#3 Denis Bunner, Chef de Caves of Champagne Bollinger, and the art of blending Special Cuvée, climate change and crafting outstanding blanc de noirs

Since 1829 Champagne Bollinger has been making great wines with a powerful and aromatically rich fruit profile. The Maison has forged a clear identity with its rich pinot noir driven style earning a legion of fans from James Bond to the British Royal Family. While many Maisons chose long ago to undertake stainless steel vinification, the Maison decided overwhelmingly to use oak. This combined with the chalky typicity of Bollinger’s terroir – namely in Aӱ, Verzenay and Cuis - produces a unique and recognisable style. Today, I’m talking to Bollinger’s chef de caves, Denis Bunner. He talks to us about the complexity of their flagship, Special Cuvée, what they are doing to manage the effects of climate change, and what it takes to craft an outstanding blanc de noirs.