Bollinger PN AYC21 Champagne Launch
Bollinger PN AYC21 Champagne Launch | A New Expression of Pinot Noir
When Champagne Bollinger releases a new edition of its PN series, it's always something worth paying attention to. Rather than producing the same cuvée year after year, the PN collection is designed to explore the many personalities of Pinot Noir across different villages and vintages, with every release telling a slightly different story.
We were fortunate enough to attend the UK launch of the new Bollinger PN AYC21 at JUL's in St James's, London, where Bollinger introduced the latest edition alongside a carefully curated lunch designed to showcase exactly what this remarkable Champagne can do at the table.
The House of Champagne Bollinger
Founded in 1829 in the Grand Cru village of Aÿ, Bollinger has long been recognised as one of Champagne's most distinctive houses. While many producers strive for lightness and delicacy, Bollinger has built its reputation on wines with depth, structure and remarkable ageing potential.
Pinot Noir sits at the heart of the Bollinger style. The house owns an exceptional collection of vineyards, many of them Grand Cru and Premier Cru, allowing it to produce Champagnes with richness, power and precision. Traditional oak fermentation for many of its wines and one of Champagne's largest collections of reserve wines stored in magnum further contribute to the unmistakable Bollinger character.
What is the Bollinger PN Series?
The PN Series isn't intended to replace Special Cuvée. Instead, it gives Bollinger's winemaking team the opportunity to focus entirely on 100% Pinot Noir, highlighting how one grape variety can express itself differently depending on the village, vintage and reserve wines selected.
Each release takes its name from:
- PN – Pinot Noir
- The principal cru featured in the blend
- The base vintage
Previous editions have explored villages including Verzenay (VZ) and Tauxières (TX), while this latest release returns to one of Bollinger's spiritual homes, Aÿ.
Rather than creating a single-vintage Champagne, Bollinger combines a dominant base year with carefully selected reserve wines from older vintages. This approach creates consistency while allowing every edition to have its own unique personality.
Introducing PN AYC21 Champagne
The seventh edition of the collection, PN AYC21, places the spotlight firmly on the celebrated Grand Cru village of Aÿ.
The blend is built around the 2021 vintage, with Aÿ providing the majority of the fruit, supported by Pinot Noir from Tauxières and Mutigny. The final wine consists of 51% wines from the 2021 harvest and 49% reserve wines, including mature reserve wines from Bollinger's famous magnum collection dating back to 2012, 2013 and 2014, alongside more recent reserves.
The 2021 growing season couldn't have been more different from the warm and generous 2020 vintage. Spring frosts, mildew and difficult harvest conditions significantly reduced yields across Champagne. Rather than producing a vintage Champagne, Bollinger chose to use the year as the foundation for PN AYC21, creating what many consider one of the most characterful expressions of the vintage.
Tasting Notes
PN AYC21 is unmistakably Bollinger from the first pour.
The nose opens with aromas of ripe yellow orchard fruits including quince and mirabelle plum, followed by layers of toasted brioche, roasted almonds and hazelnuts. Gentle floral notes, acacia honey and delicate pastry aromas continue to develop in the glass.
On the palate, the wine is generous and beautifully textured. Ripe fruit is balanced by fresh citrus acidity, while subtle spice, toasted nuts and creamy pastry notes build towards a long, elegant finish. Despite its richness, the wine remains wonderfully poised and incredibly drinkable.
Food Pairing
One of the real highlights of the launch was experiencing PN AYC21 alongside food, demonstrating just how versatile this Champagne can be.
Its richness and structure make it particularly well suited to dishes that many people wouldn't immediately associate with Champagne.
Some of our favourite pairings include:
- Pan-seared scallops with browned butter and citrus
- Roast turbot with beurre blanc
- Corn-fed chicken with toasted almonds
- Lobster in a creamy butter sauce
- Roast guinea fowl
- Comté or aged Gruyère
- Apricot tart with almond frangipane
The balance between ripe fruit, freshness and Bollinger's signature texture allows the wine to complement rich dishes without overpowering them.
Carls Thoughts on Bollinger PN AYC21
“For me, PN AYC21 feels like a return to classic Bollinger. It has the richness and generosity that people expect from the house, but there's also a freshness running through it that keeps everything beautifully balanced. It's a Champagne that makes you slow down and pay attention without ever feeling heavy or overworked.
One thing that really stood out during the launch was how well it worked with food. We often talk about Champagne as something to enjoy before dinner, but this is a wine I'd happily have on the table throughout a meal. It has enough body to stand up to richer dishes while still keeping that lively, elegant finish.
If you've enjoyed previous PN releases, I think you'll appreciate what Bollinger has done here. If you haven't tried the series before, AYC21 is a brilliant place to start.”
Learn more about Bollinger and the PN Series here.