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. Champagne Billecart-Salmon is still a family-run organisation with seventh generation Mathieu Roland-Billecart overseeing 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. By 2020 production had expanded with grapes now coming from 300 hectares and 40 crus mostly within 20 kms of the winery.

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 17% maturation in 15 year-old traditional oak barrels underpins the generous character of this fine, elegant and rich champagne.

Weather in 2008: After a rainy but mild winter without any prolonged cold spells, spring arrived with some very localised frosts. Cool weather returned in June and the infrequent sunshine prolonged the feeling of freshness. The spring to autumn weather was bright with sunny spells and the long, hot days and cool nights during September gave the grapes excellent acidity during the harvest period. The 2008 vintage is fast emerging as one of the best since the renowned and now-legendary 2002.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 83% Grands Crus and 17% Premiers Crus Vineyards: 60% Pinot Noir: Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Verzenay & Aÿ | 40% Chardonnay: Mesnil, Chouilly & Cramant
Grape Varieties: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Disgorged: March 2022
Bottling Date: June 2009
Lees Ageing: 12.5 Years
Vinification: 83% vinified in stainless steel tanks and 17% in oak barrels with Partial malolactic fermentation
Dosage: 2.9 g/l
Drink: Now to 2040

Tasting Note: The age-complexed nose is creamy with toffee layers as well as notable oaky presence. Sweet honey tones mark its autumnal red fruit profile of intriguing aromatic complexity. The palate comes with quite a contrast to the linear and driven palate of accentuated acidity. Some of the contrast comes from Billecart-Salmon going for as low a dosage as 2,9g/l, as they felt more would have masked the fruit and brought heaviness. Structure-wise it is suggesting great longevity. - Tasting note by Essi Avellan MW

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, the House were forced to sell most of their vineyards during the difficulties of the early 20th century and today their 15 hectares cover a small proportion of their production needs. To finance their recovery 45% of the business was sold to Frey Group a local investor whose vast resources aid greatly in the sourcing of grapes. By 2020 production had expanded with grapes now coming from 300 hectares and 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