Champagne Bollinger B16 Extra Brut 2016 750ml

B16 is the second release in Bollinger's "By Bollinger" series, following B13, and it represents a genuinely deliberate departure — both from Bollinger's traditionally powerful house style and from B13's own pure Pinot Noir expression. Chef de Cave Denis Bunner made a bold decision here: rather than leaning on the Maison's classic Aÿ fruit, B16 explores the latest-ripening sectors of the Montagne de Reims, terroirs that had genuinely never before taken center stage in a Bollinger vintage cuvée. The result is a wine built specifically around finesse and precision rather than Bollinger's usual concentrated power.

The 2016 growing season itself tells a real story of contrast — a cold, rainy spring gave way, from August onward, to what Champagne producers call "le miracle": hot, dry, gloriously sunny conditions that allowed the surviving fruit to develop a genuinely unique aromatic profile. The final blend runs 73% Pinot Noir and 27% Chardonnay, entirely from Grands and Premiers Crus vineyards, with Bouzy contributing a remarkable 25% share of the blend and, genuinely notably, no Aÿ fruit at all — a real break from Bollinger's historic home village. Bottled as an Extra Brut, at a low 4 g/L dosage, the wine is vinified in barrel, aged under natural cork, and cellared a full seven-plus years on the lees before hand riddling and disgorgement.

The critical reception has been genuinely remarkable, with a real sweep across five of the wine world's most respected publications. James Suckling awarded 96 Points. Wine Spectator scored the wine 95 Points. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave 94 Points. Vinous, through Antonio Galloni, and Decanter each scored the wine 93 Points. Bollinger's own tasting notes describe the wine as "ethereal and suffused with finesse," offering "a discovery of subtle aromas of white peach and bergamot, opening into notes of ripe fruit and sweet almond." Lyndhurst Wine's independent review captures the broader significance directly: "the Bollinger B16 isn't just another vintage Champagne, it's proof that even Champagne's most powerful house knows when to embrace finesse over force... where B13 roared with concentrated power, B16 whispers with crystalline elegance," calling it "silky, mineral-driven, and completely unforgettable." This is genuinely one of Bollinger's most daring, and most decorated, recent releases — real proof of a house willing to step outside its own signature identity, and be rewarded for it.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Champagne Bollinger B16 Extra Brut is the second cuvée in the "By Bollinger" series, crafted by Chef de Cave Denis Bunner. The blend is 73% Pinot Noir and 27% Chardonnay, sourced entirely from Grands and Premiers Crus vineyards, with Bouzy contributing 25% of the blend and no fruit drawn from Aÿ, Bollinger's traditional home village — a deliberate exploration of the latest-ripening sectors of the Montagne de Reims.

The 2016 growing season began with a cold, rainy spring, before a hot, sunny summer from August onward allowed the surviving fruit to develop a genuinely distinctive aromatic profile. The wine is vinified in barrel and aged under natural cork, cellared more than seven years on the lees, then hand-riddled and disgorged, finished with a dosage of 4 grams per liter (Extra Brut). Bottled at 12.5% ABV, 750ml, as a genuinely limited release.

Critics Reviews

James Suckling — 96 Points: "A sophisticated champagne with extremely refined character and linear phenolics that give it length and class. It's medium-bodied with grapefruit and apples as well as pie crust. Bright acidity at the end."

Wine Spectator — 95 Points

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate — 94 Points

Antonio Galloni, Vinous — 93 Points

Decanter — 93 Points

Champagne Bollinger (official tasting note):
"Ethereal and suffused with finesse; a discovery of subtle aromas of white peach and bergamot, opening into notes of ripe fruit and sweet almond."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Ethereal and finessed, with white peach and bergamot leading, opening into ripe fruit and sweet almond.

Palate
Silky and mineral-driven, with genuine elegance and precision carrying through, reflecting the cooler, later-ripening Montagne de Reims fruit at the heart of the blend.

Finish
Crystalline and refined, closing with lingering purity and freshness — a genuine departure from Bollinger's typically powerful house style.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Langoustine tartare
• Steamed sea bass
• Delicate white fish and seafood
• Light, citrus-forward dishes

Serving Note

Serve at 8-10°C. Can be enjoyed now or cellared further to develop additional complexity.

 sweet almond.

Palate
Silky and mineral-driven, with genuine elegance and precision carrying through, reflecting the cooler, later-ripening Montagne de Reims fruit at the heart of the blend.

Finish
Crystalline and refined, closing with lingering purity and freshness — a genuine departure from Bollinger's typically powerful house style.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Langoustine tartare
• Steamed sea bass
• Delicate white fish and seafood
• Light, citrus-forward dishes

Serving Note

Serve at 8-10°C. Can be enjoyed now or cellared further to develop additional complexity.