The 2013 La Cote Aux Enfants is a stunning new release from Bollinger. From one of the best and most revered plots of Pinot Noir in the region, just 1,000 bottles of this were made in 2012, and the 2013 is likely to be similarly microscopic in production. Its combination of exclusivity and quality has prompted Champagne expert Richard Juhlin to advise, “Buy everything you see. I know I will”, so we are delighted to have some to offer.

 ‘Vieilles Vignes Françaises will always be the great canon, but elegance is greatest at La Côte aux Enfants and having them meet in a harmonious meeting of masters is a heavenly dream reachable on earth. A world-class wine is born!’

– Richard Juhlin

As Juhlin notes, the La Cote Aux Enfants compliments Bollinger’s other great rarity, the iconic VVF. For him, the “elegance is greatest at La Côte aux Enfants” and “A world-class wine is born!’”. The brilliance here comes from the phenomenal terroir. La Cote Aux Enfants comes from a famous vineyard, normally reserved for still Pinot Noir and has incredible pure chalk. Yields are tiny, and the resulting grapes are monumentally impressive.

It’s a great site with immense potential. Richard Juhlin comments, “Since the first time I tasted the red wine, I have wished that Bollinger would make a Blanc de Noir from here.” His note shows that it has lived up to expectations, “The acidity, the minerality and the purity are so beautiful that I’m happy to sit by myself even now and let myself sink into the swirling fresh dance of this beautiful wine” and “In many ways, the wine behaves like a high-class Blanc de Blancs from Le Mesnil”. He awards it a stellar 96-98 points.

A stellar new wine not to be missed by collectors of the best and rarest Champagnes on the planet. Do take a look and let us know if you would like a case or two secured.

Taken together, all these details make for a truly fantastic wine that balances in an almost unearthly way between an enormously intense concentration and a rarely seen mineral-tinged freshness. The chalk note from the unique growing site sounds pure like a Stradivarius playing soloist and the bass notes from fully matured Pinot Noir rumble together with the relative weight of the oak barrels… It must be said right away that 2013 is considerably lighter and cooler in appearance than the premiere vintage in 2012… The acidity, the minerality and the purity are so beautiful that I’m happy to sit by myself even now and let myself sink into the swirling fresh dance of this beautiful wine. The fragrance is ultra-elegant with fine floral notes and sublime details. Most obvious right now is an enticing base note of After Eight mint chocolate. In many ways, the wine behaves like a high-class Blanc de Blancs from Le Mesnil with unexpectedly strong minerality, roses, lily of the valley and citrus notes. The low dosage of 4 grams gives the minerality full space and with time in the glass more peach and apricot will appear. The aftertaste is quite light, but extremely long and slender-limbed. The attack is fresh and detailed, while the scent balances so nicely between the soft chocolate notes and the citrus florality. Buy everything you see. I know i will.’ www.champagneclub.com