Champagne Bollinger
PN TX17
Champagne, France
PN, made entirely from Pinot Noir to underscore the very essence and DNA of the House style, is the first new cuvée added to Bollinger’s permanent range since rosé in 2008. Each release of PN, developed as a series to bring Bollinger’s unique vision of Pinot Noir to light, will showcase a different cru from the base year that highlights its distinctive terroir and taste.
VINEYARD
The fruit is predominantly sourced from Tauxières. Pinot Noir from Tauxières brings freshness, elegance as well as precision and complexity to the blend. Pinot Noir fruit from Avenay, Verzenay were added to PN TX17 to add aromatic synergy and complexity. While the Verzenay terroir (base village of the previous editions) gives wine a certain depth, elegance, complexity and sea-air finish, the rich subsoil of the Tauxières terroir gives wine precision, vivacity and finesse.
WINEMAKING
Cellar aged for more than twice the time required by the appellation. The addition of about 20% reserve wines add to the wine’s exceptional aromatic intensity, especially the Pinots Noirs aged in magnums for almost 10 years.
Dosage: 4 g/L
VINTAGE
While PN is a non-vintage, 50% of the fruit comes from 2017. For Champagne Bollinger, 2017, an unusual and unexpected year. Unusual, because the first half was especially hot and dry, meaning the vine was 1-2 weeks ahead of its usual timing. The peak heat that usually comes in August came in July, while August sharply bucked the trend with high rainfall and much colder weather than usual. Finally, it was unusual in that the famous September “Champagne miracle” (ideal conditions just before harvest, with sunny days, cool nights and a dry wind) did not happen: the nights stayed very mild (sometimes over 20°C at sunrise), the mornings humid and the afternoons very warm. All these factors promote fast maturation. Nevertheless, this year is a source of pride, because in this unusual situation, Champagne Bollinger very quickly made the right adjustment. The maturity of the Champagne is very much there, the acidity is nicely framed by the richness of the wines.
TASTING NOTE
Notes of dried flowers, joined by aromas of tobacco and mocha. Liquorice and dried fruit round off these sophisticated, subtle and complex aromas. A very fruity, lively facet with notes of cooked apricot, peach and exotic fruit, followed by flavors of acacia honey, fresh walnut and spices. A wonderful salinity complements the acidity of the wine. It finishes on red fruit, crème de cassis and surprising notes of citrus zest. A lively, linear wine with great clarity and in contrast with the nose.
Food Pairing
Tomme des Ardennes cheese, millefeuille, tonka bean-infused chutney. Roast quail, dried apricots and honey-lemon sauce. Chaource cheese
Color
White
Grape Varieties
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Champagne, France
Farming
Champagne Bollinger supports sustainable wine growing by grassing over the ground, using biological pest control, reducing the use of herbicides, recycling pruning waste, and planting hedges and orchards to encourage biodiversity. The Côte aux Enfants vineyard is managed organically.
Alcohol
12.5%
Suggested Retail Price
$130
Reviews
"Bright and punchy"
Wine Enthusiast - July 14, 2022
"The NV PN TX 17, 100% Pinot Noir from Tauxieres, is the next wine in Bollinger's new series of single-village Champagnes. Bright and punchy, the 2017 is redolent of pear, dried flowers, mint, chalk and sage. Aromatically, the 2017 could easily be mistaken for a Blanc de Blancs such is its purity, but the richness and resonance of Pinot are unmistakable on the palate. This is an especially vinous, layered Champagne that offers striking interplay between its intense fruit and the mineral, saline and savory-laced frame that holds it all together." RV 7/22
"Floral on the nose"
Jeb Dunnuck - November 8, 2022
"As with the PN VZ16, the NV Champagne Blanc de Noirs PN TX17 Brut was fermented half in barrels and half in stainless steel. It is also 100% Pinot Noir, mostly from the village of Tauxières, predominantly from 2017, with reserve wines contributing to the blend. Floral on the nose, with yellow orchard fruit and baked bread, it is ripe but more linear in its approach and follow through. It’s a very pretty wine to drink over the next 10 years. " - A.F 11//22
More on Champagne Bollinger PN TX17
Bursting with Pride: Bollinger in Forbes
December 21, 2022 - The article, titled “$1,000 Bottle Of Champagne Demonstrates Bollinger As A Pinot Noir Fine Wine Specialist” features Champagne Bollinger’s 2012 La Côte aux Enfants, 2016 'La Côte aux Enfants' Côteaux…
Pinot Noir & Bollinger Champagne; What a duo!
December 22, 2022 - Tom Hyland recently wrote in Forbes an article, titled ”Blanc de Noirs – A Different Shade of Champagne” features Champagne Bollinger’s PN TX17, noting “Beautifully made, this is a refined…
Trade Materials
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