Bollinger releases PNAYC21, the seventh chapter in its single-varietal Pinot Noir series

What happened

Bollinger has announced the release of PNAYC21, the seventh wine in its ongoing series dedicated entirely to Pinot Noir. The launch, reported in July 2026, continues a line of releases that has steadily charted the expressive range of a single grape variety across Champagne's most distinguished terroirs.

PNAYC21 is sourced predominantly from Aÿ, the Marne cru that Bollinger regards as its home village. It is only the second wine in the series to draw chiefly from that commune, the first being PNAYC18.

Why it matters

The PNAYC series occupies a particular position within Bollinger's portfolio, representing a sustained and disciplined enquiry into what 100% Pinot Noir can express when the focus is placed squarely on provenance. Where many Champagne releases blend varieties and villages in pursuit of a house style, this series narrows the lens deliberately.

The return to Aÿ as the dominant source is significant. As Bollinger's home cru, Aÿ carries both historical weight and a specific character within the Marne valley. The fact that PNAYC21 joins PNAYC18 as one of only two wines in the series to foreground this village invites a comparison across vintages — a rare opportunity to observe how a single, prestigious terroir performs under different climatic conditions.

For those who follow the evolution of grower and house Champagne alike, a seventh release also signals the maturity of the series itself. What began as an exploration has accumulated sufficient depth to be read as a body of work.

Context

Bollinger is based in Aÿ, in the Champagne region of France. The PNAYC designation reflects both the grape variety and the cru: Pinot Noir, Aÿ. The series has now reached seven editions, with PNAYC21 representing the most recent vintage to be released under that framework. The previous Aÿ-led release, PNAYC18, established the precedent to which this new wine is now being compared.