Average rating 4.9/5 stars across all Google and external reviews
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Bought directly from Billecart-Salmon, the bottles are stored in bond at London City Bond Eton Park, in ideal conditions at a constant 13°C. For same-day deliveries, small quantities are kept in our office cellar, where the temperature is maintained between 11–13°C. We source all our bottles directly from the Maison or their official UK office, eliminating the risk of poor storage. This is crucial, as champagne quality is highly sensitive to heat: temperatures above 18°C accelerate maturity significantly, which compromises quality.
Champagne Billecart-Salmon was founded in 1818 following the marriage of Nicolas-François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. Located in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ near Épernay, the House remains family-owned, today led by seventh-generation Mathieu Roland-Billecart.
Chef de Cave François Domi retired in 2016 after 30 years, succeeded by Florent Nys, who joined in 2005. Vineyard management is overseen by Denis Blée. Together with sixth-generation François Roland-Billecart and Antoine Roland-Billecart, they form part of the seven-member tasting committee guiding the House style.
In the 1950s, Jean Roland-Billecart pioneered low-temperature fermentation in stainless steel - now a hallmark preserving fruit freshness. Today, wines are fermented in stainless steel, temperature-controlled large oak casks, small oak barrels, or a combination, depending on the cuvée.
By 2020, production drew on 300 hectares: 100 hectares estate-owned and certified organic in 2025; 100 hectares under contract (herbicides and chemical fertilisers eliminated in 2019); and 100 hectares from grower partners. The vineyards span 40 crus, mostly within 20 km of the winery. In 2017, the House achieved High Environmental Value certification.
Billecart-Salmon's exceptional prestige cuvée was created in 1964 as a tribute to the House’s co-founder Nicolas-François Billecart who married Elisabeth Salmon in 1818. The 20% maturation in 15 year-old traditional oak barrels underpins the generous character of this fine, elegant and rich champagne.
Weather: A stunning year, 2002 began with a cold winter and a mild, late spring. This led to a bright and sunny start to the summer months, which brought on early flowering. The summer months consisted of very hot days combined with cooler nights which helped the grapes gain a great acidity and show an abundance of fruits. Generally considered the best vintage of the last two decades.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru Vineyards: Pinot Noir: Montagne de Reims, and Chardonnay: Côte des Blancs
Grape Varieties: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Disgorged: Spring 2017
Dosage: 4 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030
Tasting Note: Yellow gold with a fine bead of bubbles. The aromatics are a combination of dried fruits and hints of almond nuts. On the palate a well-balanced acidity with vibrant fruit flavours and slight hints of caramel and apples. A real stunner right through to the finish.
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, near Epernay. Today the family own 55% of the Maison with partners The Frey Group owning the remaining share. Their partners are owners of Château La Lagune, Paul Jaboulet Aîné in Hermitage and Château Corton-C in Aloxe-Corton. The business farms 100 hectares of their own vineyards and manage another 200 hectares from 40 crus mostly within 20 kms of the winery. Still a family-run organisation, seventh generation Mathieu Roland-Billecart oversees business. In 2016 Chef de Cave François Domi retired after 30 years with Billecart and handed over to his deputy Florent Nys who started with the business in 2005. The vineyards are overseen by Denis Blée and all of the team are members of the eight strong "tasting committee" along with 6th generation François Roland-Billecart and Antoine Roland-Billecart and fifth generation Jean Roland-Billecart.
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
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Billecart-Salmon:
Florent Nys - 2016 to present - Has been working as an apprentice under the watchful eye of François since 2005
François Domi - 1985 & retired in 2016 He continued the double cold settling of his predecessor and was an early convert to technological corks.
James Coffinet - 1976 to 1985 - He introduced double débourbage, longer periods of cold settling the must, twice for between 24-48 hours at 6 Celsius followed by a cooler fermentation. These were practices borrowed from the brewing industry. Coffinet was considered one of the best winemakers of his generation. The 1982 vintage was considered his masterpiece while at BS. Look out for a rare chance to buy a well stored bottle of Nicolas Francois 1982
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Billecart-Salmon:
Florent Nys - 2016 to present - Has been working as an apprentice under the watchful eye of François since 2005
François Domi - 1985 & retired in 2016 He continued the double cold settling of his predecessor and was an early convert to technological corks.
James Coffinet - 1976 to 1985 - He introduced double débourbage, longer periods of cold settling the must, twice for between 24-48 hours at 6 Celsius followed by a cooler fermentation. These were practices borrowed from the brewing industry. Coffinet was considered one of the best winemakers of his generation. The 1982 vintage was considered his masterpiece while at BS. Look out for a rare chance to buy a well stored bottle of Nicolas Francois 1982
Expert Reviews
18.5/20
Jancis Robinson MW
“Deeper gold than the 2006. Very dense and firm with lots of further ageing potential.”
18/20
Jancis Robinson MW
“100% grand and premier cru vineyards. Pinot Noir (60%) from Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne. Chardonnay (40%) from Côte des Blancs. Disgorged spring 2017. Dosage 4 g/l. Tasted blind. The deepest colour of all these wines. Mid straw and persistent bead. Not particularly intense on the nose initially; needed time to open up. Quite noticeable autolysis. Bone dry. Some evidence of oak? Absolutely not a shred of simple fruit here – almost a metallic hint on the end but great, deep undertow. Very complex and uncompromising. Dry and distinctive. Drink 2016-2030”
17+/20
Jancis Robinson MW
“Previous vintage was 1999, which has only just sold out. Disgorged early 2016. Needs a year in bottle prior to shipment. 12-15% oak barrels. This was decanted in the famous Billecart-Salmon decanter to age this ‘baby’ a bit. Deep gold. And with real presence. Real grip and savour. Serious stuff. A certain richness underneath. Described by Antoine Billecart as ‘still a baby’. Rich start and not that frothy. Dense and savoury. Intellectual wine! Broad and grippy.”
17/20
Jancis Robinson MW
“Very pale. Sophisticated, very sleek, well balanced nose. A remarkably youthful 2002. Clean, brisk chalky palate with a finish that is just slightly sudden. Quite exciting. This still has quite a bit to give.”
97/100
Antonio Galloni
“A mesmerizing, thrilling Champagne, the 2002 Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart is a great example of the vintage at its best. Silky and racy on the palate, yet a bit more restrained than many wines of the year, the Nicolas François Billecart remains vivid and remarkably nuanced. Brioche. apricot jam, wild flowers and honey are some of the many notes that blossom as the Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart shows off its voluptuous personality. The 2002 is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.”
91 → 95/100
Essi Avellan MW
“The Pinot feels particularly prominent in this vintage. Such a deep, rich, powerful red fruit nose with evolving characters and confectionary, nutty and perfumy tones. Not completely free of bruised notes but beautifully spicy and mellowing. Long-lasting and strong but truly refined palate.”
This week signals the long awaited Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Rosé 2008 named as a tribute to Elisabeth Salmon from the hugely popular and highly rated 2008 vintage.
Billecart-Salmon were one of the first houses to pick grapes last year, kicking off their harvest on 22nd August. We tasted the vins clairs with new Chef de Cave Florent Nys, and also shared a comprehensive range of finished champagnes.
Since the early 21st century, a quiet revolution has been occurring in Champagne, and the ever-burgeoning demand for artisanal, hand-crafted cuvées continues to flourish. What are the origins of single vineyard champagnes, why are they so popular, and are they a fad or the future?
Our previous write-up highlighted what a spectacular year 2018 was for champagne. The good news? 2019 is set to be even bigger! In this article, we look to the future and discuss which champagnes we can expect to be released in 2019.
Earlier this month, Champagne Billecart-Salmon appointed Mathieu Roland-Billecart their new Chief Executive Officer, rounding off a busy bicentenary year which also saw the release of Bicentenary Cuvée 200 MV.
