Bollinger 'La Cote Aux Enfants' Coteaux Champenois 2013

The Champagne region is known for our beautiful Sparkling Wines; yet, a handful of producers makes some Red Wines which are rarely exported, so this is a rare find. Bollinger sourced the grapes from that superb wine from their own parcels in the village of Ay, on a monopoly vineyard of 4 hectares, produced only in outstanding years, and aged for eight months in small oak barrels. ‘La Cote aux Enfants’ is a wine destined to connoisseurs & amateurs of Great Red Burgundies. This wine is surprisingly concentrated and powerful. To fully appreciate its unique style, bouquet and aromas, La Cote aux Enfants is best served at 16C. They are traditionally bottled using the same format then their sparkling counterpart, even with the same cork, yet it is indeed a still Red Wine. The distinctive terroir characteristics are clearly present and its bouquet of bright fruit is complemented by spicy, woody notes. The fruitiness bursts forth, giving way to a rich mouth feel with a beautiful tannic structure and a tautness giving it a beautifully long finish with a final note of cherry and kirsch. Robert Parker: 91Pts