About this wine:
Since 1829, Bollinger has been producing great Champagnes with a powerful, sophisticated and complex style.  In 2006, the prestigious French wine magazine La Revue du Vin de France surveyed the most significant group of sommeliers and wine writers to help select the top 50 Champagne Houses. This would be regarded as the flag-bearer for the greatness of Champagne as a unique wine region. Bollinger was selected as the Number #1 House by this group. 

With 399 acres of vineyards situated in the best Grands Crus and Premiers Crus villages, Bollinger relies on its own estate for nearly two-thirds of its grape requirements, including the Pinot Noir that gives its Champagne its distinctive roundness and elegance.

Notes from the Winemaker:
The denomination Special Cuvee was created in 1911. The idea came from William Folks, then partner of the illustrious London House of Mentzendorff. This great wine lover felt it was an insult to simply call this great wine "non vintage". The suggestion of naming it "Special Cuvee" was immediately approved by Monsieur Bollinger.

A blend par excellence, the Special Cuvee is the purest expression of the Bollinger style; of its craftsmanship and its singular conception of what a champagne should be. It is, therefore, on this wine that the House of Bollinger shows how it is different from other Champagne Houses, asserts its qualitative policy and by which it asks to be judged.

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
“If it’s good enough for James Bond, it’s good enough for you. Bollinger Champagne has made a number of cameos in James Bond films over the year. This non-vintage Special Cuvée is an example of a classic Champagne done well. Notes of marzipan on the nose and the palate give toastiness and leesy notes, specifically sourdough. It’s classic for a reason and would only elevate any table it finds itself on. – Brianne Cohen (Dec 2022)

93 Points - James Suckling:
"Lovely density and a fine-bubble texture. Dried apple and apricot with hints of dried flowers. Medium to full body. with medium-rich fruit. Spice, zest and ginger character. Usually 10% in barrel. 60% pinot noir, 25% chardonnay and 15% pinot meunier. About 40% reserve wine kept in magnums. Always really well done. Drink now. (July 2023)

93 Points - Allen Meadows' BurgHound:
"Restrained and very pretty aromas include those of yeast, Meyer lemon, petrol and green apple where the latter element is picked up by the utterly delicious, vibrant and detailed flavors that possess fine complexity on the agreeably dry but not austere finish. The supporting mousse is dense but fine and overall, this is a wine that could be enjoyed now or held for up to a decade. Excellent." (Jan 2022)

93 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Fine and seamless, with mouthwatering acidity well-meshed with a rich range of crème de cassis, poached apricot, gingerbread and almond extract flavors, plus accents of fleur de sel, Meyer lemon peel and star anise. Long and lively on the creamy finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier." – AN (Nov 2024)

92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The NV Champagne Special Cuvée is 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and a small amount of Meunier, with the base wine coming from the 2018 vintage and 15% from reserve. Light golden in color, the nose is vinous and forward, with ripe and opulent fruit, offering notes of yellow flowers, orange zest, redcurrants, toast, and broth. The palate is ripe with red plum and displays a chalky texture with a fine mousse. Classic and balanced, this is a great entry wine for the range with its balance of power and finesse. Drink now and over the following 10-15 years." (Nov 2022)

92 Points - Wine Advocate:
"Like its rosé counterpart, the latest release of Bollinger's NV Brut Special Cuvée is showing especially well, bursting from the glass with aromas of honeyed apples, crisp stone fruit, buttery pastry, ripe lemons and fresh walnuts. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and vinous, with a deep core of beautifully ripe fruit, racy acids and a pillowy mousse, it's a charming, characterful wine that proves that Special Cuvée is firmly back where it belongs." - William Kelley (Aug 2022)

Notes from the Winemaker: 
The Essentiel collection comprises champagnes whose complexity and profile meet the strict demands of fine cuisine and the most exacting of wine enthusiasts to extend the ageing period and use Extra Brut dosage are the intended consequences. Essentiel Extra Brut is a multi-vintage cuvée featuring a blend of 3 varieties. Its magnificent structure, balance and freshness ensure that this Extra Brut represents the iconic style of the House.

Dry farming Harvest: Hand-harvested at full maturity

House Vineyards
Terroir: More than 50 crus
Certifications: Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne & High Environmental Value level 3
Soil maintenance: Mechanically weeded under rows with natural grass between vineyard rows Zero herbicide
Biodiversity: Hedges of native species, beehives close to the vineyards, flowered fallow fields

Partners Winegrowers
Long-standing partnerships with winegrowers throughout Champagne (more than 240 partners)

Grape Varieties: 45% Pinot Noir, 36% Meunier, 19% Chardonnay
Dosage: Extra-Brut (5g/L)
Alcohol content: 12% vol

Tasting Notes: 

Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel boasts a precise, accomplished and balanced profile. The nose delivers initial notes of plum, brioche, grapefruit and stewed quince, developing towards aromas of acacia honey and grilled nuts.

"Essentiel reveals a complex, rich aromatic nose. Its precision and excellent balance make for perfect pairing with fine cuisine."
- Emilien Boutillat, Chief Winemaker

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Piper-Heidsieck's premium non-vintage cuvée receives a stunning boost in a longer-aged magnum release, making it a terrific value cuvée that can give a few prestige cuvées a run for their money. Based on the 2013 vintage, it's full of the year's bright intensity in charry roasted limes and grapefruit marmalade, generous with fragrant raspberry and toasted nuts and fleshed out beautifully by almost four years of ageing post-disgorgement. Smooth, long and polished, there's not a hair out of place here." - TH (Oct 2024)

92+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"A brilliant pale yellow hue, the NV Champagne Essentiel Extra Brut is fresh and inviting, with a rounded and floral profile, offering pure notes of orange blossoms, fresh brioche, and fresh peach, It reveals a pure, ripe character on the palate, with a rounded mouthfeel, a pillowy mousse, balanced notes of grapefruit citrus, and a touch of warmth from the vintage. A very attractive wine, it will certainly have the potential to age over the coming 10 years." (Nov 2023)

92 Points - James Suckling:
"Very nutty and buttery, this focuses more on spices than fruit, showing tarte tatin aromas, cotton candy, roasted nuts and candied lemons. Light-bodied with fine bubbles, it has a slightly phenolic yet fresh palate, if not zesty and balanced. Drink now." (Jul 2025)

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
“Blending the three principal Champagne varieties, this Champagne has a fine touch of 
cashew-nut maturity. The aroma brings out that nuttiness, while to taste the wine has rounded the corner and revealed maturity.” - RV (Dec 2024)

92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"There’s a broad-shouldered, structured feel, yet this refreshing Champagne is sleek and well-meshed overall, integrating a firm spin of citrusy acidity with flavors of black currant and cherry fruit, lemon curd and brioche. Lightly spiced and creamy through the lingering finish. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Disgorged January 2023. Drink now through 2030." - AN (Dec 2025)

91 Points - Vinous Media:
"The NV Extra Brut Essentiel, a blend of 44% Pinot Noir, 34% Pinot Meunier and 22% Chardonnay with 27% reserve wines, opens with smoky melted butter. This reductive smokiness continues on the palate, where licorice overtones add aromatic highlights. The fine smooth mousse is exemplary, providing a smooth texture to this balanced wine, which is quite a step up from the Cuvée. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. (Lot L2306893072)" - Anne Krebiehl MW (Mar 2024)

The winery has undergone a number of changes of control during the 20th century and in 1985, Rémy Martin Cognac (a.k.a. Rémy-Cointreau) purchased both Champagnes Charles Heidsieck and Piper-Heidsieck(it had purchased Champagne Krug previously). Rémy-Cointreau's first move was to re-hire the brilliant Daniel Thibault in 1986 to be Chef de Caves for Charles Heidsieck. Régis Camus joined Charles Heidsieck as assistant winemaker in 1994 and has been the head winemaker of the House since 2002, since the untimely death of Daniel Thibault. In 2011, the winery was sold to the privately-owned French luxury goods group EPI founded by Christopher Descours (of Ralph Lauren fame).

Notes from the Winemaker:

Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs is a wine with a unique texture that cannot be described in traditional oenological terms. A Champagne that elicits all the senses and particularly that of touch. Throughout this cuvée, two of the House’s areas of expertise come together: the production of great wines and the art of blending a large selection of chardonnay wines from different years and terroirs.

10 crus of Chardonnay, the most sought-after grapes in the region. A majority of grapes from the Côte des Blancs (Oger and Vertus account for 50%), complemented by crus from the Montagne de Reims, the Sézannais and the Aube: Villers-Marmery, Trépail, Vaudemange and Montgueux. Juices exclusively from the first press.

VINIFICATION: Cru by cru, varietal by varietal, in stainless steel vats 10 to 15% of wine vinified in old Burgundy oak barrels

DOSAGE: Appropriate 8 g/l

A velvety effervescence thanks to 25% of reserve wines with an average age of 5 years. Prolonged ageing of between 3 to 4 years in cellars, far beyond the the norms of the region.

BLEND: 100% Chardonnay
CELLARING: Drink now until 2030

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
“Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs gives a Champagne that has a white-fruit  aroma and citrus freshness. At the same time, this bottling is mineral, beautifully textured and lightly yeasty.” - Roger Voss (December 2024)

94 Points - James Suckling:
“Very clean and transparent on the nose with sliced apples, delicate lemon curd and hints of chalk. Zesty. Medium-bodied with plenty of lemons and grapefruit, tangy and bright. Zingy. Electric at the end. 13 percent of the 2020 base wine fermented and aged in barrel. 30% reserve wine. Dosage 7 g/L. Drink now." (Jul 2025)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
“Hints of vanilla, brioche and spun honey enrich flavors of baked white peach and persimmon, lemon curd, and anise in this plush Champagne, honed by vibrant acidity. Mouthwatering and long, with notes of grilled macadamia nut and fragrant spices on the finish. Disgorged 2023. Drink now through 2030. 235 cases imported." – AN (Dec 2025)

92 Points - Wine Advocate: 
"Produced on the foundation of the 2020 harvest and complemented by 30% reserve wines, Charles Heidsieck’s NV Blanc de Blancs (laid in chalk cellars in 2021) was disgorged at the end of 2023 with a dosage of nine grams per liter. The blend draws fruit from the Montagne de Reims and Montgueux (as base wines), the Sézannais and Côte des Blancs and incorporates 10% to 15% barrel-fermented components. The nose evokes nashi pear, candied lemon peel and peach, mingling with pastry, rosemary oil and subtle roasted nuances. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, ample and textural, with a charming fruit core enlivened by bright acidity and carried to a chalk-inflected finish. As demonstrated by its earlier renditions, this cuvée is poised to gain further complexity with a few additional years of post-disgorgement maturation." – KK (Sep 2025)

91 Points - Vinous Media: 
"The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs, a pure Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs Montagne de Reims and Montgueux, spent just over two years on lees. Youthful verve on the nose sprays with ripe Amalfi lemon and an overtone of ozone. The palate is light, bright and sprightly, alive with frothy smooth foam that underlines the wine's youthfulness even more. A perfect apero style with a lip-smacking finish. Dosage is 10 grams per liter. (Lot 230748-3170)" - Anne Krebiehl MW (Mar 2024)

91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck: 
"The NV Champagne Blanc De Blancs Brut reveals a bright yellow hue and is floral and perfumed with aromas of honeysuckle, poached pear, parmesan, and powdery chalk. Medium-framed, it has an elegant and silky texture, a pillowing mousse, a clean and tapered finish. This cuvée was relaunched in 2018, and it has held true to my previous tastings, offering an understated, finessed feel with a good deal of charm. Drink now or over the next 6-8 years. Disgorged 2023.” - Audrey Frick (Dec 2024

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About the Winery: 
Founded by a young English doctor in 1844, they are one of the oldest of New World wines and lay claim to some of the oldest ungrafted Cabernet vines in the world, as Australia's sandy soils repelled the phylloxera bug. Penfolds has indisputably led the development of Australian fine wine in the modern era. The introduction of Penfolds Grange in 1951 forever changed the landscape of Australian fine wine. Since then, a series of standout wines, both white and red, have been released under the Penfolds masthead. Under the direction of master winemaker, Peter Gago, Penfolds is now found in every major wine market in the world. Extraordinary wines such as Block 42 and Bin 60A have also been released during his tenure. Penfolds wines are now widely celebrated for their diversity and quality across many price-points. The strength of Penfolds is that the wine comes first. Penfolds' range of table wines is utterly Australian, evoking a generosity of spirit and the beauty of the Australian landscape.

Notes From the Winemaker:
Bin 389 was often referred to as ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960 by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped forge Penfolds reputation with red wine drinkers by combining the structure of cabernet sauvignon with the richness of shiraz. Exemplifying the judicious balance of fruit and oak, Bin 389 highlights the generous mid-palate Penfolds in known for.

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About this Wine:
In 1972, Ridge made its first Lytton Springs from vines planted on the eastern half of the vineyard at the turn of the century. Both the eastern and western portions of the vineyard were purchased in the early 1990s, (In the 1870s, under “Captain” William Litton’s ownership, the two were part of one property; the spelling evolved to “Lytton” by 1903.) The vineyard is planted to zinfandel and its principal complementary varieties.

Tasting Notes:
Nose of raspberry, pepper, licorice and a hint of vanilla. Black cherry and plum on the palate with supple tannins, minerality and present acidity. Long, layered finish with notes of garrigue and black tea. SR (7/25)

Vintage:
A cold, rainy winter and a cool summer pushed the growing season back, slowing ripening. Harvest began on September 23 and finished on October 24. The twenty-eight parcels that produced the most typical Lytton Springs were combined and racked to barrel. Fine tannins, moderate ripeness and focused fruit are hallmarks of the vintage. This elegant wine is enjoyable now, and has the structure to evolve over the next ten years. SR (12/24)

76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro

Winemaking:

Ratings & Reviews

98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Blending 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro from an estate vineyard in Dry Creek Valley purchased in 1972, the 2023 Zinfandel Lytton Springs exhibits initial chewiness that leads to fine tannins, with a good heft and underlying acidity. Well-woven oak supports a moderately ripe, medium-bodied frame of structured elegance, aged in 100% air-dried American oak. Enjoy now through 2033." - Virginia Boone (Apr 2025)

96 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"A much cooler growing season delayed the start of harvest by about a month, resulting in a wine with greater restraint than the previous vintage. The 2023 is a more elegant take on this wine, with less fruit intensity, but still unmistakably Ridge. Fresh aromas of herbs from a bouquet garni mix with earthy tones and subtle sweet notes from baking spices. The fruit profile oscillates between ripe red and black berries, with a touch of plums and ripe cherries. Tannins are firm yet polished, and there's a soft creaminess to the palate. A wine that is balanced and quite enjoyable now, with many years to evolve in the bottle." - Ana Carolina Quintela (Apr 2025)

95 Points & #3 Top 100 Wines for 2025 - Wine Spectator:
"Deeply structured and full of tension, this polished red displays a distinctive personality, offering bold blackberry flavors accented with savory anise, black pepper and dark Asian spices. Ends with big but refined tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro. Drink now through 2035." - Tim Fish (Aug 2025)

95 Points & #71 Top 100 US Wines for 2025 - James Suckling:
"A lovely release with lots of freshness from a cooler vintage. Bright and perfumed aromas of red cherries, raspberry coulis, confit plums, licorice and spice. The palate is full-bodied with finely tuned tannins and vibrant, crunchy acidity. Made from 76% zinfandel, 14% petite sirah, 7% carignan, 2% alicante bouschet and 1% mataro. Drink or hold." (May 2025)

95 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2023 Lytton Springs is powerfully aromatic and expressive from the jump. It explodes from the glass with dark blue fruit, lavender and blood orange peel, framed by mocha-like richness and a wave of exotic spice. The texture is pure silk, wrapping the palate with seamless contours and lifted freshness courtesy of the cool growing season. A blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro, the 2023 shows remarkable persistence and poise. If you know Lytton, you know these wines can age for decades—this one is clearly built for the long haul." - Billy Norris (Oct 2025)

94 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2023 Lytton Springs is a blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro that matured for 16 months in 19% new air-dried American oak. It’s especially elegant and expressive this year, offering pure aromas of black cherry, blueberry, damp earth, sage, violet and cast iron. The full-bodied palate features concentrated, fragrant flavors. It’s framed by fine, chalky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long finish replete with soaring floral perfume. It should be long lived in the cellar." - Erin Brooks (Sep 2025)

Notes from the Winemaker:
This Aged Tawny Port is a blend of older wines, which offer complexity and younger wines, which bring fresh fruit flavors and vibrancy. During their long maturing period in oak casks, Aged Tawnies undergo subtle color changes: the deep red hue which characterizes Port's youth gradually gives way to a paler golden amber color. Graham's is known for its rich, elegant house style. This 20 Year has an intense, nutty bouquet, the classic Graham's richness and a concentrated, lingering finish. Many consider the 20 Year to be the perfect blend of complexity and vibrant fruit when it comes to Aged Tawny.

Tasting Notes:
Really vibrant masses of honey, butterscotch and creme brulee flavors. Medium-bodied, very fresh, long honey and orange peel finish.

Serving and pairing suggestions:
Graham's 20 Year is bottled ready to drink after an average of at least 20 years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for four to six months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Graham's 20 Year is delicious when paired with milk chocolate, creme brulee or fruit tarts. In warmer months, try it chilled for a refreshing dessert in a glass.

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - James Suckling:
"Attractive dried fruit like dried persimmons and peach skins with lots of toffee and spices. It’s sweet but crunchy with dried orange and orange liquor character, with hints of saffron and turmeric. Long, spicy and floral finish." (Apr 2023)

93 Points, #57 Top 100 Wines of 2025 - Wine Spectator:
"A complex and full-bore tawny, with deep, intense flavors of orange cream, glazed apricot, baked peach and roasted pineapple that are balanced by concentrated chocolate and toffee notes. The bright finish is filled with spice and supported by fresh acidity. Drink now.“ - JM (Feb 2025)

93 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"A refreshing bite to the fruit balances the intense lusciousness of the weighty mid-palate, full of honeyed almonds, walnuts, preserved cherry and plum. The crunchiness provides at once lift and structure to the palate, with zesty tannic grip. Savoury lining of dried sage, tarragon and mint." - Ines Salpico (Oct 2024)

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About the Vintage:

We are delighted with an interesting 2023 vintage! Even though we have experienced a challenging growing season with alternating warm and cool periods with some rain, we have had a fantastic harvest season with the best possible weather conditions for ripening. After a midsummery June and July, followed by high rainfall at the beginning of August, the grapes were able to benefit and ripen for a long time from the optimal conditions with plenty of sunshine. Harvest began late in early September with ideal weather conditions which were only replaced by more unstable weather towards the end. Warm daytime temperatures and cool nights allowed the grapes to reach optimum ripeness with balanced acidity levels and clear fruit, and good structure.

About the Vineyard:

Steep slopes with southeast and southwest orientation between 250 and 600m. An interplay of brisk mountain and warmer mid-level vineyards. Calcareous soils with clay, sand and porphyric parts. Handpicked with the utmost care.

Vinification:

After harvest, the grapes are carefully crushed and pressed. The fresh must is statically clarified at low temperatures and then gently fermented at a controlled temperature of 20°C in steel tanks. The young wine matures in steel tanks for several months on its fine lees.

Appellation: Alto Adige DOC
Residual sugar: 1,9 g/L
Alcohol: 13,00 % Vol.
Aging: 3-4 years
Total acidity: 5,8 g/L
Harvest: Entirely handpicked

Tasting Notes:

Our Pinot Grigio captivates with light straw yellow and fruity notes of ripe pears, white pepper and a bit of sage in the nose. Mineral- salty richness and a crisp acidity are distinctive on the palate. A wine with backbone!

91 Points, #33 Top 100 Of 2024 & Smart Buy - Wine Spectator
"Elegant, with an appealing, creamy nappe to the texture as it carries notes of ripe pear, peach skin, blood orange peel, green almond and orchard blossoms. A tangy streak of salinity and lively acidity focus and refresh the finely woven flavors and nicely spicy finish. Drink now through 2029. 8,400 cases made." - Alison Napjus (Oct 2024)

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Opening with the fresh aromas of cut apple, pear and a hint of green fig skin, this Pinot Grigio reveals a round and satisfying palate. A touch of cheesiness adds an intriguing layer of depth and umami, balancing the fruit with a savory edge. The finish is rounded, with notes of bitter almond and a subtle green undertone that perks up the senses." - Jeff Porter (Dec 2024)

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