Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Blanc de Blancs, Grand Cru, Brut
Critics reviews
The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs reveals expressive aromatics that meld into a pretty core of perfumed fruit. As the wine sits in the glass, the varietal Chardonnay fruit becomes more open and expressive. Like all of the houses wines, the Blanc de Blanc possesses gorgeous balance and a harmonious personality. The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs is composed of 1/3 Avize fruit, with the rest of the grapes sourced from Mesnil, Cramant and Chouilly. The base vintage is 2004. This is Lot 810888 31808J, disgorged October 2008.
Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate (December 2008)
About this WINE
Champagne Billecart-Salmon
Billecart-Salmon is one of the few remaining Champagne houses to be owned by the original family and was established in 1818 by Nicolas-François Billecart.
Most of Billecart-Salmon's fruit comes from a small vineyard holding, though this is supplemented with grapes bought in from the Marne Valley and the Montagne de Reims. Meticulous production techniques, from the use of their own cultured yeast to its long, slow, cool fermentation, ensure that the family has 100% control of production.
Billecart-Salmon is renowned for the quality of its delicate rosé, while the Brut Réserve (a blend of three vintages) is a beautifully harmonious and balanced wine. All have the ability to age very well.
Blanc de Blancs
In Champagne, the term Blanc de Blancs designates Champagnes made only from Chardonnay grapes. The vineyards located between Cramant and Mesnil-sur-Oger in Cote de Blancs yield the best examples of the style.
A classic Blanc de Blancs is restrained and elegant when young, yet with ageing it develops a mouth-coating brioche richness that overlays an intense expression of fruitiness. Blanc de Blancs are endowed with longer ageing potential than a typical Blanc de Noirs.
Recommended Producers: Salon, Billecart Salmon, Jacques Selosse, Dom Ruinart, Krug, Le Mesnil Grand Cru, Guy Larmandier
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
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Description
Bright and elegant on the nose. There is a refreshing burst of bright citrus fruit initially with an undertone of more subtle, sweet white blossom fruit and a robust energy throughout this wine. A distinct richness follows onto the palate which presents itself with some rather filling, broad, almost Burgundian weight. Again, the white fruit is here, but its all about the texture of this wine. Incredible acidity brings this wine together towards the end. A honeysuckle-like character on the finish is very enjoyable, paired with a lingering salinity.
Drink now–2027
Luke Dowdy, Berry Bros. & Rudd (August 2023)
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