Bolle Grand Reserve Blanc De Blancs

The flagship — brioche and apricot over a creamy mousse; four thousand bottles exist. Most houses take the alcohol out of wine and stop. Bolle starts there — a second fermentation, so the bubbles are born in the bottle; then French oak; then patient months on the lees. That patience is why they entered the house. The Grand Reserve is the fullest expression of the house. Brioche and toasted warmth over ripe apricot, carried on a fine, creamy mousse — the body that only a long second fermentation and its months on the lees can build. Four thousand bottles exist. We took ours. The flagship, in full voice. Where the Chardonnay Reserve is the quieter sibling, this is the celebration. We do not score. We read. The Reading is how the house locates this bottle — four axes, written on the four petals of the mark. The Wine Reading™ NOSE brioche ARC building WEIGHT creamy STAY reserve-long One to four petals, quiet to pronounced. A Reading is a location, not a grade. The Glass — the handblown Stem Zero Champagne. The tall bowl holds the bead in view, and the crystal holds nothing back. Serve — 45–50°F, well chilled.