Parker-Kelley 91 Punkte: Disgorged six months ago, the latest rendition of the NV Brut Special Cuvée was bottled in 2015, and while its core derives from the 2014 vintage, it contains fully 60% reserve wines. The wine wafts from the glass with a classic bouquet of apples, pear, walnut oil and clear honey, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate that's broad-shouldered and Pinot Noir-driven, with a pinpoint mousse, nice tension at the core and a delicately chalky finish. Gilles Descotes commented that one of his biggest challenges is finding enough wine raised in wood to make the Special Cuvée in years where Grandé Année is produced—and to that end, Bollinger is significantly expanding its barrel program to ferment even more base wine in used oak. Issue Date 30th Apr 2019

Wine Spectator 92 Punkte: Bright, almost crunchy acidity and the finely detailed mousse carry an expressive mix of poached apricot and cherry fruit, toast point, orange peel and ground ginger flavors in this firm, focused Champagne, with a graphite-laced, minerally finish. Drink now through 2022. 12,000 cases imported.  –AN

James Suckling 92 Punkte: Fine bubbles combine nicely with the cooked apples, pie crust and lemon rind. Some biscuit, too. Full body. Layered and creamy with a crisp finish. Always delicious. Drink now. Issue Date 02.09.2019