some random image you can find on barberry garden — Photo by Anna Zinchuk

Let's be real: a vertical tasting of La Grande Année does tickle our hedonistic side. However, there's a method to this indulgence. A recent gathering opened our eyes (and palates) to the expected yet stark contrast between regular and magnum bottles over time – a revelation that left us more curious than a cat in a vineyard. Sadly, we couldn't do an apples-to-apples (or grapes-to-grapes) comparison then, so we're setting the stage for a more 'scientific' exploration this time.

Plus, we've brewed up a theory that longer ageing on lees might just curb the post-disgorgement ageing potential. Armed with these hypotheses (and an unquenchable thirst for quality bubbly), we lined up an evening starring La Grande Année by Bollinger. The show-stopper? A long-anticipated magnum of Egly-Ouriet that set the tone impeccably. And because no epic tasting is complete without a grand finale, we wrapped up with a rosé that's been charming its way through 17 years of existence. And of course, how can you go without La Grande Année's older brother - R.D.?

P.S. For those itching to dive deeper into the world of Bollinger, we've got a page teeming with juicy details. It's like a backstage pass to the champagne world, minus the velvet rope. Just read it!

Wine	Place	rms	wavg	sdev	price	QPR
La Grande Année 2014 Bollinger	🏅 5th	4.4344	4.4194	0.0093	–	–
La Grande Année (d2008) 2000 Bollinger	🥈 2nd	4.5640	4.5529	0.0138	–	–
La Grande Année (d2010) 2000 Bollinger	🏅 9th	4.3854	4.3583	0.0181	–	–
La Grande Année 1997 Bollinger	🥉 3rd	4.5512	4.5019	0.0108	–	–
Brut Grand Cru 2006 Egly-Ouriet	🥇 1st	4.5902	4.6259	0.0095	–	–
R.D. 2008 Bollinger	🏅 6th	4.3843	4.3917	0.0085	–	–
R.D. 1995 Bollinger	🏅 7th	4.4247	4.3799	0.0191	–	–
R.D. 1990 Bollinger	🏅 4th	4.5157	4.4306	0.0288	–	–
La Grande Année Rosé 2007 Bollinger	🏅 8th	4.3629	4.3694	0.0038	–	–
Sauternes 1997 Château d'Yquem	🏅 10th	4.3670	4.2947	0.0396	–	–

Bollinger La Grande Année 2014

Type: white sparkling, brut
Region: Champagne AOC, France
Producer: Bollinger
Wine: La Grande Année
Vintage: 2014
Disgorged: 2022-03
On lees: ~84 months
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12
Sugar: 8

This wine secured the 🏅 5th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger La Grande Année (d2008) 2000 - magnum

Type: white sparkling, brut
Region: Champagne AOC, France
Producer: Bollinger
Wine: La Grande Année (d2008)
Vintage: 2000
Disgorged: 2008-10
On lees: >84 months
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12
Sugar: unknown

This wine secured the 🥈 2nd place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger La Grande Année (d2010) 2000

Type: white sparkling, brut
Region: Champagne AOC, France
Producer: Bollinger
Wine: La Grande Année (d2010)
Vintage: 2000
Disgorged: 2010-05
On lees: 108 months
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12
Sugar: unknown

This wine secured the 🏅 9th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger La Grande Année 1997 - magnum

Type: white sparkling, brut
Region: Champagne AOC, France
Producer: Bollinger
Wine: La Grande Année
Vintage: 1997
Disgorged: 2006-09
On lees: >96 months
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12
Sugar: unknown

This wine secured the 🥉 3rd place in our wine tasting lineup.

Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru 2006 - magnum

Type: white sparkling, brut
Region: Champagne AOC, France
Producer: Egly-Ouriet
Wine: Brut Grand Cru
Vintage: 2006
Disgorged: 2018-07
On lees: 132 months
Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 12.5
Sugar: 2

This wine secured the 🥇 1st place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger R.D. 2008

Type: white sparkling, extra-brut
Region: Champagne AOC, France
Producer: Bollinger
Wine: R.D.
Vintage: 2008
Disgorged: 2022-10-28
On lees: >156 months
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12.5
Sugar: 3.4

This wine secured the 🏅 6th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger R.D. 1995

Type: white sparkling, extra-brut
Region: Champagne AOC, France
Producer: Bollinger
Wine: R.D.
Vintage: 1995
Disgorged: 2006-03-15
On lees: 120 months
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12
Sugar: unknown

This wine secured the 🏅 7th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger R.D. 1990

Type: white sparkling, extra-brut
Region: Champagne AOC, France
Producer: Bollinger
Wine: R.D.
Vintage: 1990
Disgorged: 2004-04-07
On lees: 156 months
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12
Sugar: unknown

This wine secured the 🏅 4th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Bollinger La Grande Année Rosé 2007

Type: rose sparkling, brut
Region: Champagne AOC, France
Producer: Bollinger
Wine: La Grande Année Rosé
Vintage: 2007
Disgorged: 2019-04
On lees: ~132 months
Grapes: Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 12
Sugar: unknown

This wine secured the 🏅 8th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Château d'Yquem Sauternes 1997

Type: white still, sweet
Region: Sauternes AOC, France
Producer: Château d'Yquem
Wine: Sauternes
Vintage: 1997
Grapes: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol: 14
Sugar: unknown

This wine secured the 🏅 10th place in our wine tasting lineup.

Raw scores

Wine	Max D	Zorick U	Mariia L	Vitalii M	Mykola	Volodymyr A	Natasha	Kostyantyn	Anna Z	Boris B	A	Anton T
La Grande Année 2014 Bollinger	4.40	4.50	4.30	4.45	4.50	4.35	4.60	4.60	4.40	4.40	4.40	4.30
La Grande Année (d2008) 2000 Bollinger	4.60	4.60	4.40	4.60	4.70	4.40	4.50	4.70	4.70	4.60	4.60	4.35
La Grande Année (d2010) 2000 Bollinger	4.30	4.30	4.20	4.30	4.60	4.40	4.40	4.60	4.50	4.30	4.50	4.20
La Grande Année 1997 Bollinger	4.50	4.50	4.60	4.50	4.70	4.30	4.60	4.70	4.60	4.50	4.60	4.50
Brut Grand Cru 2006 Egly-Ouriet	4.60	4.70	4.42	4.70	4.60	4.60	4.40	4.50	4.60	4.70	4.60	4.65
R.D. 2008 Bollinger	4.40	4.50	4.30	4.30	4.50	4.25	4.40	4.30	4.40	4.40	4.30	4.55
R.D. 1995 Bollinger	4.40	4.20	4.50	4.40	4.72	4.50	4.50	4.30	4.40	4.20	4.50	4.45
R.D. 1990 Bollinger	4.50	4.20	4.70	4.50	4.70	4.40	4.65	4.60	4.45	4.20	4.70	4.55
La Grande Année Rosé 2007 Bollinger	4.40	4.40	4.20	4.40	4.40	4.30	4.40	4.40	4.40	4.40	4.30	4.35
Sauternes 1997 Château d'Yquem	4.00	4.20	4.45	4.50	4.60	4.50	4.20	4.30	4.70	4.20	4.20	4.50

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La Grande Années