Billecart Salmon "250th Anniversary Cuvee" Extra Brut 1.5 Ltr. 2018

Notes:

Producer: Founded in 1818 in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Billecart-Salmon remains one of Champagne's last great family-owned houses, now led by the seventh generation of the Billecart family. Over two centuries, the house has earned an international reputation for producing Champagnes of remarkable finesse, purity, and longevity through meticulous vineyard selection, gentle pressing, and long, cool fermentations that preserve aromatic precision. This 250th Anniversary Cuvée was created exclusively for the American market to commemorate two historic milestones: the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence and Billecart-Salmon's 200th harvest. The United States has long been one of the house's most important export markets, making this a fitting tribute to an enduring relationship while showcasing one of Champagne's outstanding recent vintages.
Vineyard: The 2018 Anniversary Cuvée is produced entirely from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards, blending 65% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims with 35% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. The exceptional 2018 growing season provided ideal ripening conditions, producing fruit with outstanding concentration while retaining the vibrant acidity that defines great Champagne. The Pinot Noir contributes depth, structure, and layers of red fruit, while the Chardonnay adds precision, elegance, and a finely chiseled mineral backbone. The result is a wine that faithfully reflects both the quality of the vintage and the remarkable pedigree of its vineyard sources.
Winemaking: In keeping with the house's signature style, fermentation was carried out primarily in stainless steel, with just 3% of the blend vinified in oak casks to add subtle texture without overshadowing the wine's freshness. Following bottling in the spring of 2019, the cuvée remained 63 months sur latte, developing exceptional complexity, finesse, and mousse before disgorgement in the fourth quarter of 2024. Finished as an Extra Brut with a restrained 4.9 g/L dosage, the wine combines richness with remarkable precision, allowing the exceptional fruit and chalk-driven minerality to remain at the forefront.
Technical Details: Champagne AOC; Vintage 2018; 65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay; 100% Grand Cru and Premier Cru fruit; Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs; 3% oak vinification, balance fermented in stainless steel; 63 months sur lie; disgorged Q4 2024; Extra Brut (4.9 g/L dosage); 12% alcohol; limited commemorative release created exclusively for the U.S. market.
Food Pairing: Butter-poached lobster, roasted turbot, Dover sole, veal, Bresse chicken, duck breast, oysters, caviar, aged Comté, and truffle-infused dishes all complement this Champagne beautifully. Aromas of yellow peach, red berry fruit, honeysuckle, shortbread, citrus, and toasted brioche lead into a palate that is simultaneously broad, energetic, and intensely chalk-driven. The combination of extended lees aging, restrained dosage, and exceptional vineyard sourcing makes this an outstanding gastronomic Champagne today, while its structure and balance promise graceful evolution over the next two decades.

Billecart Salmon "250th Anniversary Cuvee" Extra Brut 1.5 Ltr. 2018

Name: Billecart Salmon "250th Anniversary Cuvee" Extra Brut 1.5 Ltr. 2018
Brand: Vins Rare
SKU: 102334
Price: 250.00 USD
Availability: InStock