Bollinger - Some Interesting Facts

*** English Version Following Chinese Version ***

昨天喝了一瓶 Bollinger La Grandee Annee 1999，我個人非常喜歡它。在我張貼我的品酒筆記之前， 不如讓我分享一些有關 Bollinger 的有趣資料？

* 香檳區有很多葡萄種植者，許多生產商都會購買這些葡萄以生產它們的香檳。例如，Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV 75％的葡萄是購買自這些葡萄種植者。Bollinger 為更有效控制品質， 擁有約 178公頃的葡萄田，這足夠供應 Bollinger 所須超過 60％至70％的葡萄。

* Bollinger 的香檳通常佔至少60％的 Pinot Noir。

* 大部分 Bollinger 使用的葡萄布林是來自 Grand Cru Vineyards（65％至75％）。

* 使用橡木發酵是 Bollinger Champagne 的一個特點。所有的年份香檳使用的葡萄都會經過橡木桶發酵。即便非年份香檳，都有一部份的葡萄酒會通過橡木發酵。為避免增加太多橡樹的味道， 新木桶是不會使用的。

* 大部分香檳生產商都會將它們的 Reserve Wine 儲存在不銹鋼筒。Bollinger 則獨特地把 Reserve Wine 儲備於 magnum bottles。Bollinger 會把6克糖（而不是通常的24克）加到這些 Reserve Wine。這做法的目的不是進行第二次發酵，而是令 Reserve Wine 儲存得更好。

*除了生產非年份香檳（Special Cuvee），非年份玫瑰香檳（Rose）和年份香檳（La Grande Annee），Bollinger 還生產 R.D.（Recently Disgorged）香檳。這香檳最少經過8年或以上的 ageing。

* Bollinger 亦有生產 Still Red Wine名為 Cote aux Enfants，但這生產數量極為有限。

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Drank a bottle of Bollinger La Grandee Annee 1999 yesterday which I like it very much.  Tasting notes will be posted soon.  Before posting my tasting notes, how about sharing some interesting facts about Bollinger?

* There are a lot of growers in Champagne and many Champagne houses are buying grapes from growers.  For example, 75% of the grapes used to produce Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV is from long-term contract grower.  Bollinger has greater control over the grapes used as Bollinger owns about 178 hectares and this  contributes more than 60% to 70% of the fruit used by Bollinger.

* Bollinger Champagne is a Pinot-based Champagne and usually account for at least 60%.

* Most of the grapes used by Bollinger are coming from Grand Cru vineyard (65% to 75%).

* The use of oak fermentation is a special feature of Bollinger Champagne.  All vintage Champagne will have their wine gone through oak fermentation.  For non-vintage Champagne, a portion of its wine will also go through oak fermentation. Oak used will never be new oak to avoid adding too much flavour to the wine.

* Most Champagne wine will store their reserve wines for non-vintage Champagne in stainless steel.  Bollinger is unique in storing their reserve wines in Magnum bottle .  A micro-dosage of 6 grams sugar (instead of the usual 24 grams) will be added to these reserve wines.  This is not for second fermentation.  According to Bollinger, this will allow the base wine to store better.

* In addition to producing non-vintage Brut (Special Cuvee), non-vintage Rose and vintage Champagne (La Grande Annee), Bollinger also produces R.D. (Recently Disgorged) Champagne which is Champagne with a minimum of 8 years or more on ageing.

* Bollinger is also producing a still red wine known as Cote aux Enfants but this is only produced in very limited quantity.