98

Antonio Galloni

Vinous

The 2012 Vieilles Vignes Françaises is one of the best recent editions I can remember tasting. All the elements are impeccably balanced. Rich and creamy, but also wonderfully poised, the 2012 has so much to offer. Readers will find a Champagne of unparalleled elegance and finesse. Hints of apricot, dried flowers, chamomile, spice, mint and marzipan fill out the layers. I especially admire the finesse of the mousse in the 2012. The choice to pick a bit earlier than usual, given the warmth of the year and a naturally low crop, paid off big time. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. In a word: fabulous. 06/2023

99

Richard Juhlin

Richard Juhlin

Tasted prerelease with Denis Bunner when he just decided to add 6 grams of sugar. I have never tasted such a freshly disgorged VVF before and was really surprised by its bright color and lively character. Even more, I was surprised by its aromatic spectrum which in many parts reminded me of Coche-Dury's most beautiful creations from Meursault. This VVF shared its high-intensity petroleum bouquet and a really ultra-strong grilled, nutty and powdery aroma. Imagine that a pure Pinot Noir can remind you so much of Chardonnay. Added to this enormous bouquet is a fabulous freshness and pure fresh fruit where floral, yes almost citrus notes dance together with the grilled notes. A different and absolutely fantastic VVF that may become more classic from a purely stylistic perspective over time, but today it stands out as both fantastic and personally unique. Second bottle a few months later was truer to the grape and more classic VVF. 01/2023

98

William Kelley

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

Disgorged in March 2023 with six grams per liter dosage, Bollinger's 2012 Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Françaises is a powerful, multidimensional Champagne that pushes the house's vinous, Pinot Noir-driven style to the furthest. Offering up rich aromas of orange rind, mandarin oil, grilled peaches, dried fruits and pear mingled with notions of nutmeg, beeswax, smoke and buttered toast, it's full-bodied, broad and layered, with a deep, enveloping core endowed with extraordinary texture and concentration, its broad attack and mid-palate segueing into a long, resonant finish. If the 2013 vintage tended to tame some of the Vieilles Vignes Françaises's exuberance, the 2012 vintage leaves this cuvée untrammeled. 12/2023

98

James Suckling

James Suckling

Unique flavors for a Champagne with dried fruits, Turkish delight and pate de fruit. Hazelnuts and sweet almonds. Medium-bodied with tiny bubbles. Flowers, chamomile, mineral, and dried tea. 2,300 bottles made from two parcels of pinot noir, Les Chaudes Terres and Clos St Jacques, next to the winery and growing on their on roots. Drink now. 07/2023