That perfect light-weighty balance — 5 months ago
Extracted, dense, yet energetic — 9 months ago
A proud hardliner as the artwork on the front label suggests, which more often than not, has proven to be a red flag for what’s to come in the bottle. Fortunately, this was superb and the WOTN for me. Salty, fresh, and juicy. Needed some time to open up to reveal notes of pear, pineapple, candied ginger, and hints of almond meal. Dangerously drinkable. — 2 years ago
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
This was so damn good. Perfectly developed yellow fruit and a striking acidity. — 2 years ago
Nice wine at its prime drinking window (for my personal taste for aged wines). Nose of autumnal forest floor and earth, minerals and crushed mature berries with lively mouth feel and texture, perhaps just a bit one dimensional in a fading finish but an excellent GL 24 value back then especially given the current $ in the 50s. — 4 years ago
This is one of the juiciest, most fruit forward Pinots I’ve had in a very long time. Ripe raspberries and cherry, subtle tannin and smooth finish. The flavor will linger on your palate, wonderful wonderful wine. — 7 months ago
Earthy is characteristic of this Pinot. Then fruity like a typical Pinot. Really interesting Pinot from burgundy. — 2 years ago
Alan Hyde
Gorgeous perfect Sancerre — 10 days ago