Description / Reviews
"This eighth Rendez-Vous reveals the Meunier grape variety and expresses the full mineral tension of the terroir of Leuvrigny with its predominantly chalky soil. Made on the base of the 2018 vintage, this single-cru champagne benefits from long ageing for 63 months. Meticulous selection, focusing on the purity of the fruit and the balance of flavours, always with a low dosage." - Billecart-Salmon, Winemaker
"The NV Extra Brut Les Rendez-Vous de Billecart-Salmon No. 8 is fascinating to taste next to the No. 7. It, too, is 100% Meunier, in this case from Levrigny, also done entirely in tank. The No. 8 is a powerful, tightly wound Champagne that will need a year or two to soften. All the Meunier signatures are present, and yet the No.8 is quite closed today. Orchard fruit, spice, dried flowers and lightly honeyed notes open with some coaxing. This pure Meunier needs more time in bottle or a few hours of air. Time in the glass releases notable textural resonance and pure power. Dosage is 3.9 grams per liter. Disgorged 4th quarter 2024; Origin #181430." - 95 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Anyone wanting to discover what the Meunier grape can do in Champagne might consider comparing the two new Rendez-Vous releases from specialists in the grape, Billecart-Salmon. The house has chosen to highlight two very different terroirs with wines based on the solar 2018 vintage. Next to No 7's outgoing character from its south-facing location in Venteuil, No 8 presents a rarer expression of Meunier with its beautifully sizzling, racy, chalky build reminding us of how much refinement this grape is capable of in certain terroirs. In this case it's the village of Leuvrigny, tucked away behind the south bank of the Marne river, that provides this finesse with its finely drawn flavours of sweet fresh raspberry, honey, oatmeal and yellow plums. As with No 7, this features no oak, allowing the purity to shine." - 94 Points, Tom Hewson, Decanter
