Billecart-Salmon
Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart Brut Champagne Blend
Champagne, France
Opened alongside a 2002 Piper Rare (winner), 2006 Piper Rare, 2006 Taittinger Comtes, 2007 Billecart Nicolas Francois, and 2012 Dom Perignon.
As you can tell, this was opened in great company and showed very well. Profile wise, this was in between the Piper Rare (rich and layered but bright) and the Taittinger Comtes (a bit surprisingly the brightest and lightest of the group). Not as honeyed aromatically as the two Piper Rare offerings, but loads of white peach, grilled lemon, honey and orange roasted cashews and sea salt. This showed a kiss more depth than its 2007 sibling, with lemon scone, limestone and racy acidity. It certainly drinks younger than it is. Classically Billecart in its “down the middle” style. Never too much/little of anything.
I wish I had another bottle to open in 5-7yrs, as this is aging glacially and beautifully.
Opened alongside a 2002 Piper Rare (winner), 2006 Piper Rare, 2006 Taittinger Comtes, 2007 Billecart Nicolas Francois, and 2012 Dom Perignon.
As you can tell, this was opened in great company and showed very well. Profile wise, this was in between the Piper Rare (rich and layered but bright) and the Taittinger Comtes (a bit surprisingly the brightest and lightest of the group). Not as honeyed aromatically as the two Piper Rare offerings, but loads of white peach, grilled lemon, honey and orange roasted cashews and sea salt. This showed a kiss more depth than its 2007 sibling, with lemon scone, limestone and racy acidity. It certainly drinks younger than it is. Classically Billecart in its “down the middle” style. Never too much/little of anything.
I wish I had another bottle to open in 5-7yrs, as this is aging glacially and beautifully.
Still young. Lemon oil and chalk stuff. Fresh and precise. Oily. Very good
Still young. Lemon oil and chalk stuff. Fresh and precise. Oily. Very good
Jun 10th, 2022
#AgedWineTuesday
Golden in color.
Nose of apples, yeast, spices, bread, minerals, salt water, citrus, limes, barnyard and earth.
Medium plus in body with high acidity.
Very dry on the palate with limes, lemons, green apples, earth, minerals, toast, wet leaves, herbs, vegetables, nuts, yeast, sea salt and white pepper.
Crisp and refreshing. Yeasty and interesting.
This is a nicely aged Champagne from a great vintage. Showing lots of complexity now.
Feels very young for a 20 year old, and will continue to age nicely in the next decade.
Robert Parker 97 points. Wine Enthusiasts 96 points.
I had the Brut Reserve Non Vintage not too long ago, and I liked it better.
Good by itself or with food. I paired it with fresh oysters.
A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Disgorged in 2015.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$200.
#AgedWineTuesday
Golden in color.
Nose of apples, yeast, spices, bread, minerals, salt water, citrus, limes, barnyard and earth.
Medium plus in body with high acidity.
Very dry on the palate with limes, lemons, green apples, earth, minerals, toast, wet leaves, herbs, vegetables, nuts, yeast, sea salt and white pepper.
Crisp and refreshing. Yeasty and interesting.
This is a nicely aged Champagne from a great vintage. Showing lots of complexity now.
Feels very young for a 20 year old, and will continue to age nicely in the next decade.
Robert Parker 97 points. Wine Enthusiasts 96 points.
I had the Brut Reserve Non Vintage not too long ago, and I liked it better.
Good by itself or with food. I paired it with fresh oysters.
A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Disgorged in 2015.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$200.
Great balance, intensity, complexity and length - an outstanding champagne
Great balance, intensity, complexity and length - an outstanding champagne
Jan 26th, 2022Effortless elegance. Soft and powdery on the palate, pastry dough, crushed shell, lemon curd, white peaches. Crazy good
Effortless elegance. Soft and powdery on the palate, pastry dough, crushed shell, lemon curd, white peaches. Crazy good
Sep 11th, 2021
Freshly toasted bread on the nose. Notes of baked apple on the nose. Pin-point bubbles dance on the tongue. Moderate oak treatment completes a classic bubbly example.
Freshly toasted bread on the nose. Notes of baked apple on the nose. Pin-point bubbles dance on the tongue. Moderate oak treatment completes a classic bubbly example.
Apr 17th, 2021
Opened to celebrate my great-nephew’s bris. A wonderful combination of freshness and purity . A bodacious wine that is never trashy. Nice acidic cut that enhances the ripe fruit. A lasting finish . Thanks @Randy Lampert , a very proud dad.
Opened to celebrate my great-nephew’s bris. A wonderful combination of freshness and purity . A bodacious wine that is never trashy. Nice acidic cut that enhances the ripe fruit. A lasting finish . Thanks @Randy Lampert , a very proud dad.
Apr 15th, 2021
This is really delicious...can’t believe it was on sale under $100.
Happy New Year All. 🍾🥂🥳🎉🎊 Goodbye 2020!
Previous notes from 2 months or so will work.
12.31.2020
This is really delicious...can’t believe it was on sale under $100.
Happy New Year All. 🍾🥂🥳🎉🎊 Goodbye 2020!
Previous notes from 2 months or so will work.
12.31.2020
The 2006 Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine, but it needs time to be at its best. I am surprised by how tightly wound it is. But that only makes me think what it might develop into with time in the cellar. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, crushed rocks and sage meld together in a bright, crystalline Champagne endowed with terrific purity. The 2006 is 60% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de la Marne and 40% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, mostly done in steel, with just a touch of oak, around 5%. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. (Originally published in August 2020) (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2020)
The 2006 Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine, but it needs time to be at its best. I am surprised by how tightly wound it is. But that only makes me think what it might develop into with time in the cellar. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint, crushed rocks and sage meld together in a bright, crystalline Champagne endowed with terrific purity. The 2006 is 60% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de la Marne and 40% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, mostly done in steel, with just a touch of oak, around 5%. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. (Originally published in August 2020) (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2020)
Nov 20th, 2020Nose reveals macerated fruits of; green apples, pineapple, sour & macerated lemon, limes, kiwi, white peach, golden apple, candle /beeswax, understated white spice, limestone & volcanic powder, sea fossils & spray, caramel, vanillin, light herbaceousness, mint, yeast, bread dough, notes of melted brown sugar with white flowers, jasmine and yellow lilies.
The mouthfeel is lush & beautiful. The mousse so soft. The acidity is finely focused & lively. Slightly less (than the nose) macerated fruits notes of; green apples, pineapple, sour & macerated lemon, limes, kiwi, white peach, golden apple, candle /beeswax, understated white spice with perfect razor blade penetration on the tongue, Fine limestone & grey volcanic powder, sea fossils & spray, melted caramel, vanillin, light herbaceousness, mint, yeast, bread dough, used wood presence, notes of melted brown sugar with brighter white flowers, jasmine, mixed greens, and yellow lilies than the nose.
Steal at $99.
Nose reveals macerated fruits of; green apples, pineapple, sour & macerated lemon, limes, kiwi, white peach, golden apple, candle /beeswax, understated white spice, limestone & volcanic powder, sea fossils & spray, caramel, vanillin, light herbaceousness, mint, yeast, bread dough, notes of melted brown sugar with white flowers, jasmine and yellow lilies.
The mouthfeel is lush & beautiful. The mousse so soft. The acidity is finely focused & lively. Slightly less (than the nose) macerated fruits notes of; green apples, pineapple, sour & macerated lemon, limes, kiwi, white peach, golden apple, candle /beeswax, understated white spice with perfect razor blade penetration on the tongue, Fine limestone & grey volcanic powder, sea fossils & spray, melted caramel, vanillin, light herbaceousness, mint, yeast, bread dough, used wood presence, notes of melted brown sugar with brighter white flowers, jasmine, mixed greens, and yellow lilies than the nose.
Steal at $99.