The Bollinger ChampagneB16 cuvée, presented here in a gift box, is a tribute to the late harvest terroirs of the Montagne de Reims. It is a champagne of great finesse, vibrant, subtle, and deeply refined. A rare wine, marked by the personality of the 2016 vintage.
The making of Bollinger B16 Champagne
With B16, Bollinger explores unusual terroirs located in the latest-ripening areas of the Montagne de Reims, revealing a more airy and delicate expression than usual. The blend, dominated by Pinot Noir, is vinified and aged according to the house's iconic artisanal methods.
- Pinot Noir (73%): structure, energy, and aromatic depth.
- Chardonnay (27%): freshness, brightness, and floral finesse.
The 2016 vintage
2016 was a year marked by stark climatic contrasts. The cold and very wet spring, punctuated by late frosts, led to a significant drop in yields. June lacked sunshine, delaying flowering. Then, in August, the weather changed radically: heat, drought, and sunshine provided ideal conditions for ripening. The grapes gained richness while retaining remarkable tension. A demanding vintage, which has produced a subtle, complex wine of great purity.
The terroir
B16 highlights plots located on the late-ripening slopes of the Montagne de Reims. These cooler terroirs, where ripening occurs slowly, give the wine a unique aromatic signature: floral delicacy, chalky freshness, and natural elegance. An environment where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay express themselves with finesse and depth.
Vinification
This cuvée has benefited from long and meticulous work in the cellar. The wine has aged for 7 years on lees, allowing for a slow, subtle, and harmonious evolution. The Extra Brut dosage (4 g/L) preserves the purity, balance, and airiness of the vintage. The vinification respects the Bollinger philosophy: controlled tension, restrained richness, and complexity.
Tasting notes
Color
Bright light gold, with fine gold highlights that underscore the wine's maturity and elegance.
Nose
Fresh and delicate: white flowers, hawthorn, acacia honey. Followed by aromas of bergamot, white-fleshed fruits, and yellow fruits, accompanied by a touch of sweet almond.
Palate
Silky and airy texture. Perfect balance between delicacy and depth. Lingering, subtle finish, carried by a sensation of purity and lightness.
Pairing suggestions
B16 is a champagne of great finesse, ideal for accompanying gourmet cuisine.
- Flat oysters
- Scallop carpaccio
- Parmesan puff pastry bites
- Roast sea bass with lemon butter
- Houdan chicken with morel mushrooms
- Langoustine ravioli and citrus broth
- Poached pear with honey
- Lemon and almond fingers
- Thin citrus tart
Storage and serving
How to store this cuvée
Store B16 in a stable cellar at 10–12°C with a humidity of around 70%. This champagne, which has already been aged for a long time on lees, will continue to develop with time, developing notes of dried fruit, honey, and dried flowers.
Aging potential
Optimal window: 2025–2038. From 2025 to 2030, B16 expresses its floral brilliance and citrus freshness. Between 2031 and 2036, the texture gains in fullness, revealing nuances of honey, almond, and candied yellow fruit. From 2037 onwards, it reaches a harmonious maturity, where purity, finesse, and depth blend elegantly.
How to serve B16?
We recommend serving B16 at 8–10°C in a tulip or thin universal glass. A little oxygenation will further reveal its floral nuances and silky texture.
