Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr’s latest syndicated wine column, which first appeared in The South Florida Reporter, emphasized the spike in Champagne sales following the Presidential election results. Further, they’ve shared their top picks for luxury bottles to “celebrate life or bring people together” in 2021, including Champagne Bollinger PN VZ15 and Champagne Ayala Rosé Majeur.
The recommendation explains that PN VZ15 is a new addition to Bollinger’s “stellar” lineup designed to showcase a unique expression of Pinot Noir with each release. “It is the little, and less expensive brother of Bollinger’s vaunted Vieilles Vignes Francaises, which is also made entirely of pinot noir.” The piece further explains winemaking details and it is described as “complex and luxurious with cherry and stone fruit notes.”
The piece declares that Champagne Ayala is a House that “deserves discovery.” The duo selected the maison’s Rosé Majeur NV, explaining that it is “blended with some still red wine from the best crus of the Montagne de Reims.” They offer details on its grape breakdown and add that there are “very expressive aromas with raspberry notes and persistent finish.”
Read the full HERE
Related Wines
Champagne Bollinger
Champagne Bollinger PN VZ15
Champagne, France
PN, made entirely from Pinot Noir to underscore the very essence and DNA of the House style, is the first new cuvée added to Bollinger’s permanent range since rosé in 2008. Each release of PN, developed as a series to bring Bollinger’s unique vision of Pinot Noir to light, will showcase a different cru from the base year that highlights its distinctive terroir and taste. The first edition of the series, PN VZ15, explores the interpretation of Pinot Noir from Verzenay 2015 and features reserve wines dating back to 2009.
Champagne Ayala
Champagne Ayala Rosé Majeur NV
Champagne, France
Rosé Majeur is the perfect embodiment of the originality and finesse of the House's wines. Made predominantly from Chardonnay, it is crafted with the addition of a small proportion of still Pinot Noir from the best crus of the Montagne de Reims. A low dosage enables it to express the House style, both feminine and generous, with great elegance.
Related Producers
Champagne Bollinger
Champagne, France
Bollinger is one of the rare Grande Marques that’s still family owned. Known for its rich, elegant and polished style of Champagne, their outstanding wines are the result of rigorous attention to detail and incredibly labor-intensive practices that few houses are willing to undertake. Underscoring its excellence, Bollinger has remained British secret agent James Bond's Champagne of choice since 1973.
Champagne Ayala
Champagne, France
Ayala is one of the most exciting stories in Champagne today, almost the definition of a boutique Champagne producer. Independently owned, a small, young and dynamic team handles every step of production from grape reception to labeling in their jewel of a facility with incredible precision, crafting Chardonnay-focused wines that deliver immense pleasure, freshness, and elegance.