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).  — a day ago

with Deked1

Rob N

10

Third wine at El Celler de Can Roca. It did not disappoint. Fantastic barolo. — 3 years ago

Jorge Pazos

9.0

Restaurant Trumfes, Llívia — 4 months ago

Corbett Foster

9.2

Prague, Vinograft — 10 months ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.3

This time around, I have to assign a slight decrement as it just is a hair below my 93+ standard. Still great, I just think my agnosticism toward Malbec is ultimately emerging. This Chilean interpretation, however, is unique and complex.

93 points — 3 years ago

Matt Perlman

8.9

Raul Perez, patron saint of charging too much for Spanish varietals. This was quite elegant with some nice black cherry and spice but I like it at about half the price — 4 years ago

Yaw Asare

9.0

I really enjoy it. Light and straight to the point as a sparkling. Feel like I could drink this at length. — 7 months ago

Adam Shaylor

9.2

Everything good meant by the song, “Tiny bubbles.” Hints of melon, lemon curd, and minerality waft out of a delicate effervescence. — a year ago

Gabriel Mendes

9.0

Eu gostei pq é bem seco. Não é exagerado, mas certamente um pouco acima dos cabernets que tem preço parecido. Geladinho ficou uma delícia. Não tem uma variação de sabor muito grande (sem aromas ou toques de frutas, por exemplo). É apenas um cabernet mais seco, mas um bom. — 3 years ago

Jorge Pazos

9.5

Celler de Can Roca — 4 years ago

with Jordi