Our grand Champagne journey rolls onwards to its next station! We depart the Tours-sur-Marne after our close look at the wonders from Laurent-Perrier (a warm thank you for another amazing turnout this past weekend), and make the trip a short ways west to the commune of Marueil-sur-Aÿ, and the shining name of Billecart-Salmon!
This Saturday (22nd November) will see a star-studded suite of their bottles pouring between the usual 12-2pm slot. The recent Le Réserve NV label rebrand will get the ball rolling; a cuvée that proves their mastery over the Pinot Meunier grape, and one with an impressive 50-month average lees aging period before release, standing apart from essentially all other entry-level bubblies in that regard. The full-body and aromatic power of the Brut Sous Bois and 2007 iteration of the Nicolas Francois will build the momentum along nicely, and we can't wait to see how the magnums of their Blanc de Blancs 2010 are showing! It wouldn't be a true Billecart lineup without finishing off with the pink decadance of their beloved Brut Rosé NV, and we're excited to feature their Demi-Sec NV for the first time, lending an additional final sweet kick with its 40g/L dosage.
These certainly shouldn't disappoint the ardent Billecart fans out there who have been counting the weeks for its reveal; look below to see all the further information and praise behind each bottle, all on special. There are also some other vintage options gracing our shelves that, while not on pour, will also stay down at great prices for the next week, should any tempt.
The Lineup -
Le Réserve NV
$110 on special this week ($125 RRP)
// 43% Pinot Meunier, 29% Chardonnay and 28% Pinot Noir
Made up of 29% of current base year 2020 + 71% reserve wines from 15 vintages, as far back as 2006
3g/L dosage (Extra Brut style)
50 month average aging period on lees
"Lovely aromas of raspberries, gingerbread, toast and honey on the nose. I like the generosity and concentration of flavor on the palate, with a medium body and soft, creamy bubbles. Long finish. Delicious now" - 93 Points, Claire Nesbitt, JamesSuckling.com
"The first edition of the former Brut Réserve in its new incarnation, with the greater focus that is such a central part of the Billecart approach these days. Pliant, creamy and seductive, Le Réserve is terrific. Dried pear, hazelnut, spice, orange peel and dried flowers all meld together in an effortless, gracious Champagne that is all class. The significant increase in quality at Billecart-Salmon is no longer news, but it’s still worth mentioning. Quite simply, the Champagnes here have never been better" - 92 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Demi-Sec NV
$129 on special this week ($145 RRP)
// 30% Pinot Noir (Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne), 30% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Meunier (Vallée de la Marne and the southern slopes of Epernay)
40g/L dosage
Aged for 30 months on lees
"Aromas of poached pear, honey and buttered toast, plus a hint of white peach that gains strength with air. Fleshy, broad and appealingly sweet but in no way cloying, offering juicy orchard fruit and melon flavors and a touch of bitter peach pit. A buttery quality comes up on the finish, which clings with strong fruity intensity. I imagine that this opulent, fruity but focused Champagne would do wonders with practically any cheese out there, especially salty, washed rind and blue versions." - Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Brut Rosé NV
$170 on special this week ($189 RRP)
// 45% Chardonnay (from best Crus in the Champagne region), 35% Pinot Noir (Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne) and 20% Pinot Meunier (Vallée de la Marne and the southern slopes of Epernay)
2021 base vintage
Aged on lees for 36 months before disgorgement in mid-2024
4.9g/L dosage
"Billecart-Salmon has long been at the forefront of the rosé champagne field, their supremely elegant and gloriously fragrant style counting its fans in legions. A beautifully bright rose gold in the glass. Dried strawberries, fading pink petals, ginger and raspberry danish notes. Softy curvy, graceful and elegant through a gently zippy finish. Pink perfection." - 95 Points, Nick Ryan, Weekend Australian 2024
"With its ubiquitous pink label, Billecart's NV Brut Rosé is one of the most recognizable bottles in all of Champagne. It is so important for wines like this to be good, as they are symbols for the region. This release is especially fine. Cranberry, pink grapefruit and white flowers caress the palate. Deep, pliant and so expressive, the Brut Rosé is terrific. There is a touch of angularity, but that is easy to look past for a Champagne that delivers so much pleasure." - 92 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Brut Sous Bois NV
$170 on special this week ($189 RRP)
// 43% Grand Cru Chardonnay (Côte des Blancs), 28% Premier and Grand Cru Pinot Noir (Montagne de Reims, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ) and 29% Pinot Meunier (right and left bank of the Vallée de la Marne)
2018 base vintage (63%), with 37% reserve wines
7g/L dosage
"The NV Extra Brut Sous Bois (base 2018) is a major step up from the 2017. Then again, this vintage was much more favorable. Aromatic, bright and sculpted, the 2018 is so complete. Silky contours and well-judged oak give the 2018 a great deal of finesse to compliment dried orchard fruit and floral nuances." - 95 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"it pours a touch deeper golden straw color and is aromatic of fresh baked bread, marzipan, peaches, and marmalade. It’s not as oaky as I’d remembered it from previous tastings, with the blend feeling more harmonious and integrated. Full-bodied but not overly opulent, it fills the palate with a supple richness although it’s fully dry, and its nuttiness is still present but doesn’t dominate the wine. It would be paired exceptionally well with Comte cheese." - 94 Points, Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
Cuvée Nicolas Francois 2007
$369 on special this week ($410 RRP)
// 60% Pinot Noir (Montagne de Reims & Grande Vallée de la Marne), and 40% Chardonnay (Côte des Blancs)
Aged on lees for 12 years before disgorgement in July 2020
Dosage 6g/L
"The 2007 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart is positively stellar. Elegant, polished and sophisticated, the 2007 dazzles with effusive aromatics and gorgeous balance. It's not an obvious wine, though, but rather a Champagne built for long, patient cellaring. The 2007 is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay taken from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Ambonnay, Verzenay and Verzy for the Pinots and Chouilly, Avize, Cramant and Mesnil for the Chardonnays. In other words, as good as it gets for villages." - 97 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"The 2007 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François is showing very nicely, offering up aromas of fresh bread, citrus oil, crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers, verbena, macadamia nut and hints of biscuity complexity to come. Full-bodied, chiseled but fleshy, its vinous core of fruit cloaks the vintage's brisk acids to achieve real plenitude in a year that's sometimes rather tautly austere. Long and penetrating and complemented by a pretty pinpoint mousse, this is a real success." - 97 Points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Blanc de Blancs 2010 MAGNUM 1500ml
$420 on special this week ($470 RRP)
// Disgorged February 2022
Matured on lees for ~126 months before disgorgement
5g/L dosage
"The magnums of 2010 Blanc de Blancs are truly beautiful champagnes. The villages from which the Chardonnay is selected are Avize, Chouilly, Cramant and Mesnil-sur-Oger. There are white blossom flowers – like apple blossom, and azaleas – and lively fine bubbles. The palate is very smooth – with refinement and great elegance. It has a layer of rich buttery cream, almost leading to lemon curd – with great citrus shining through. A chalk influence appears, with mineral intensity – which comes from the Côte de Blancs vineyards where the chalk is so close to the surface. It has a fine palate with superb length and salty characters, like the succulent 'Samphire' which grows in our coastal regions. Amidst the citrus and mineral flavours, there are hints of lemon meringue pie, which adds another rich layer. I personally think this year of 2010 is one of the greatest Chardonnay years I have seen. It is truly beautiful, and full of such style and elegance. A great candidate for the cellar, which will repay anyone with patience. Also delightful for anyone eager to open now, as it has been developing for 15 years already; you will be rewarded!" - Bernadette O'Shea, Champagne Consultant, The Wine Emporium
- Other options also available & on special -
Elisabeth Brut Rosé 2009
$395 on special this week ($450 RRP)
Cuvée Nicolas Francois 2012
$439 on special this week ($495 RRP)
Cuvée Louis Blanc de Blancs 2012
$465 on special this week ($520 RRP)
Elisabeth Brut Rosé 2012
$469 on special this week ($525 RRP)
If you wish to purchase any of these champagnes, please use the links above
Otherwise, if you have any questions, please contact us on (07)32521117 or email sales@thewineemporium.com.au
// Price valid until Monday the 24th of November