Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Francaises 2012

Liam Anderson - Had it at a restaurant, still thinking about it

9/10

Saw this on the wine list at a fancy dinner in London and our table split a bottle four ways. Even at restaurant markup it was eye-watering but honestly I'm glad we did it. Really clean and precise, with this quiet intensity that sneaks up on you. Not showy at all, just absolutely confident.

Felix Moreau - Excellent but let's be real about the price

7/10

Tasted this at a Bollinger event. It's clearly exceptional champagne — poised, persistent finish, loads of complexity. But I've had 2008 and 2006 Krug that moved me more for less money. If someone else is buying, absolutely. Out of my own pocket? I'd rather have three cases of decent grower champagne.

Aria Kim - Lived up to the reputation

9/10

Been curious about VVF for years after reading about how they make it from ungrafted vines. Went in on a bottle with three mates for New Year's. The structure is unreal — proper backbone but nothing harsh about it. Fruit gives it weight without being sweet. We all agreed it was the best thing we'd drunk all year.

Mia Sundberg - The best champagne I'll ever drink

10/10

A client gifted me a bottle and I've been saving it for two years. Finally opened it last weekend. Everything about it is just RIGHT — the aromatics hit you straight away, really clear and expressive, and then the palate is layer after layer of flavour. Absolutely unforgettable.

Jackson Wu - Overhyped? Maybe slightly

8/10

Got to try a glass through a friend who collects wine. It's very very good, don't get me wrong — beautifully balanced with amazing acidity and a finish that goes on forever. But at this price point I was expecting to see God. It's a 9/10 champagne with a 15/10 price tag. Still, glad I tried it.

Annika Svensson - Incredible but hard to justify

8/10

Tried this at a tasting event and it's genuinely stunning. So complex and layered, every sip reveals something different. But I keep coming back to the price tag — £1500 is a LOT of champagne. You can get brilliant stuff for a tenth of that. Amazing wine, just not sure it's ten times better than a good vintage Bolly.

Luna Chavez - Worth every single penny

10/10

Opened this for our 25th wedding anniversary and it was genuinely one of the best things I've ever tasted. The bubbles are so fine and the flavours just keep changing in the glass — I kept finding new things every sip. At £1500 it's obviously insane money but this is a once-in-a-lifetime bottle and it delivered.

Petra Novak - Birthday splurge I don't regret

9/10

My wife got me this for my 50th. Honestly I was nervous opening something this expensive but wow. It's not like normal champagne at all — there's this depth and richness that just goes on and on. The finish literally lasted minutes. We sat in silence for a bit after the first glass which says it all really.