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2002 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut

"This is thrilling Champagne"

99 JS / 96 AG / 96 WS / 96 JD

95 WA / 94 BH / 18 JR

$282.00/bottle - Buy Now

Exceptional price - 12% Below Market!

(Very Limited - Pre-Arrival)

"Far from fruity but a valid expression of the house and vintage. Complex and intellectual." - Jancis Robinson

"Mature Bollinger at its best sets a standard for what Champagne is capable of." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

We are delighted to offer a new parcel of a wine that sold out within minutes on release…the magnificent 2002 R.D. from Bollinger. R.D. stands for Récemment Dégorgé, or Recently Disgorged. Madame Bollinger first created this now legendary wine in 1967 (the 1952 vintage), with the aim of giving people the chance to taste a champagne aged on lees for an exceptionally long time yet very recently disgorged, when the wine is fresh and aromatic.

"Bollinger's chef de cave, Gilles Descotes, told Decanter it was 'quite an easy decision' to make an R.D. from the 2002 vintage,' which he described as a great year."

Madame Bollinger’s great idea was to choose an old vintage, recently disgorged and dosed like an Extra Brut. The recent disgorgement guarantees the remarkable freshness of the wine. This is what is so bold about the approach, which offers the world an opportunity to enjoy a truly unique tasting experience.

This is unquestionably one of the very best wines Bollinger have made and it absolutely deserves a place in your cellar. The 2002 vintage also marked the 50th Anniversary since the first release (1952). Don't miss this exceptional champagne where both power and perfect balance offer a formidable aging potential!

2002 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut
99 JS / 96 AG / 96 WS / 96 JD / 95 WA / 94 BH / 18 JR
$282.00/750ml (Pre-Arrival) Buy Now

“Super fresh, this is striking given the 10 years in the cellars; it has a fine citrus nose - plenty of lemon, grapefruit, yellow chalky notes, some lighter floral elements too. The palate is super dry (dosage at 3-4g) and there’s a silky, sherbet-like texture, smooth, fine and long. The citrus flavours give way to the driving surging acidity, thunderous acidity, really driving and powerful. The finish twists very slowly through to light-toasted cashew fruit flavours, but lemon citrus prevails. This is thrilling Champagne. Drink from 2016.” - James Suckling

Bollinger's 2002 R.D. is striking in its beauty. Silky and caressing on the palate, the 2002 impresses for its exceptional balance and harmony. In 2002 so many Champagnes are ripe and explosive in style, but the 2002 R.D. is quite restrained by comparison. Hints of apricot pit, smoke, almonds, spices and pears ring out on the super-finessed, inviting finish. The 2002 is going to be nearly impossible to resist in its youth, but it should also age impeccably. All the elements are in the right place. Dosage is 3-4 grams per liter. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Also Available:

2007 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut

98 WE / 98 JS / 97 WA / 97 VM / 96 WS / 17.5 JR

#64 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of France 2021

Vinepair Best Champagnes of 2021

$229.89 / 750ml (Pre-Arrival) Buy Now

R.D., or Recenty Disgorged, is a Bollinger hallmark. This wine has stayed on its lees for many years before release, giving it intensity, maturity and great depth. The wine is powerful, concentrated and elegant. Drink now. -Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

What an amazing nose this has, like the smell of a rock pool on a rocky coast, but with so many candied-fruit, spicy and mushroom notes behind that. That fruit is way more expressive on the powerful and structured palate with lime freshness and chalky minerality at the super-long, bone-dry finish. Disgorged 28th May, 2021. - James Suckling

2008 Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut

99 JS / 98+ WA / 98+ WI / 98 JD / 97 DE / 97 WS / 96 VM / 18 JR

#37 Jeb Dunnuck's Top 100 2023

72 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of France 2023

$379.89 / 750ml (In-Stock) Buy Now

Amazing aromas of sweet uncooked pie crust with almonds. Then you smell dried apples, apricots and pineapple. Grilled fruits, too. Full-bodied. So tangy and energetic with sizzling acidity and creamy tannins. Flavorful and lightly oxidized at the finish. Smacking my lips. Agile. Ginger and spices. A touch of bitter complexity with some salinity. Extreme character that grabs your attention. 13 years and six months aging on the lees with cork. 3 grams dosage. 71% pinot noir and 29% chardonnay. Don’t serve too cold. Drink or hold. - James Suckling

When I was tasting Bollinger's brilliant Grande Année in this vintage, I was trying to imagine how good the 2008 Extra-Brut R. D. would be, as the style of the vintage seems almost perfectly adapted to this cuvée. Four years later, we have the answer, and the wine is brilliant. Disgorged in 2022, it's more reserved out of the gates than the dramatic Grande Année was on release, unwinding in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, orange peel, freshly baked bread, subtle hints of fino sherry, wet stones and macadamia nut. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of fruit that's animated by racy acids and a refined pinpoint mousse, concluding with a bone-dry finish. Extremely harmonious and full of youthful energy, it's the finest R. D. of the decade and one that will richly reward a bit of additional age on cork. In style, the most obvious comparison is with the 1996, but the 2008 is more integrated and harmonious on release. These bottles were disgorged late last year with three grams per liter dosage. Drink: 2025-2045. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

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Sincerely,

Xavier Simental

Fine Wine Sales Associate