Bollinger 'Vieilles Vignes Francaises' Champagne 2010

In the early 20th century, the vines of Champagne were destroyed by phylloxera. In order to fight the devastating insect, everything had to be replanted using American rootstock. Everything, except two Bollinger plots in Ay classified as Grand cru which remained untouched: Chaudes Terres and Clos St Jacques. To this day, these two plots are grown the traditional way, following the ‘provignage’ method, worked by hand and even sometimes with the help of a cart-horse. Bollinger ‘Vieilles Vignes Francaises’ (‘French Old Vines’) is a symbol of a bygone era: an extraordinary and moving legacy. Only about 3,000 bottles are produced on the best years.


Madame Lily Bollinger first had this wine produced in 1969 as an anniversary cuvee to commemorate her 70th birthday. Following the wine’s launch in 1974, Vieilles Vignes Françaises promptly became a collectible and a symbol of a bygone era. Over the decades, its uniqueness and scarcity have made it one of the most sought-after and expensive Champagnes. Only 1,416 bottles was produced in 2010, the smallest production ever.