Vanessa

9.5

Prior notes continue to apply…

When we visited Billecart-Salmon in October of 2021, we received a tour of the stunning estate. Along the way, our guide, Jerome, paused near a traditional “Clos” (a single vineyard, enclosed by a wall) on the property. 

We could see a beautiful stone wall, surrounding a tiny 1 hectare parcel of “Clos Saint-Hilaire,” named after the Patron Saint & local church in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, where Billecart-Salmon is located. 

Although we didn’t go into the Clos, we learned about how special this parcel is to the family; how it’s exclusively planted to Pinot Noir with vines dating back to 1964; how work in the vineyard is performed by hand and horse-drawn plows; how this parcel is farmed according to an age-old savoir-faire, adhering to principles of sustainable viticulture.

The wine is pale gold with a prominent bouquet of yellow apple, Anjou pear, raspberry, lemon curd, white peach, white blossom, desiccated white rose, wet stones, biscuit, brioche, almond paste, marzipan, crusty croissant, pie crust, toast, creamy texture and persistent, fine-beaded mousse and long elegant finish.

This is a 2005 “Blanc de Noirs” Champagne, comprised of 100% Pinot Noir, all coming from Le Clos Saint Hilaire, vinified entirely in oak casks to lend texture and body, and aged over 13 years sur lie prior to its recent release.  Due to the vineyard’s small size, production is very limited, and wine only produced in the best vintages.

Cheers to beautiful wines expressing a singularity of time and place!

Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire (2005).  — 2 days ago

with Deked1

Rufus King

8.9

Lovely Burgundy (Cabernet Franc) with mild tannin (Urban Grape) — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2021 pours a deep purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe dark fruits: blackberries, dark cherry, plums, purple flowers, cocoa, organic earth and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. A crowd pleaser to drink now but with enough substance to enjoy through 2036. — a month ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.2

No formal notes - but for 17$ this was really 👍. — 6 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.5

Quite pale in color after 21 years. Very port wine like. Was too busy for detailed notes. Winner of the evening. — 7 months ago

David Carter

9.5

Our fav red Bordeaux, so far. Smooth. Minimal tannins. Quite light, Pinot density. Mineral notes w just right amount of dark fruit. W loves. From Haskell’s box. — 8 months ago

Patrick Loomis

9.0

Dry dry dry with raspberry, dried strawberries, straw and hay. — a month ago

Zach Henderson

9.0

Great daily in a great Viennese French bistrot. Highly recommend Le Pic and its maître d — 4 months ago

Jason Gelman

9.0

very pretty, elegant structure, a little dusty , a little too rich on the dark fruits, like a little over ripe. but all in all very nice 11 year old wine — 6 months ago

Charlie Tapp

9.0

Black fruit, bramble, ganache and sage. — 9 months ago