As previously reported by the drinks business, Bollinger is putting a fresh emphasis on its wine credentials after last year’s focus on the brand’s association with James Bond, and, as part of this, held an event in May to dissect the components of its best-selling line: Special Cuvée.

Bollinger president Jérôme Philippon explained, “It is so important to share with our partners why is it different, why it so special, why it is called Special Cuvée, and dissect what makes it special.”

To do this, Philippon said that the house has spent the past five years analysing the wine, adding, “Because it is indeed special: it is one of the most successful non-vintage Champagnes.”

Consequently, the house has attributed its stylistic and qualitative difference to “five pillars”, according to Bollinger cellar master Giles Decôtes, which, having attended the masterclass, we have outlined below.

1. The vineyard
Bollinger owns more than 167 hectares (up from 165ha in 2014) which is enough to supply at least 60% of the brand’s needs, an unusually high proportion – the average Champagne house owns enough land to supply 10% of its production, according to Decôtes.

This is important, he said, because it gives the winemaking team “consistency” – it can control the management and harvesting of the vineyards, while the location of the grapes is the same every year.

2. Pinot Noir
As much as 60% of Bollinger’s vineyards are planted with Pinot Noir, and that ensures that no Champagne from the house contains less than 60% of this red grape, stated Decôtes. This ensures that Bollinger “is the house of Pinot Noir”.

3. Oak barrels
Bollinger own as makes as 3,500 barrels which means that the equivalent of one million bottles go through fermentation in oak annually. “There is no other company in Champagne – except maybe Krug – that has so many barrels,” said Decôtes.

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