Yes, I realize James Bond is a fictional persona. But his creator, author Ian Fleming, had a penchant for the luxurious life. Fleming’s iconic character of James Bond 007 was not only a world class espionage agent, but had impeccable taste as well. In many Bond novels (and movies) his choice of martini – Gordon’s gin stirred, not shaken – takes center stage as his famous go-to cocktail. But Mr. Bond also has a very discriminating taste in champagne as well.

Champagnes from the Bollinger estate are the choice of 007:

Live and Let Die: Bollinger
Moonraker: Bollinger RD ‘69
License to Kill: Bollinger RD ‘75
The Living Daylights: Bollinger …
Goldeneye: Bollinger Grande Année 1988
Tomorrow Never Dies: Bollinger Grande Année 1989
The World Is Not Enough: Bollinger Grande Année 1990
Die Another Day: Bollinger ‘61
Casino Royale: Bollinger Grande Année 1990

While Dom Perigon, Veuve Cliquot and Moet & Chandon are household names, Bollinger has quietly built an impressive reputation. Perhaps the strongest tie to this being James Bond’s champagne is the fact that in 1884 Bollinger was deemed to be the official champagne of England’s Royal Court. High honors indeed, but what impressed me most as I researched this legendary estate was the fact that Bollinger is still an independent grower – which we at Tavola Rosso advocate heavily.

Although it could be a little difficult to find, Bollinger’s non-vintage brut retails for around $50. If you are into collecting Bollinger’s R.D. and Grand Année champagnes will run you several hundred dollars. Not only are those two wines vintage, but both are very unique in how they are produced.

The Grand Année is only produced when Bollinger believes there is an exceptional harvest. This choice is designed to express the character of the vintage. The house will select the best wines, cru by cru. The wine spends five years on its lees and is aged in bottle under cork, instead of crown seal.

The R.D.  takes the Grand Année further by extending the aging on lees. R.D. spends eight years on its lees, and is also, like the Grand Année, aged under cork, not crown seal. R.D. is a registered trademark of Bollinger which stands for récemment dégorgé (”recently disgorged”). In the mid-1990s, Bollinger sold Année Rare which was an R.D. that had gone under even longer aging on the lees. The disgorgement date is given on the back label. The 1981 R.D. is unique in that there was no Grande Année produced from that vintage.

For your next special occasion – or if you are just looking to add a little romantic intrigue like 007 – look for a bottle of Bollinger as a fantastic substitute to the usual suspects. Cheers.