By The AOC Wine Selections Sommelier Team:
This cuvée is composed of 100% Pinot Noir primarily sourced from Aÿ Grand Cru with a little Tauxières and Verzenay blended in. The base vintage is the generous and easy drinking 2018, which makes this a perfect Champagne for enjoying now and during the upcoming holidays, and a healthy dose of reserve wines adds intensity and complexity. The PN AYC is one of Bollinger's new line of explorations in Champagne terroir, and it has the house's classic toasty, highly mineral-driven style with the fuller body and orchard fruit notes only found in great Pinot Noir based Champagnes.
94 Points from William Kelley of Wine Advocate: "Based on the 2018 vintage, complemented by reserve wines aged in magnum dating back to 2009, Bollinger's newly released NV Brut Blanc de Noirs PN AYC18 was disgorged this year with six grams per liter dosage. Foregrounding the village of Aÿ, a commune crucial to Bollinger's distinctive style, the wine wafts from the glass with aromas of golden orchard fruit, honeycomb, buttered toast, freshly baked bread and dried white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and vinous, with an ample core of fruit that's girdled by lively acids and animated by an elegant pinpoint mousse, this suave, charming Champagne concludes with a chalky finish. This has turned out beautifully."
92 Points from Antoio Galloni: "The NV PN AYC 2018 is the newest edition in Bollinger's range of single village-based Champagnes, a series of wines created by former Chef de Caves Gilles Descôtes, who passed away earlier this year. Tense and vibrant, with notable saline intensity, the AYC (based on Aÿ) sizzles with energy. Dried pear, crushed flowers, mint, sage, chalk and light pastry notes all race across the palate. This release is 53% 2018 and 47% reserve wines, a big part of which are Bollinger's famous reserve magnums (in this case 2009 Verzenay Pinot), plus dollops of 2017 and 2016 wines. The 2018 was done in equal parts oak and tank. Dosage is 6 grams per liter, but the impression is of a slightly drier style. The combination of a very warm base vintage blended with a high proportion of reserve wines yields a Champagne of notable complexity and texture."
