The silver screen's most famous spy may be best known for the specific way he orders his Martinis, but James Bond, aka 007, is also a fan of bubbly, specifically Champagne Bollinger. Bollinger and Bond have been linked together since Roger Moore ordered it in 1973's Live and Let Die. Bolly, as the Brits affectionately call Bollinger, has been featured in 14 Bond films. And believe it or not, there has never been a formal agreement or exchange of money between Bollinger and the producers of Bond; the deal was sealed with a handshake in 1979 and has been honored for more than 40 years. Bond would approve.
In honor of the newest Bond film, No Time to Die, and their long-standing relationship with the franchise, Bollinger has recently released an exclusive 007 Special Cuvée gift pack ($79). "The limited-edition gift box features the silhouette of James Bond alongside his Aston Martin DB5. The colourway of the gift box echoes the silver birch finish of the DB5. The Bollinger lettering and logos are depicted in gold, and the iconic Special Cuvée bottle has been adapted to feature a black and gold neck collar with a 007 blazon."
The wine contained in the limited edition 007 box and bottle is Bollinger's iconic Special Cuvée. If you're not a Bond fan and just want to purchase the classic bottle sans the 007 flourishes, it also retails for about $79.
Of course, the association with Bond adds an extra dash of sex appeal to Bollinger's elegant image, but what really matters is the quality of the bubbly within the bottle. Special Cuvée is Bollinger's flagship wine and doesn't disappoint. True to the Bollinger style, Pinot Noir is the majority of the blend at 60%. Balanced out with 25% Chardonnay and 15% Meunier, Special Cuvée is composed primarily of reserve wines, part of which have been aged in magnum for 5-15 years. Complex, crisp, fresh, spicy, and full of finesse, it is a beautiful bubbly. Pop the cork on a bottle of Bollinger 007 Special Cuvée and unleash your international woman/man/person of mystery.
Denis Bunner, Deputy Cellar Master, Bollinger
PS - Last year, before the world went crazy, I had the pleasure of tasting through several Bollinger bubblies with their deputy cellar master, Denis Bunner. That seems like a lifetime ago, but I still remember the beauty of the wines. Founded in 1829, Bollinger is one of the few Champagne houses to produce the majority of the grapes for their blends. From their flagship Special Cuvée to their vintage wines like La Grande Année 2008 and R.D. 2004, Bollinger precisely balances richness with vibrancy. Pinot Noir is the dominant grape in Bollinger Champagne, and it imbues their bubblies with a luscious vinous quality.
