Billecart-Salmon Elisabeth Salmon Rose 2006

Billecart-Salmon's exceptional prestige cuvée rosé was created in 1988 as a tribute to the House’s co-founder. Less than 10% of the Pinot Noir is vinified as red wine. The grapes used to make the red wine are from Valofroy, a plot of old vines on the slopes of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ with a southern exposure. Billecart-Salmon Elisabeth Salmon Rosé is not always released in chronological order, but rather when head winemaker François Domi believes it is ready for release.

Weather: The 2006 vintage was a year of mixed weather. It began with a rainy spell and late spring, but with little or no frost in the vineyards. Early summer was positive, with the months of June and July creating perfect conditions for flowering. Although there were some storms in late-July, the overall health of the vines was great since the weather remained hot through to the harvest with spells of rain in August promoting even healthier grapes.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru | Pinot Noir: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne | Chardonnay: Côte des Blancs | Red Wine: Valofroy
Grape Varieties: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir | inc. 10% Red Wine
Ageing: 10 years on the lees
Dosage: 6 g/l
Drink: Now to 2021

Tasting Note: Initial aromas of citrus and complex red berries on the nose are carried through to the palate where fresh figs, peaches and almonds are abundant. Voluptuous hints of ripe fruits and wild strawberries. A champagne with a delicate balance of acidity and creamy textures. This rosé fully expresses the 2006 vintage and given some time to age this will improve and reward accordingly.

Champagne Billecart-Salmon was founded with the marriage of Nicolas-François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon in 1818. Situated in the village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, the House were forced to sell most of their vineyards during the difficulties of the early 20th century and today their 15-hecatres cover a small proportion of their production needs. To finance their growth, 45% of their shares were sold to a local investor whose vast resources aid greatly in the sourcing of grapes. Still a family-run organisation, sixth generation members of the founding family François and Antoine Roland-Billecart oversee business, whilst Chef de Cave François Domi has been at the winemaking helm for nearly thirty years.

The House style is intensely bright and fruity with an increasingly oxidative tone brought about by the recent re-introduction of oak. The Billecart-Salmon portfolio is vast but they are perhaps best known for their prestige cuvées, Cuvée Nicolas-François and Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Rosé. In 1999, Cuvée Nicolas-François 1959 was awarded 'Champagne of the Millennium' by a committee of experts at a blind tasting session involving 150 vintages from the most illustrious champagne producers. The jewel of the estate however, is the single-vineyard champagne Clos Saint Hilare: a monstrously powerful cuvée originating from a single Pinot Noir plot sheltered by a wall of stone.

Cellar Master: Florent Nys
Winery Location: Mareuil-sur-Aÿ | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Vallée de la Marne
Annual Production (bottles): 2,000,000