Champagne Billecart-Salmon oozes elegance and class. This 200-year-old estate occupies a very special middle ground: much smaller than the big houses like Veuve and Moet, yet large enough to command a global following among “in-the-know” jet-setters who want a more boutique luxury experience. Billecart’s focus on every detail of the farming and winemaking lends an air of authenticity to the stylish glamor of their label. The bottles are beautiful, and the wine is profound. After a tragic few years when a global shortage made their vintage wines almost impossible to find, we’re now able to offer a little bit of this limited beauty to you all. This is 100% Grand Cru fruit, aged on the lees for over five years, from an excellent vintage and an iconic estate for a hair over $100. The holidays are just around the corner so act fast to secure the perfect year end Champagne!
Billecart-Salmon was born in 1818, when Nicolas François Billecart married Elisabeth Salmon. For seven (going on eight) generations, this house has been owned and operated by the same family—a true rarity among the established maisons in this world-famous region. Based in the village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, the current proprietor is Mathieu Roland-Billecart. The family farms 100 hectares of their own vines, supported by another 100+ hectares from growers across 40 different cru villages. Rosé is a focus for Billecart, and as such, Pinot Noir is generally the dominant grape (though they do make an excellent blanc de blancs), and that is exactly the frame which the 2016 vintage release is built upon.
Billecart’s vintage releases are always sourced from their best vineyards, but the fruit for this extra classy 2016 comes entirely from Grand Cru vineyards that are located in the Champagne’s most prestigious regions: Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs. The house style, focusing on purity of fruit, soft effervescence, and bright minerality, is showing in spades. The pedigree is impeccable. This is the type of Champagne that would be very much at home on a Mediterranean yacht, yet also fits right in with the crowd at a bespoke vintage clothing store or a gallery opening. But as always, for us at SommSelect, it is the quality of wine in the bottle that matters most: That is why we are delighted to offer this vinous gem today.
The relatively high percentage of Pinot Noir is readily apparent on the nose, where wild blueberries and spiced cherries mingle among notes of lemon peel, stone fruit, white flowers, and fresh-baked pastry. We recommend serving vintage Champagne a little less cold, at around 50 degrees, and in an all-purpose wine glass or even a Burgundy stem, especially given the Pinot Noir focus. With 64 months (!) of lees aging, there is plenty of texture and depth that culminates in a long, salty, mineral-driven finish. The interplay of bright fruit, zippy acidity, and a delicate mousse will please any party-goer, but the gastronomic potential of this extra-brut beauty is endless. Fried chicken or sashimi would be splendid, or you can serve at a special brunch alongside truffled eggs Benedict. It is a fantastic wine to open now, but you could cellar it for many years too; given that the price is far below wines of similar quality and class, we think you should stock up for all upcoming special occasions!
