HOME ABOUT PORTFOLIO BLOG CONTACT News story December 2019 Champagne Bollinger & Le Grand Tour 2019 saw the launch of the 2008 vintage of Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année and this was the perfect opportunity to celebrate the finest gastronomic pairings with a Grand Tour des Chefs. This epicurean journey in Great Britain started in April at the two Michelin starred restaurant The Ledbury. Head Chef Brett Graham, created his perfect pairings with the spectacular Duchy Estate Helford Oyster and enigmatic Hen of The Wood mushroom. The gourmet voyage continued with a selection of Britain’s finest chefs, bringing their talents together to work on a series of dishes, each focused on a signature ingredient to pair with La Grande Année 2008. In May, Gareth Ward paired the 2008 with Black Cod at the Michelin starred Ynyshir, on the coast of mid-Wales near the Snowdonia National Park. He commented “Bollinger La Grande Année is a serious food wine, which balances perfectly with the sweetness of the cod. The marinade combines sweet and salty flavours, so it needs something with complexity to be able to match. They taste incredible together!” Atul Kochhar, famous for challenging the way people perceive and experience Indian cuisine, created a gorgeously spiced and aromatic Classic Assamese Roast Duck Purahah at Mayfair’s Kanishka in June. “This pairing brings a new depth to our taste buds. As this dish is very fresh and vibrant with complex spice undertones, it perfectly pairs with Bollinger La Grande Année 2008’s spicy, fruity and floral notes. The fresh yet creamy finish of the champagne pairs delightfully with the dish.” In the heart of Lancashire, at renowned luxury hotel with a Michelin star Northcote, Lisa Allen matched La Grande Année with Poulet Egg, Laminated Brioche and Ossetra Caviar. Lisa had the following to say on this culinary coupling “The pairing has been specially chosen to heighten the brioche bread notes from the rich, deep, complex palate that is delivered by the Bollinger La Grande Année 2008. The addition of the ossetra caviar brings a slightly salty, mineral taste that particularly works with the sophisticated effervescence of the wine, dancing over the palate with a creamy saline hint.” Kahani is one of the top Indian restaurants in London, serving dishes inspired by traditional Indian cuisine in a sumptuous fine dining setting. At the helm is Peter Joseph who chose smoked Malabar Prawns – marinated with traditional Malabar spices from Kerala and served with smoked tomato chutney, parsnip crisps and red caviar. Peter said the salinity from the prawns “combines with the sweetness from the coconut, the spices, the citrus and the smokiness from the tandoori clay oven thanks to the charcoal that we use” Into November and Ollie Dabbous of HIDE matched his famous soft-shell crab tempura, Thai basil & peppercorns with La Grande Année 2008. Ollie says: “Champagne goes brilliantly with tempura: crisp textures & taste are a perfect match. A nice dynamic, something so indulgent alongside what is essentially fried food. I could manage a 2nd helping!” Now in December Le Grand Tour has made its way North to Scotland. Last, but by no means least in this journey, comes Tom Kitchin’s The Kitchin in Edinburgh. Tom has chosen Scallops as his hero ingredient to pair with the 2008 vintage of Champagne Bollingers La Grande Année. These hand-dived Orkney scallops were baked in the shell with seasonal vegetables and a white wine, vermouth and herb sauce. Commenting on his pairing Tom said “With 2008 being one of the best most anticipated vintages of the last 25 years we are honoured to be able to offer such a classic champagne by the glass to our guests at The Kitchin. The firm and meaty character of the La Grande Année 2008 works beautifully with the rich white wine and vermouth sauce of the scallops and the high acid and chalky finish contrasts perfectly with the subtle sweetness of the scallops. The dish shows you that champagne can be a serious food wine even with the richer and bolder dishes and doesn’t always have to be confined to an aperitif, especially in vintages such as the 2008.” Archive November 2021 Champagne Bollinger & The Autumn Nation Series November 2021 Port Season is here and it’s time for Taylor’s November 2021 Celebrating International Sherry Week November 2021 Winner of the Ayala SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year Award announced October 2021 Taylor’s Sponsor of The Golden Vines Diversity Scholarships October 2021 Brian Croser Awarded WCA South Australia Legend of The Vine 2021 October 2021 Champagne Bollinger 007 Bar and Limited Edition Campaign September 2021 Mentzendorff Autumn Portfolio Tasting September 2021 New Champagne Releases September 2021 Ayala Wins Gold in the Drinks Business Sparkling Masters 2021 July 2021 Alentejan Cartuxa brand joins the Mentzendorff Portfolio July 2021 Medals galore July 2021 Guy Kennaway wins the 2021 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction June 2021 Hambledon Vineyard celebrates English Wine Week at Van Gough Alive June 2021 We bid farewell to a key member of the Mentzendorff team May 2021 Château La Fleur de Boüard joins the portfolio April 2021 Hambledon’s partnership with The Southern Vipers, and victory for the Red Roses! March 2021 Bollinger R.D. 2007 looks back to its roots February 2021 Mentzendorff, On-Trade Distributor of the Year January 2021 The Global Masters 2020 – Medals Galore! December 2020 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2020 December 2020 The Pig Cut Wines with Tenuta Fertuna November 2020 Taylor’s Very Old Tawny Port – Kingsman Edition October 2020 Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée 007 Limited Edition September 2020 Mentzendorff Wheelers “Everest” for The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Pre-School July 2020 Champagne Bollinger PN VZ15 – Pinot Noir with a Sense of Place July 2020 The Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize 2020 July 2020 Jean-Luc Colombo Rhône wines join the Portfolio June 2020 Akitu Pinot Noir Blanc June 2020 Mentzendorff and Hambledon Vineyards June 2020 20th Anniversary of Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize marked by exciting and eclectic shortlist May 2020 “A pulse-quickening sherry” Matthew Jukes April 2020 The Fladgate Partnership Vintage 2018 April 2020 Spring Snows in the Douro Valley March 2020 Mentzendorff & Coronavirus March 2020 Mentzendorff Announces New Agency Partnerships with Jean-Luc Colombo and Hambledon Vineyards February 2020 Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année & La Grande Année Rosé 2012 February 2020 Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 2015 January 2020 The Delamain Cognac Prize – WSET Awards & Graduation 2020 January 2020 Giro di Toscana Wins The Vintners’ Benevolent Award January 2020 Domaine Chanson and Bourgogne Week 2020 December 2019 Co-op & Taylor’s Port Reforestation Project December 2019 Champagne Bollinger & Le Grand Tour November 2019 Port Season is here and it’s time for Taylor’s October 2019 Champagne Ayala SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year 2019 August 2019 Bodegas Hidalgo – La Gitana and the Carreras de Caballos August 2019 Champagne Bollinger & England Rugby August 2019 Britain’s Most British Bike Race? July 2019 Giro di Toscana Charity Ride Raises £35,000 for The Benevolent June 2019 Maison Saint AIX and the Royal Yacht Squadron Members’ Regatta 2019 June 2019 Impressive Medal Haul for Mentzendorff May 2019 Champagne Bollinger and the World’s Leading Festival of Ideas April 2019 Fladgate Partnership 2017 Vintage Port Declaration April 2019 Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année 2008 March 2019 Mentzendorff tackles sustainability at 2019 Portfolio Tasting February 2019 The Summer of ’69 January 2019 The Delamain Cognac Prize – WSET Awards & Graduation 2019 November 2018 Kilikanoon Awarded International Wine Spirits Competition Australian Wine Producer of the Year November 2018 Delamain; Guardians of Time Honoured Cognacs October 2018 The Ayala SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year September 2018 Mentzendorff Announces a New Agency Partnership with Ceretto September 2018 Taylor’s Port & the 2018 Concours of Elegance August 2018 Champagne Ayala & SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year Award August 2018 Champagne Bollinger and the 2018 Brompton World Championships July 2018 Langlois-Chateau & the 2018 Le Mans Classic June 2018 Royal Ascot – A World Like Nowhere Else June 2018 Trophies & Medals Galore! May 2018 The Madame Bollinger Foundation Celebrates 30 Years with the Institute of Masters of Wine April 2018 The Fladgate Partnership Declaration of the 2016 Vintage April 2018 M.Chapoutier 2017 Sélections Parcellaires March 2018 Champagne Bollinger R.D. 2004 – Bold, Brilliant & Generous March 2018 The Annual Mentzendorff Portfolio Tasting February 2018 Mentzendorff Announces a New Agency Partnership with AIX January 2018 Ciacci Piccolomini D’Aragona – 2013 Brunello di Montalcino December 2017 Domaine Chanson En Primeur 2016 November 2017 Champagne Bollinger & the 2017 Rugby Autumn Internationals November 2017 Mentzendorff Announces New Agency Partnerships With Akitu & Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona October 2017 2016 Turkey Flat Grenache wins the ‘Jimmy’ September 2017 Klein Constantia – Still Creating History August 2017 Summer Sports in Support of The Benevolent and The Gordon & Tana Ramsay Foundation July 2017 The Spanish State Visit June 2017 Madame Bollinger’s Bicycle at Eroica Britannica May 2017 Taylor’s takes to the high seas for 325th Anniversary April 2017 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction 2017 Shortlist Announced March 2017 Secrets of the Cardinal Vaughan Car Park February 2017 British Port Association Appoints First Woman Treasurer February 2017 Mentzendorff Portfolio Tasting 2017 January 2017 Strictly sensational; Taylor’s 1967 Single Harvest Port November 2016 Literary Libations! October 2016 Port and Cheese match with ease September 2016 Knowledge is the foundation for every Bollinger Medal winner September 2016 Happy International Grenache Day, Grenachistas! August 2016 Mentzendorff Kummel wins at IWSC awards July 2016 Henriques & Henriques awash with trophies at IWC 2016 awards June 2016 Dallaglio Foundation Cycle Slam June 2016 Royal Ascot 2016 May 2016 Special Cuvée: What makes it special? April 2016 VdC 2012: A Fresh New Direction March 2016 Taylor’s Release Single Harvest 1966 February 2016 One Great Mentzendorff Tasting! January 2016 Education never gets old December 2015 Mentzendorff & The Dallaglio Foundation November 2015 Mentzendorff on the move October 2015 For Your Eyes Only: Bollinger SPECTRE Limited Edition August 2015 Hidalgo on Horseback! July 2015 Fly Away to Cognac Blues Passions in Jarnac! June 2015 Toughest Mentzendorff Cycle Tour raises £32,000 for The Benevolent! June 2015 Like Nowhere Else – Bollinger toasts Royal Ascot! © Mentzendorff & Co Ltd 2021 Telephone: 020 7840 3600 Email: info@mentzendorff.co.uk