A defining release — and a farewell vintage
Bollinger La Grande Année 2018
Bollinger opens a new chapter in its 197-year history with the release of La Grande Année 2018. The house presented the wine during a celebratory dinner in Aÿ in March 2026. On the same occasion, Bollinger inaugurated its new cellier: a dedicated ageing facility housing 5,000 oak barrels of 228 litres each.
The 2018 also carries unusual emotional weight. Before his death in January 2023, former chef de cave Gilles Descôtes had described this vintage as the last he would bring to completion. In recorded interviews, he called it “one of the best harvests” of his career. His successor, Denis Bunner, subsequently oversaw the final stages of ageing and the disgorging in March 2025.
The 2018, moreover, sits at the beginning of a remarkable run of warm years. If 2019 and 2020 prove equally strong upon release, some critics have begun to suggest parallels with the celebrated 1988–1990 trilogy. That comparison, however, remains to be earned.
Vintage conditions: wet start, hot summer, early harvest
A challenging winter
The 2018 growing season opened with a challenging winter. Precipitation was substantially above the long-term average — CIVC data points to one of the wettest winters in two decades. As a result, high humidity drove elevated mildew pressure throughout the spring. Growers responded with intensive canopy management and targeted treatments.
A decisive turn in June
Conditions shifted decisively from mid-June onward. Temperatures rose sharply and rainfall became scarce. Decanter’s reporting noted only occasional showers through to harvest. Consequently, the mildew risk diminished significantly.
The sustained heat also allowed the vines to draw on the water reserves built up over winter. The result was fruit with both concentration and freshness — rather than the dehydrated character that extreme drought can cause.
An early and healthy harvest
Flowering occurred unusually early, around 1 June. The warm summer that followed allowed grapes to reach full phenolic maturity while remaining healthy. Bollinger therefore began harvesting on 23 August 2018 — among the earliest start dates in recent memory.
Independent vintage assessments confirm the quality. Writing for Decanter, Yohan Castaing observed that Pinot Noir ripened to near-perfect condition. Chardonnay, too, performed outstandingly despite the spring’s challenges.
Essi Avellan MW, writing for Club Oenologique, called 2018 “spectacular.” She noted that early-season water reserves buffered the vines through one of the driest summers on record. Yields, furthermore, averaged over 12 t/ha across the region (CIVC), allowing producers to rebuild stocks after several leaner years.
Blend and terroir – an emphasis on Pinot Noir
La Grande Année 2018 is composed of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay, according to Bollinger’s official technical sheet. The Pinot Noir draws primarily from the grands crus of Aÿ, Verzenay, and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. The Chardonnay, by contrast, is sourced from Avize, Chouilly, and Cuis — appellations known for mineral precision and elegance.
In total, grapes from 19 different crus contribute to the blend. Each parcel is vinified separately before blending, enabling the cellar team to assess and select on a plot-by-plot basis.
Dosage and ageing
The dosage of 6 g/L — confirmed on the Bollinger product sheet — sits at the drier end of the house’s historical range. This supports the wine’s natural freshness without masking its fruit.
Disgorgement took place in March 2025, following approximately six and a half years on the lees. That extended ageing, in turn, has yielded the characteristic Bollinger texture: creamy, finely integrated, with persistent bead.
Tasting profile – complexity and tension
Colour and first impressions
The 2018 shows a luminous golden yellow. It appears slightly paler and brighter than previous La Grande Année releases. The Buyer noted this distinction clearly, describing the colour as unusually vivid for the house.
Nose – citrus, orchard fruit and subtle toast
The nose opens with fresh citrus and Granny Smith apple. Subsequently, white peach, apricot, and mirabelle plum emerge. With aeration, the wine reveals fresh almond, breadcrumbs, and acacia honey, framed by chalk-driven minerality.
Writing for Vinous, Antonio Galloni describes the 2018 as “quite pretty and delicate.” He highlights floral and citrus notes, followed by orchard fruit, chamomile, mint, and chalk. That reading captures a finesse-driven register. Nevertheless, the palate ultimately shows greater weight than the nose alone suggests.
Essi Avellan MW (Club Oenologique) adds ripe orchard fruit, poached pear, dried meadow flowers, and subtle pastry notes to the aromatic picture.
Palate – creamy yet energetic
On the palate, the 2018 opens with stewed fruit and quince. The texture then softens, offering a creamy, finely beaded effervescence. Citrus peel acidity, however, runs through the mid-palate. This prevents the warmth of the vintage from tipping into heaviness.
Sarah Knowles MW (The Wine Society) describes the palate as “creamy yet precise,” with chalky freshness and a long, poised finish. The richness of 2018 is evident. Yet six and a half years on lees, combined with the natural acidity of the appellation, has disciplined it.
Conclusion
Not every palate will find the 2018 immediately approachable. The wine’s richness may read as opulent to those who prefer cooler vintages such as the 2012 or 2008. For that reason, collectors who favour a leaner style may wish to allow additional time in bottle.
Those who enjoy the Bollinger of recent warm years — the 2014 and 2015, for instance — will, however, find the 2018 immediately compelling.
Bollinger La Grande Année 2018 is shaped equally by a remarkable growing season and by the final chapter of a distinguished career. The vintage’s warmth and generosity are unmistakable. So, equally, is the discipline that six and a half years of careful ageing has imposed.
The result is a Champagne with genuine longevity. It drinks well now, but is built to reward those who wait.
Technical data (source: Bollinger): 66% Pinot Noir / 34% Chardonnay • 19 crus • Dosage 6 g/L • Disgorgement March 2025 • Approximately 6.5 years on lees • ABV 12.5%