.
This review is written by our own Niels Aarts. Importer Verbunt Verlinden is the proud importer of this iconic Champagne, along with the rest of the Bollinger portfolio, in the Netherlands. The PN AYC18 is available through selected retail and hospitality partners. A review of the PN VZ19 can be found here.
Price: €115,00
Taste date: October 2024
Score: 94/100 DWA Score
Website: Champagne Bollinger