Bollinger R. D. 1981 Champagne, 75cl, 12% ABV

The Bollinger R.D. 1981 Champagne is an incredibly rare, prestige cuvée that epitomizes the house's master-level approach to extended lees aging. Standing for Récemment Dégorgé (Recently Disgorged), the R.D. series takes the house's exceptional Grande Année blend—predominantly Pinot Noir balanced with Chardonnay—and leaves it to age on its yeast sediment for decades before it is finally opened, clarified, and given an Extra Brut (very low sugar) dosage. Despite 1981 being a notoriously small and challenging frost-bitten vintage in Champagne, Bollinger managed to craft a beautifully complex wine. It delivers a brilliant contrast of immense aromatic maturity—featuring rich notes of roasted nuts, dried fruits, honey, and subtle mushroom—while retaining a surprising, vibrant freshness on the palate due to its late disgorgement date in1999.