Salmon Run

Billecart-Salmon

Le Clos Saint-Hilaire Brut Blanc de Noirs 2005

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 of the 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 170 months (more than 14 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). 
— 6 hours ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Somm and 7 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I saw it in October 23. Special bottling! Cheers! 🥂
Vanessa

Vanessa

@Somm David T Special bottling, indeed! 💯 It continues to evolve favorably! Cheers, David!! 🥂🍾

Billecart-Salmon

Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

This is the Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru with fruit sourced from Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger from mostly the 2017 vintage and some from the 2016 vintage. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The NV BdB Grand Cru pours a light straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of tart fruit: green apple, star fruit, split almonds, limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is super fresh and easy to love, in the house style. Drink now but could easily be cellared for years. Disgorged Q2 of 2023. — 2 months ago

Lyle, Daniel and 16 others liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Extra Brut Champagne Blend

More subtle brioche notes, brighter than others we also like. — a day ago

Dave liked this

Billecart-Salmon

Cuvée Louis Salmon Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne 2007

Yeasty, citrus, delicious, yuzu, tart, and light bubbles. Great for celebrations or For 4pm — 23 days ago

Noah Bee B-P
with Noah and Bee
Tom, Ira and 5 others liked this

Matthiasson

California Rosé Blend 2018

Paul J
9.2

Solid and nice as always. Lovely light salmon color. Strawberries dominate. Refreshing! — 22 days ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Paul and 4 others liked this

Fox Run Vineyards

Finger Lakes Dry Riesling 2019

Nice balance, dry/acid with some buttery mouth feel — 3 months ago

Billecart-Salmon

Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne 2015

Somm David T
9.3

So this is not exactly Elizabeth. It is the same fruit that goes into the Elizabeth, but they made it only as a vintage. They did not put the Elizabeth name on it. There reason is, they believed it wouldn’t last two generations.

As a vintage, it is better than their N/V but not up to most Elizabeth’s I’ve had. However, it is about half the price of Elizabeth w/o less than half the quality.

It was a bit better than 93, 93.4 so I rounded down.
— a month ago

Vanessa, Joe and 13 others liked this

Ruinart

Dom Ruinart Brut Rosé Champagne Blend 2007

Paired perfectly with sockeye salmon and a summer dinner in the back deck.

Super smooth and some nice strawberry and floral flavors coming out.
— 13 days ago

Vanessa, Scott@Mister and 5 others liked this

Domaine Tempier

Bandol Rosé Blend 2023

Very light salmon in color.

Strong nose of limes, grapefruits, light red fruits, citrus, green apples, earth and minerals.

Medium bodied with medium acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with light strawberries, limes, grapefruits, bitter herbs and earth.

Tangy finish with limes and light earth.

This is a refreshing Rosé from Bandol. Well balanced and easy drinking. Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel.

Still young, and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, but already starting to drink very nicely.

Good by itself or with food.

91 points.

$50.
— 14 days ago

Billecart-Salmon

Brut Réserve Champagne Blend

Wonderful companion for the fantastic sushi. — 3 months ago

Peter, Berry and 3 others liked this