Champagne Bollinger
B13
Champagne, France
B13 stands for ‘Bollinger 2013’ as showcased by the unique logotype that both resembles the letter ‘B’ and the number ‘13’. This limited edition Blanc de Noirs from the 2013 vintage is characterized by its freshness and precision, and is composed of 100% Pinot Noir, predominantly from Bollinger’s ancestral home of Äy.
Vineyards
92% of B13 is sourced from Grand Cru vineyards, and includes fruit from sites in Äy, Verzenay, Louvois, Avenay and Mareuil.
Winemaking
Vinified in French barrique and 400L casks, and aged for six months prior to secondary fermentation. B13 is cellared for seven years on the lees and 100% riddled and disgorged by hand.
Dosage: 6 g/L
Vintage
In 2013, the Champagne region was faced with a long winter punctuated by snow and frost, a rainy spring, and a very hot summer, complete with severe thunderstorms. Despite these conditions (resulting in an unusually late harvest), the concept of B13 came to life, made possible thanks to rigorous sustainable practices in the vineyards including controlled yields and monitoring grape maturity throughout the growing cycle, allowing the cultivation of high quality grapes year after year, no matter the conditions.
Tasting Note
B13 has an utterly distinctive profile, expressing candied lemon, citrus peel and orchard fruit on the nose, with subtle aromas of tarte tatin and crushed almond. Tension and minerality define the palate with Bollinger’s signature freshness and precision, and lingering salinity on the finish.
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%
Reviews
"Subtle, pleasing tension"
Wine Spectator - November 3, 2021
"A graceful Champagne, with a subtle, pleasing tension to the invigorating aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, baked pineapple, verbena, toast and crystallized honey as they ride the silky mousse. Ends with a mouthwatering, mineral-and-spice-laced finish." - AN
"Extremely vibrant"
Wine Enthusiast - July 25, 2022
"For an 8-year-old champagne this is extremely vibrant, the red-fruit character from the pinot noir grape rather in the background. Quite a strict style with discreet lees creaminess. However the ripeness and power means that it isn’t austere. Feels bone-dry at the powerful, chalky finish. 100% pinot noir, 100% barrel-fermented and 100% matured under cork." - AN
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
La Côte aux Enfants Champagne
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Established by Jacques Bollinger between 1926 and 1934, La Côte aux Enfants is a steep hillside vineyard located on the outskirts of Aÿ. This unique parcel has been a source of endless fascination, producing some of the most highly prized Pinot Noir in the region. Aware of its potential, it became Champagne Bollinger’s ambition to produce a great vintage Champagne exclusively from this vineyard, with 100% Pinot Noir. The fruit comes from the north-west side of the hill, revealing a particularly refined expression of La Côte aux Enfants vineyard.
PN
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La Côte aux Enfants
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A stunning and extremely rare, still red wine produced only for the greatest vintages. This wine harmoniously combines 100% Pinot Noir Grand Cru fruit from an exceptional vineyard with traditional Burgundian style winemaking. Historically, Pinot Noirs from Aÿ were the most popular wines of the French court, specifically a favorite of King Henri IV, and La Côte aux Enfants comes from a steep plot just outside of the village. This wine is the purest expression of Pinot Noir, offering a fine, delicate texture in the mouth, and a tautness giving it a beautifully long finish.
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R.D.
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Rosé
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