97 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 Points Wine Spectator | 95 Points Essi Avellan | 94 Points Vinous
Bollinger La Côte aux Enfants Champagne 2015 is an extraordinary, single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs that represents one of the rarest and most distinctive expressions of Pinot Noir in Champagne. Produced exclusively from 100% Grand Cru Pinot Noir grown on the legendary La Côte aux Enfants vineyard in Aÿ, this exceptional vintage Champagne captures the remarkable depth, precision, and mineral character of one of the region's most celebrated terroirs.
The historic vineyard was assembled by Jacques Bollinger between 1926 and 1934, reflecting his vision of producing extraordinary Pinot Noir from this prestigious site. While the south-facing slopes are traditionally associated with Bollinger's celebrated still red wine, the Champagne comes from the cooler, northwest-facing section of the vineyard, where chalk-rich soils contribute remarkable freshness, tension, and elegance.
The 2015 vintage was marked by a warm, dry growing season that produced beautifully concentrated grapes. Despite the vintage's natural richness, La Côte aux Enfants 2015 displays extraordinary vibrancy and precision, demonstrating the distinctive influence of its exceptional terroir.
The bouquet is intensely expressive, opening with aromas of bergamot, lemon, clementine, and orange blossom, followed by ripe quince, Mirabelle plum, and candied citrus. Subtle notes of dried fruits, toasted almonds, and delicate pastry add complexity, while an underlying chalky minerality provides remarkable aromatic freshness.
On the palate, this Champagne is powerful yet beautifully sculpted, revealing concentrated flavors of ripe orchard fruits, red grapefruit, baked white cherry, and citrus zest. A fine, satiny mousse complements its sophisticated structure, while vibrant acidity and pronounced saline minerality bring remarkable energy and focus. The finish is exceptionally long, precise, and mouthwatering, with lingering notes of roasted nuts, citrus peel, and crushed chalk.
Produced in extremely limited quantities, Bollinger La Côte aux Enfants 2015 is a remarkable Champagne for collectors and enthusiasts seeking an authentic expression of Grand Cru Pinot Noir. Its concentration, structure, and exceptional freshness promise outstanding aging potential.
Food Pairings: An exceptional companion to lobster with ginger butter, roasted poultry with preserved lemon, grilled scallops, roasted asparagus, and aged goat cheese. Its remarkable depth and mineral precision also make it a sophisticated Champagne to enjoy on its own.
Professional Ratings & Reviews
97 Points — Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Bollinger’s 2015 Blanc de Noirs La Côte aux Enfants, disgorged in February 2025 with a dosage of four grams per liter, stands as the most harmonious iteration to date—a conclusion reaffirmed during a retrospective tasting that included every vintage produced from the vineyard’s northwest-facing slope, which boasts a steep 39% gradient and shallow soils that have been cultivated according to organic practices since 2009. Harvested at 11.2% potential alcohol, with meticulous selection to exclude herbaceous elements—a refinement made possible through vinification in small barrels rather than large tanks—the wine opens with a flamboyant bouquet evocative of red grapefruit zest, pear, red plum, mango and pastry notes. On the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated, with a vibrant core of fruit supported by racy acidity and ample chalky extract. The finish is long, saline and resonant, marked by Pinot Noir phenolics that just amplify its mineral signature. Denis Bunner notes that sugar accumulation occurred rapidly in this vintage, outpacing aromatic development, yet the decision to delay harvest proved fortuitous—and I wholeheartedly concur. This is an extroverted, characterful expression that aligns beautifully with Bollinger’s house style, and while it can be drunk with considerable satisfaction in the near term, it promises a broad window of enjoyment.
97 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Sourced from two hectares in Aÿ, this is the third release of La Côte Aux Enfants Brut, following 2012 and 2014. The 2015 Champagne Blanc De Noirs La Côte Aux Enfants Brut is medium to full-bodied, with fantastic purity, and offers more verticality than La Grande Année of the same vintage. It reveals fabulous, compact, and pure notes of black raspberry, smoky wet stones, frangipane, and fresh flowers. The mousse is refined and elegant, with lasting notes of black cherry liqueur lasting through a long finish. While it is fabulous now, those seeking more decadence will need to be patient as it fleshes out. Disgorged in February of 2025.
96 Points — Wine Spectator
A statuesque Champagne, with crystal-cut acidity providing fine definition to flavors of baked white cherry and cassis, lime peel, and roasted almond, with accents of ground anise, pickled ginger and raisin bread toast. Long and mouthwatering, with a fine, satiny mousse, plus a streak of salinity creating a refreshing tang on the finish. Disgorged February 2025.
94 Points — Vinous
The 2015 Blanc de Noirs La Côte aux Enfants is tropical, rich and super-expressive right out of the gate. The Côte aux Enfants offers a decidedly mineral-drenched, racy expression of Pinot Noir, with tons of salinity and bracing vibrancy to match. The imprint of site is so strong, so compelling. Low dosage of 4 grams per liter accents the wine's energy to the maximum. The 2015 was disgorged in February 2025, so readers should plan on being at least a little bit patient. It's another very fine offering from the team at Bollinger. April 2025
Wine Details
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Producer: Champagne Bollinger
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Wine: La Côte aux Enfants Champagne
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Vintage: 2015
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Country: France
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Region: Champagne
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Appellation: Champagne AOC
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Village: Aÿ, Grand Cru
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Vineyard: La Côte aux Enfants, northwest-facing slope
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Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
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Style: Vintage Blanc de Noirs Champagne
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Classification: Grand Cru
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Vineyard Type: Single-vineyard monopole
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Soil: Chalk-rich limestone
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Color: Saffron yellow
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Dosage: 4 g/L (Extra Brut)
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Aging: Extended cellar maturation under natural cork, more than twice the appellation minimum
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Disgorgement: February 2025
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Alcohol: 12.5% ABV
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Bottle Size: 750ml
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Serving Temperature: 46–50°F (8–10°C)
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Cellaring Potential: Excellent; suitable for extended aging
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