Billecart Salmon ‘Cuvee Nicolas Francois’ Brut 2007

Introduction

An ideal blend allowing the personality of the Champagne regions great Pinot Noirs to dominate, combined with the elegance and subtlety of Chardonnays and that signature touch of Pinot Meunier.

The champagnes of Maison Billecart-Salmon are above all created thanks to the knowledge of the men who rigorously cultivate an estate of 100 hectares, obtaining grapes from an area totaling 300 hectares across 40 crus of the Champagne region.

The majority of the grapes used for vinification come from a radius of 20km around Epernay, where the Grand Crus of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay co-exist, in the ethereal vineyards of the Montagne de Reims, the Valle de la Marne and the Cte des Blancs.

98 Points – Wilfred Wong of Wine The 2007 Billecart-Salmon Cuve Nicolas Franois Brut Champagne commands attention. This outstanding wine is beginning its life in the marketplace. It is active and bright in its aromas and flavors with apple, chalk, tart citrus, and bright minerality. Enjoy it with late-night, pristine sashimi, and conversation with friends.

97 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Disgorged with six grams per liter dosage, the 2007 Brut Cuve Nicolas Franois is showing very nicely, offering up aromas of fresh bread, citrus oil, crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers, verbena, macadamia nut and hints of biscuity complexity to come. Full-bodied, chiseled but fleshy, its vinous core of fruit cloaks the vintage’s brisk acids to achieve real plenitude in a year that’s sometimes rather tautly austere. Long and penetrating and complemented by a pretty pinpoint mousse, this is a real success.

97 Points – James Suckling This is a laser-guided Champagne with fabulous energy and intensity with a tight palate, racy acidity and super fine phenolics. It goes on and on. Fine bubbles. Light pine and praline character. One for the cellar.

97 Points – Vinous The 2007 Brut Cuve Nicolas Franois Billecart is positively stellar. Elegant, polished and sophisticated, the 2007 dazzles with effusive aromatics and gorgeous balance. It’s not an obvious wine, though, but rather a Champagne built for long, patient cellaring. The 2007 is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay taken from Mareuil-sur-A, Ambonnay, Verzenay and Verzy for the Pinots and Chouilly, Avize, Cramant and Mesnil for the Chardonnays. In other words, as good as it gets for villages. The wine was done mostly in tank with about 15% of the lots vinified in oak. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.

97 Points – Wine Enthusiast This beautiful Champagne is amazingly at its peak. Not too mature, not too young, the wine is in fine balance, showing some nervy edge as well as touches of toast. With a small amount of wood vinification, the wine has an extra fullness. Drink through 2025.