For years I have admired the glorious range of wines by famed producer Billecart-Salmon. Small in production but large in quality, Billecart-Salmon controls an estate of 100 hectares, obtaining grapes from an area totalling 300 hectares across 40 crus of the Champagne region. The majority of the grapes used for vinification come from a radius of 20km around Epernay, where the Grand Crus of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay co-exist, in the vineyards of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs.
This house now spans a whopping seven generations, the house was formed with the marriage of 1818 when Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon in 1818. This remains a family winery since the beginning with Louis Salmon, brother of Elisabeth and a passionate oenologist, getting involved in the creation of the wines.
In 1964 their tete de cuvee, ‘Cuvee Nicolas Francois’ was crafted to serve as an homage to their founder. The house has received considerable critical acclaim over the years, not only for their top wines, including the Clos Saint-Hilaire cuvée, first created with the 1995 vintage, but their Rose and vintage champagnes in particular. On the west coast of the United States, their Rose champagne is particularly one of the most popular champagnes that you will find in bars and restaurants.
Last year I had the honor of being hosted by seventh generation CEO Mr Mathieu Roland-Billecart, who assumed his position back in January 2019 from his cousin François Roland-Billecart, who headed the House since 1992. Mathieu is a larger than life personality with incredible knowledge and passion for his house and champagne. Lets just say that he doesn’t drink other houses champagnes!
I recently had the chance to try the beautiful new wines by Billecart-Salmon adored these wines that are quite honestly one of the finest overall lineups you will find in this region. The famed NV Billecart-Salmon Rose Champagne (OB, 92) is fresh, finesse-driven and very pretty. This is one that is complex but also super crushable. I was blown away with the new 2008 Billecart-Salmon ‘Louis Salmon’ Champagne (OB, 97) which is one of the great Blanc de Blancs Champagnes that I have tasted over the past year. The richness, tension and nerve of this wine is just extraordinary. It’ll live on for another twenty years. Learn more about this incredible champagne house at https://www.champagne-billecart.fr Here are the beautiful new Champagnes by Billecart-Salmon.
NV Billecart Salmon ‘Grand Cru’ Blanc de Blancs- Created with a base of 2015 vintage Chardonnay sourced from Cotes de Blancs set on deep, chalky soils. The nose is particularly rich with lemon oil dusted Challah bread, cardamom and suggestions of Marcona almond. The palate is deep and concentrated with gorgeous orange rind and honeydew melon flavors alongside shades of salted pralines. Gorgeous to consume now, this has some brilliant aging potential. Drink 2023-2033- 94
NV Billecart Salmon Brut Nature- The NV Billecart Salmon Brut Nature is made from 40% Pinot Meunier sourced from the Marne with 30% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir with the base being from the 2016 vintage. A whiff of green apple and salted cashew greet you alongside hints of biscotti. The silky mousse greets you as with lovely weight and beautiful finesse, finishing long. Drink 2023-2028- 93
NV Billecart Salmon Brut Rose- The NV Billecart Salmon Brut Rose is a beautiful wine with a base from the 2017 vintage. This wine was first produced in the 1970s and gained acclaim in the 1990s. Blended with a larger portion of Chardonnay (40%) with equal parts Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, this displays pretty guava and strawberry flavors alongside salty and wet stone undertones on the palate. Finishing long, this outstanding Rose will continue to produce drinking enjoyment over the next eight years. Drink 2023-2029- 92
NV Billecart Salmon Brut Sous Bois Champagne- Entirely vilified in small barrels, the Brut Sous Bois this is blended with 33% of each variety with a base of 2013 (66%) with a high proportion of premier and grand cru wines. Rich and unctuous on the palate, the wine delivers kumquat oil flavors alongside green papaya, and salted shortbread flavors with serious tension and a lengthy finish. This has some glorious aging potential. Drink 2023-2037- 94
2008 Billecart Salmon ‘Cuvee Elizabeth Salmon’ Rose Champagne- Released in April 2021, the gorgeous 2008 Billecart Salmon ‘Cuvee Elizabeth Salmon’ Rose Champagne blends 55% Pinot Noir with the remainder Chardonnay from nearly all grand cru vineyards. The nose is incredibly complex and shows mature hazelnut and damp earthy tones alongside bright red fruits alongside Mandarin orange rind and exotic spices. The sense of balance and finesse is extraordinary as this shows a glorious combination of weight and pose. It is irresistible to savor now but will surely have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2023-2040- 97
2008 Billecart-Salmon ‘Louis Salmon’ Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne- The simply stunning 2008 Billecart-Salmon ‘Louis Salmon’ Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne comes from this outstanding vintage and is sourced from 100% Chardonnay grands crus of Côte des Blancs (mainly from Chouilly, Cramant, and Mesnil-sur-Oger). Aged on the lees for 11 years prior to being disgorged in October 2020, this was given 7G/L dosage. A golden hue in the glass, the nose is ultra-powerful with lemon and lime oil notes that combine with shades of white truffle, and pink grapefruit blossom. The palate is lithe and also very generous, with serious poise and a sterling expression of tension. Very nervy throughout the drinking experience, with stony and earthy undertones, this is complex and decidedly delicious Blanc de Blancs that has a long way to go in the cellar. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2023-2040- 96