3 | Wine | 2002 | Page 2

"A golden yellow straw-like color, bright and full of intensity with attractive lingering bubbles. A finne nose with enticing notes of fresh honey, candied grapefruit and lime. On the palate a dominating fruitiness with light biscuit character. A full and long texture displaying freshness and vinosity. The wine is balanced with remarkable harmony. An amazingly pure champagne."

"Bright, expressive aromas of redcurrant, wild strawberry, white flowers and Asian spices, with a chalky undertone. Deeper cherry, licorice and subtle smoky qualities join the nervy red fruits on the velvety palate. Puts on weight with air, finishing with solid grip and lingering smoke and floral notes. This could still use some bottle age but there's enough complexity for guilt-free drinking now."

"Aromatic notes of pain d'épices wind through this harmonious Champagne, blending with notes of patisserie pear, coconut, quince paste and candied orange peel. The flavor profile threads through the precise, lacy texture, and the wine is enlivened by vibrant acidity that leaves a mouthwatering impression on the finish."

"It has an incredibly intense nose, much more linear and focused than the more flamboyant 2000, with scents of dark cherry, creme de cassis and a touch of honey and melted dark chocolate. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight grainy texture on the entry, a hint of cooked meat inflecting the layers of toasty dark berry fruit. It is very harmonious and perhaps at this juncture, edgier and grittier than the millennial Unico."

"A finely textured Champagne, fresh and lively but enriched by hints of beeswax and spun honey that accent flavors of white raspberry, tangerine, apple tarte Tatin, almond and ground ginger. Offers a clean, mineral-tinged finish."

"A more delicate Champagne, whose fine integration and refined texture cloak underlying intensity. This offers lovely, layered flavors of almond, quince tart, white peach, honey and spice, with a smoky mineral quality throughout and a long, vibrant finish."

"Vinous, with an elegant bead and pure notes of black cherry, violet, licorice strings, cherry pit and candied orange zest. A lightly tactile mouthfeel adds to the well-knit structure of this mouthwatering Champagne."

"Bollinger’s 2002 Brut Vieilles Vignes Francaises isn’t really Champagne, nor is it a wine. Rather it is an extraordinary and frankly addicting concoction all its own. Endowed with the most refined mousse imaginable and endless layers of fruit, the 2002 VVF captivates both the hedonistic and intellectual senses to the fullest. Waves of subtle red fruit, smoke, mint and incense appear to be virtually endless, but at the same time, it is the wine’s textural richness that stands out the most. With time in the glass the 2002 just gets better and better. Readers fortunate to have the discretionary income needed to purchase the 2002 VVF should not hesitate. It is a once in a lifetime treat for most mortals!"