Astonishingly rare, these vines are not only exceptionally old, having passed their century with a very fine flourish some time ago, but are also exceptionally rare in that they pre-date phylloxera and are completely ungrafted. The essence of venerable and mature Pinot Noir, with a savoury depth seldom encountered in Champagne.

The 2000 Brut Blanc de Noirs Vieilles Vignes Francaises emerges from the glass with an elegant, refined mousse that is captivating. Sweet, perfumed and layered, the 2000 VVF shows off superb grace and a long, vibrant finish. This is an especially elegant and understated version of this Champagne. Bollinger’s VVF is one of Champagne’s rarest and most iconic wines. Just a few thousand bottles are made each year from Pinot Noir grafted onto pre-phylloxera rootstocks in Ay and Bouzy. This bottle was disgorged in July, 2009.  The wines are aged in neutral oak barrels, while all of the reserve wines are aged in magnums, a painstaking procedure that must be seen to be truly appreciated.