Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois 2002

Producer: Billecart-salmon

Last updated: March 9th, 2018

QUICK SUMMARY

When I first tasted this Champagne, I immediately through it was overly tart, salty and chalky. How wrong I was. With a little time in a warming glass, this incredible wine opened-up over the next hour, offering a smorgasbord of tantalising flavours and nuances that simply left me speechless. There are times when you can sip a wine and still carry a conversation. Then, there are times when you sip a wine and simply find yourself unable to use your vocabulary to explain the situation and then proceed to regurgitate non-nonsensical wine jargon in order to compensate. You will do both when tasting this impeccable expression from the esteemed house of Billecart-Salmon.

ASSOCIATED CATEGORIES

WHAT TO EXPECT?

THE COLOUR OF BILLECART-SALMON CUVEE NICOLAS FRANCOIS 2002

Golden mid yellow

THE SMELL AND AROMA OF BILLECART-SALMON CUVEE NICOLAS FRANCOIS 2002

You’ve just walked into a wet limestone/chalk cave or the catacombs beneath Paris. You take a deep breath and this cool mineral smell mixes with citrus peel, saline honey, wattle flower nectar and hints of green fruit.

THE TYPICAL PRICE OF BILLECART-SALMON CUVEE NICOLAS FRANCOIS 2002 IN AUSTRALIA

WHAT BILLECART-SALMON CUVEE NICOLAS FRANCOIS 2002 TASTES LIKE

Acidity

Sharp malic acidity and minerality will initially give the impression that this wine is astringent and dry. Give it 10 minutes to open up and warm, then this wine blooms into a smooth maze of complexity

Smooth

Subtle

A tight mineral core is complemented with incredible aged depth and subtle citrus fruit

Full

Brevity

This is the type of wine where one little sip will linger for over an hour on your palate

Length

Savoury

A 4g/L dosage technically means this wine is extra brut, however its raw flavour intensity will over power any notions that this wine is too dry

Sweet

No Oak

Billecart is well known for using barrel fermentation to add a ‘touch of spice’ to their wines

Oak

Fruitness

A perfect combination between rich aged buttery honey syrup and fresh citrus green apple minerality

Biscuittyness

Earth

This wine is well known for its hallmark tight, dominant minerality that is omnipresent throughout every single taste

Limestone / chalk

TECHNICAL DETAILS

House – Billecart-Salmon

Cork – Natural

Dosage – 4g/L

Base – 2002

Base Year – 2002

Oak – 18% fermented in old oak casks

Grapes (Cepage) – 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay

Aged on Lees – 10 years?

Bottled – 2013

Alcohol – 12.5%

Fermentation – Non-Malolcatic, barrel fermentation

Vineyards – Pinot from Montagne de Reims, Chardonnay from Cote des Blancs

WHERE YOU CAN BUY BILLECART-SALMON CUVEE NICOLAS FRANCOIS 2002 IN AUSTRALIA

Only found in the reserve sections of good wine retailers or boutique stores who have an affinity for Billecart-Salmon. Due to the high price and small distribution of this wine, you’re best doing your research prior to venturing out onto the road.

Delicate, fruity layered freshness is the hallmark style of this house and it takes a refined palate to truly appreciate the subtle complexity that lies beneath their wines. They are a house that’s famous for pushing Rose before it became a trends more recently and also their extensive use of the Pinot Meunier grape.

Read full details about Champagne house Billecart here.

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