The Singapore branch of Tokyo-based fine wine importer Enoteca has entered into a long-term agreement with champagne house Bollinger to distribute its bubblies in the Singapore market as of 1 July 2016.
Family-owned since 1829 and based in the village of Aÿ – which is part of Épernay – in the heart of the Champagne region, Champagne Bollinger owns some 400 acres of primarily Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards in the Champagne region, including some 97 hectares of Pinot Noir and another 38 hectares of Chardonnay. Unlike many other Champagne houses which predominantly buy most of their grapes from growers, Bollinger’s vineyards supply around 60% of their winemaking needs. Pinot Noir is the dominant grape and provides the backbone in all Bollinger expressions.
Interestingly Bollinger lets its vintage crus undergo primary fermentation in oak barrels – Krug is the only other Champagne house that does that – sourced from Burgundy’s Domaine Chanson which is also owned by the Bollinger family. As wine aficionados know, Burgundy is also best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and so the used oak barrels from Domaine Chanson is perfect for aging the still wine before assemblage. After secondary fermentation and lees aging in the bottle, its vintage cuvées are also hand riddled – as opposed to the time- and labour-saving use of gyropalettes – and later also undergo disgorgement (removal of yeast sediment) by hand.
You may have seen Champagne Bollinger in the movies of suave fictional British secret service agent, James Bond. In fact the relationship between Champagne Bollinger and Ian Fleming’s iconic film series go way back to 1956 with ‘Diamonds are Forever’, and became its exclusive champagne in 1979 with ‘Moonraker’.
“It is a great honour and a privilege to enter into thise partnership with Bollinger, an icon in Champagne and truly one of the world’s most prestigious brands,” says Adeline Goh, general manager of Enoteca Singapore. Bollinger expressions carried by Enoteca include the Bollinger Special Cuvee, the Bollinger Rose, the La Grand Annee, the La Grande Anne Rose, and the Bollinger R.D..
They join Enoteca Singapore’s rather diverse portfolio, with wines from the likes of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Sileni, Grant Burge, Pascal Jolivet, Oliver Leflaive, Castello di Ama, Allegrini, Elvio Cogno, Mas Doix, Freemark Abbey, Byron, Edmeades and Brunier.
