A Monument of Champagne in Magnum
1996 Bollinger R.D. Magnums
"A great version of one of Champagne's legendary wines."
Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate
Today we present one of Champagne's great monuments, in one of the most collectible vintages and formats.
While the style at Bollinger is renowned for their signature richness, the R.D. is even more extreme. This is a library bottling that sees a decade on the lees in the estate's cellars before release. The effect of this aging is startling, essentially bringing the volume up another decibel or two.
And yet, we'd be remiss not to mention the yang to this yin of volume: the fineness, the freshness, the downright steely acids and minerals. It'sall touched with pert lemon and pineapple, matched to the inherent acidity of the 1996 vintage. Peter Liem appropriately points out, "Bollinger’s Champagnes are often known for their richness, but whenever I taste one, it’s usually its fineness that I notice first and foremost."
This interplay of power with cut in the context of today's featured format spells ageworthy, and though all of the elements are certainly showing themselves off with poise and generosity now, there's a minimum of 20+ years of beautiful life ahead of this bottling.
We've mentioned before that, as the 96 vintage comes into its own and begins to prove its staying power, we’re noticing a distinct drop-off in the availability of 96s on the market - particularly large formats. This may very well be as low as pricing ever goes on this bottle. Again, we have just a small parcel, so give us your maximum order, and we will allocate accordingly.
Please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463 to place your order. All orders are subject to confirmation.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate: The 1996 R.D. from Bollinger is another superb wine from this vintage. An expressive bouquet of spices, acacia blossoms and perfumed fruit emerges from the wine’s silky-textured frame. This generous R.D. is drinking well today, but also has enough freshness to age well for years. It is a great version of one of Champagne’s legendary wines.
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar: Light gold. Dramatic aromas of ripe peach, pear, mango, musky yellow plum, fig, buttery brioche, toasted nuts and baking spices. Rich, deep and expansive on the palate, with powerful, deeply concentrated flavors of yellow peach, tropical fruit, toasted nuts, sweet butter, toffee and marzipan utterly filling the mouth. An endless parade of toasty, decadent fresh and dried fruits defines the finish, with a gentle but insistent mineral undertone providing focus, freshness and lift. This is a must buy for Bollinger fans.