Right after everyone was surprised that my bubbles aperitif was a Blanc de Noir.. this showed up!
Bottle 2,920 of 6,500 ever produced. When most large makers are doing 1 to 2 million bottles of their NV bubbles, this makes the BS CSH very rare indeed.
This iconic Clos St-Hilaire from Billecart Salmon is an old-vine, single vineyard Blanc de Noirs or 100% Pinot Noir. 1996 is a well regarded and phenomenal vintage. Whilst delicate, there is such great balance and depth in this champagne especially with the honey and white pear notes.
Complex nose which was somewhat fleeting at times, bursting out with florality then slightly closed. I did get hints of mature red apple which to me is a tell-tale of this being Pinot dominant, or even all Pinot!
Minerals and flowers appear after you give this some time to evolve, there is a light textured mouthfeel with the finest of bubbles. Drink up, I feel that this is towards the back-end of its best drinking plateau.
The appearance is between clear gold and caramel-like deep gold, with a fine mousse that quickly dissipates. There is still a light tickle of fine bubbles on the palate.
Some element of oxidisation is clearly there, as are the yeast type brioche notes which seem to grow increasingly complex.
Very interestingly, a 2009 Robert Parker review describes: Billecart-Salmon’s 1996 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire has lost some of its youthful exuberance and the fruit now is a touch softer than it was a few years ago. The aromatics and overall balance remain seductive and utterly compelling.
The Clos Saint-Hilaire is the most delicate, ethereal of the three, and this old-vine, single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs, is another of the more accessible 1996s.
I also loved this HK review from Finewineexperience.com, which describes the vintage really well.
I recall that when good 1996s began appearing on the market in the early 2000s, there was a lot of excitement for this vintage.
Richard Juhlin exclaimed in 2002 that 1996 was ‘Probably one of the great vintages of all time. Such acidity, allied to such high alcohol potential, had not been seen since 1928, which should guarantee an unusual longevity.’
1996 Champagnes reminded me a bit of Germany’s much-prized Eiswein style Rieslings .. What you get is a luminous, vibrant, crystal clear but super concentrated expression of Riesling and place, as all the water-ice is left in the wine press, and only the essence is vinified.
Summer had been mostly warm to hot, while critically the northerly winds blew (concentrating the sugars, but also the acidity), and September nights were cold, further ensuring acids didn’t drop too far.
Champagne writer Peter Liem describes the result, 1996 ‘was essentially unique—nobody had ever seen a vintage with the same combination of high ripeness and high acidity. Producers were thrilled with the extraordinary phenomenon of “10/10” (10 degrees of potential alcohol and 10 g./l. of acidity), which involved sugar levels comparable to those of 1989 and 1990 but also acidity levels of vintages such as 1986 or 1980.’
The north wind concentrated the acidity, the flavors, the sugars in the berries. But the pitfall of ’96 was that it concentrated the oxidative compounds in the bad grapes, and these have evolved very rapidly.
This is why some wines are not yet ready to drink, while others are already over the hill. This is also why there are not many rosés from ’96, because of this oxidation in the pinot noir.
Thanks for your immense generosity, brother LMC. What a massive bottle to kick-start our evening celebrating RN's birthday and a belated repeat get-together for DQ's as well. Wonderful dinner over 5 hours at Stoked.
Stoked, KL, Malaysia 1st May 2024
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the nose, fresh cut apples and sherry. In the glass, somewhere between clear gold and caramel, with mousse that disappears almost immediately in the glass, and very little in the way of bubbles, although the carbonation remains. On the palate, an interesting hybrid of citrus, green apple, and madeira - no question this is on the downward side of its aging curve, but it's interesting to capture the champagne at this stage, while there is still that last bit of life and energy. Time to drink up. Happy New Year!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
this was a dark yellow verging on oxidised on opening so fully mature, if not in decline - the mousse is all but gone with very gentle bubbles - still quite delicious with the breadiness in check
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Massive nose, vinous, brioche with a touch of apricot.
Mouth of great maturity, with a frank attack with an extremely dense juice carried by a lively and integrated acidity. The wine is spicy, with roasted aromas, it is a perfect table companion because it responds perfectly to the dish. Aeration was beneficial to give it all its amplitude and structure with a second part on black fruits and an oxidative touch. Everything is perfectly integrated in this wine which loosens up intensely. Majestic finish on spices, on an important length.
Excellent, but to drink at the table to appreciate all its facets.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
La Tache and '96 Champagne (Atlanta): Cloying sweetness. Good on its own, which is great that we started with it. Hard to pair with food, but enjoyable to drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Typical '96 with really intense, ripe fruit and tons of acid. The parts are impressive and while it's not really disjointed it also doesn't fully come together in an integrated, harmonious way. Still quite good though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As usual, this sparkler comes out with rich, ripe fruit and an attractive mousse. The old vines character can seem a touch over-ripe at first. However, after about an hour of air this wine firms up and becomes a powerful mouthful of integrated fruit, acidity, and chalky mineral notes. The length is astounding!
When this wine is on, it is outstanding. If the storage conditions were less than ideal it can show a bit tired. While this wine will not get better with age, it is top notch right now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'll say I like it, but when you factor in QPR, I'm not 100% sure. Now some of that is this was pretty tight and not really showing very much. We drank it over the course of a few hours and I let some sit in a glass for awhile hoping that it would give a bit more and it stayed more on the quiet side through the whole night which sometimes happens with PN and while the wine has age, I'd argue you could say 96's can still drink quite young. So perhaps that's what this was. But for the normal spicy and herbal and complex PN that I like it wasn't there and for the price tag I was hoping it would be. SO live and learn.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine had a light gold center and an excellent mousse. The medium intensity nose offered up orchard fruit, lemons, brioche, and minerals.
I the mouth, this wine was clearly picked very ripe from old vines. It was rich with great acidity and a lovely mousse. These elements all supported each other well.
It was not as balanced as some champagne because of its extreme ripeness. I enjoyed it immensely but it may not be for everybody. In any event, this wine is not getting better so drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Again a bottle that tasted different but again, pretty spectacular. This wine has a medium yellow center with a nice mousse. The medium intensity nose focused on white minerals, brioche, lemon, and some dried fruit.
In the mouth, this wine was nice at first but certainly improved with air. It did not show the super-ripeness of the last bottle nor the blazing acidity of the first bottle. It was complex and gorgeously balanced with excellent length.
This bottle was comfortably in the zone with about 30-60 minutes of air. I would have like to have seen a bit more acidity to merit a higher score. But even without this my score was verging on 96.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Le Clos Saint Hilaire is Billecart Salmon’s cuvée prestige. A 1 hectare vineyard in Mareuil-Sur-Ay, 100% Pinot Noir. Tasted blind - Impressive ripeness and body. Bright orchard fruits, apricot and ripe red berries of Pinot Noir fruits. Full bodied with great acidity and ripeness. Maturing fruits and slight savoury note reminds me of a ripe vintage champagne from the 90s. Good tension. Clos de Goisses? 1996? (92/100)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was from a different source than the last bottle. This wine had a deep yellow/gold center and a lovely mousse. The nose was light at fist but grew dramatically with an hour of air.
In the mouth, this wine was somewhat over-ripe/oxidized with some length. After an hour the wine became fresher with crisp acidity and huge length.
This Champagne has old vine intensity and certainly needed air to show well. A special wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
(Blind tasting) Full, rich, complex and developed nose. Fully ready. Both fruity and flowery with nice tertiary mushroom notes. Nuanced apple, spice and liquorice depths. Full, and properly austere palate. Very dry. Mature. Very good grip and very high acidity. Grape fruit, spice and chocolate. After time in glass, some hints of sherry. I tasted this in 2012 and thought it shy then. It certainly had opened up. This is splendid now, but I think the fruit will reside and all that will be left behind is the 1996-acidity and mature mushroom/sherry notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slightly oxidized flavors but still fresh with strong acidity and fizz. Excellent intensity with flavors of brioche, citrus and mint which lead to a very complex finish with notes of copper minerals and exotic spices. Delicious champagne at the height of its powers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Compared to the bottle we had three years ago, this was quite a bit more evolved - still dominated by apples, but now noticeable notes of aging/oxidation are in the mix. Could just be bottle variation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This Champagne was in perfect condition and had a deep yellow center and small tight bubbles. The low+ intensity nose showed pear, minerals, and quince. It did not change much during the 90 minutes this wine was open.
In the mouth, this Champagne was a revelation. It’s small precise bubbles, integrated with its fruit, minerals, and piercing acidity, created an amazing impact on the palate. It had somewhat subtle but staggering length.
While the color of this Champagne said it was mature, the flavor profile suggested it was young. I believe the reality is that it is drinking now but will last, and maybe even improve, for a couple decades. Very impressive!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Might be the best one I've had yet. Not an over powering wine but approachable at first pour. Continues to show tons of green apple and pear. For the first time I noticed the red taste from the meunier. Very good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very impressive and unusual champagne. Pink gold nuances. 15Y on lees. No dosage, but elegant complex and rich. Fine roast and nut aromas, spices, truffle, honey. Very pure. The blanc de noirs adds a lot of character, but there is a nice fresh acidic lift. To be enjoyed with food. I love the depth this champagne has but it is not overpowered by richness or minerality, it has the elegance ...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fireworks for January: plethora of top wines with great friends (Black Salt Restaurant, Washington D.C.): Wow! Really crisp and pure, lovely freshness, the color is far healthier than the Krug 1996, but let us get beyond comparing a faulty bottle with a healthy one. Apple and citron, precise. Delicious. Very fresh, and the best Billecart Salmon I can recall ever enjoying. Including their rosé bubblies. Thanks to David Zimmerman for this. Rivals the Salon 1996 - coming later - for precision, even if it cannot match it for density.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Elisabeth Salmon dinner at S.K.Y. (Chicago, IL): Next to some of the other 96s we had tonight, I felt this was a fairly weak wine. It's mostly a story of the screaming 1996 acidity, and until I looked it up later, I would have been easily convinced that this was a blanc de blancs. Shows much too thin, sharp, and acidic for easy enjoyment, though that's not to say it's a bad wine. We'll see if this ever comes around (I'm not super optimistic).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Champagne 96 tasting, wine nr7. Best votes (3), Worst votes (1) out of 13. My best vote. Golden color, massive nose with exotic ripe fruit, roasted nuts, brioche, crackers, mature apples and wet minerals. Mature mouthfeel but still a nice freshness and crispy acidity. Elegant mouthfeel with pears, grilled lemon, apricots, wood, roasted nuts and hints of white cheese. 100% PN. 98p
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yes, I do like it - but so far it just doesn't deliver the intensity and distinctiveness I want. Just mild aroma and taste of Pinot Noir, pleasant but simple and not memorable. Perhaps it just needs more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Grande Finesse. Traçant. Vineux. Explosif en bouche. Sublime. Puissance énorme. Peu passer encore quelques années en cave. Ma plus belle expérience de champagne. Accord avec champignon : un délice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Champagne - 100 Vintage and NV Champagne; 12/15/2015-12/15/2020: During a tasting lunch. Complex nose of apple, flowers yeast, very young and fresh for a 20 year old bottle. Enters the palate lively and bubbly, classic and refined. Good freshness and finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose is incredibly rich, showing pear, ginger, roasted nuts, raw dough, dusty dried floral tones and the slightest hint of lime. On the palate, it displayed silky-soft textures with giving way to stone fruit and minerals up front, then to hints of citrus and a revitalizing note of acidity. Minerals resonated on the finish, along with hints of apple and pear. It truly makes its presence known.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
In the glass, clear and deep gold with very fine bubbles. On the nose, dominated by crushed apples, with a very faint note of strawberry. On the palate, relatively primary, with apples and a full-bodied yeasty palate, but not yielding much else over the course of a couple of hours. A refined and elegant texture makes me think the best days for this are still years away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is good champagne but not great champagne. It's pale and lively with a distinctive pleasant light hazelnut pinot aroma. On the palate, it is medium bodied with notes of bread and nuts. Not very complex. Is this Clos really distinctive enough to justify a special bottling?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very fresh toasty nose with peach and citrus fruit. Palate is lush and quite big which reminds you it is a pinot noir champ, yet the acidity reminds you that it is from 96 which balances out the big body. Still an infant, a glorious child, will be wonderful with much more cellar age. Greatness in the making.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sloppy Seconds Mondo Tasting (Bin 75): Golden yellow, larger bubbles, lingering mousse; nutty, red apple, green fruit, tart,; rich and luxurious, good acid, some aged notes, almond, long finish, chalk and yeast on the finish; phenomenal but it never evolved with extended airtime; a brick house of a champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Long time since I had these bubbles and from being sharp and closed it now was almost fully developed. Hard to say if it is a phase. There are many 96´s going this direction right now. There are some being extremely sharp and complex but a lot are falling apart. Is it just a phase? Time will tell.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very delicate, tender and subtly complex nose. Just about ripe apples, lightly yeasty, notes of flowers, apricots and some aniseed. Harmonius taste. Round, quite full body. Very pure and elegant. Good grip. Ripe apple and yeast, but not a blockbuster. Still shy. Tasted in a 1996 prestige tasting, this came out as too shy and subtle to make any lasting impressions. I lacked the secondary aromas - maybe you'll have to wait 25-30 years for them?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely, beautiful mature Champagne. This bottle was like a flawless diamond, complex, with layers of fruit and taste and nose… Great Champagne that will keep much longer still.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
not sure how to judge this bottle. totally hyper active bubbles with massive fresh ripe berry fruits in your face. there is nothing shy about this wine. after 6 hours it had not settled down. if you like this style it is amazing. for me, i prefer a more well rounded and balanced champagne. as for the price it is kind of silly
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
While not quite as spectacular as before, this is still outstanding. The aroma of dark fruit, raisin and fig is immediately forthcoming. Not quite as full in the palate, though. Could it be losing fruit as Brad Baker suggests? This wine needs close monitoring but for now, it's still wonderful.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking really well at the moment but still very primary. This needs to settle down and develop secondary flavors although its fun to drink now. Citrus and floral flavors with a lot of acidity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As fresh as the day it was bottled. Lots of body and acidity. Alot of power and structure. If the Salon is the girl you take to the royal ballet, the St Hilaire is the one you take to the after party. You wont be disappointed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Radically different than the bottle 18 months ago. Vigorous, frothy, pale; it certainly looks healthy. But extremely thin and austere on the plate. Where is the fruit?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nothing like last week's bottle. Brought to Acker auction at Cru - just sour and bitter, devoid of any fruit. Unfortunately just like the bottle I brought with me to LA in November. Sounds like 'sdr' had the same issue.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was just on fire, over the top tonight. Sushi night - great nose of brioche, oyster, mushroom, flint, strawberry and touch of oxidation. Palate had fresh strawberries, bit of caramel, sour cherry finish. The acidity was long, but not harsh - amazing. It is such a great drinker now that I am afraid to age them. How much better can it get.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with Bipin, Francois, Gary and Tom at Chinois in Santa Monica - everyone brought a great bottle, except me - mine was oxidized. Gary's 86 Krug Mesnil was great but I felt Tom's '82 DP bested them all.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brought to dinner at Element in Princeton - great again, just like the last bottle, creamy, brioche, oysters, white fruits, great mouthfeel and acidity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank at Restaurant Laurent in Paris - Just like the last bottle, creamy, brioche, oysters, white fruits, great mouthfeel and acidity. It was also a great deal on the list, less than 2x US auction and cheaper than the Krug Grand Cuvee on their list. Perfect match with an all seafood meal.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another great bottle of this Champagne. Brioche and caramel on nose with a touch of ocean breeze. Palate has the perfect amount of acidity, not overdone like a lot of '96's. The front palate has lemon and white peach, some oyster in the mid-palate, and finishes with a mild caramel. The texture of this wine is very creamy, but not cloying. Such a great drinking experience. Drank with clams and scallops and matched perfectly.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Big "Four-O": 40+ Wines for 40 Years: Similar, but not as good as the last time. Drank after the Krug Clos du Mesnil, so that may have had something to do with it. Yeast and caramel on the nose with white peaches, lemon and minerals on the palate. Good acidity, but very smooth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sushi night - that means Champagne. This follows on the heels of the '96 Salon last week. While the Salon (Blanc de Blancs) was all about green apples, the Billecart (Blanc de Noirs) was much more complex and open. The nose had just the right amount of yeast with a touch of caramel. The palate starts with walnuts then evolves to white peaches and finishes with lemon and minerals. The acidity is high, but no tartness at all. Lots of wonderful bubbles, but not even a touch of bubble burn.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the kind of wine that stops conversation and inspires awe. After hearing mixed reviews and seeing Juhlins' puzzling 85/94 rating I was extremely curious to try this soon-to-be-cult champagne. As splendid as Billecart-Salmon is throughout their range, especially the magnificent 1996 Grande Cuvee, this is better yet. The color is slightly dark with a brown hue. The pinpoint bubbles are infinite and there's quite a foam, but no sense of gassiness in the mouth. It's the aroma that is immediately and intensely captivating: brown butter, walnut, toffee, mochacchino, caramel; classic pinot noir (this is 100% PN). And once in the mouth, it's hard to swallow, the gustatory pleasure is so great. The flavor is as rich and dark as the nose suggests and the finish is long and beautiful. It's young of course, but much more open than many other '96s. There's plenty of bright acidity but the sheer weight of the fruit covers it, even in this youthful phase. An undeniable masterpiece.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitely a bling Champagne in every sense, this tastes palpably glitzy with its shimmering golden fruit whose gloss gives it a real sense of sweetness, even though it's apparently non-dosage. I wouldn't have guessed it was pure blanc de noirs either - it doesn't seem that bassy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aggressive wild nose with floral notes, exotic spices, sea breeze and complexity. Expands on the palate with pretty balanced acidity, though a little bit aggressive. Some fruit and some slightly stoney nature too, but really still wild and exotic flavors. The wide ranging flavors keep it from becoming too strict. Solid finish. This is a unique flavor profile in this Champagne and very fresh. A fun wine to drink. Very good. Wild.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/4/2024 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mogen doft, honung på näsan, skönt söt beska, polkagris, choklad lång eftersmak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2024 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 93 Points
Right after everyone was surprised that my bubbles aperitif was a Blanc de Noir.. this showed up!
Bottle 2,920 of 6,500 ever produced. When most large makers are doing 1 to 2 million bottles of their NV bubbles, this makes the BS CSH very rare indeed.
This iconic Clos St-Hilaire from Billecart Salmon is an old-vine, single vineyard Blanc de Noirs or 100% Pinot Noir. 1996 is a well regarded and phenomenal vintage. Whilst delicate, there is such great balance and depth in this champagne especially with the honey and white pear notes.
Complex nose which was somewhat fleeting at times, bursting out with florality then slightly closed. I did get hints of mature red apple which to me is a tell-tale of this being Pinot dominant, or even all Pinot!
Minerals and flowers appear after you give this some time to evolve, there is a light textured mouthfeel with the finest of bubbles. Drink up, I feel that this is towards the back-end of its best drinking plateau.
The appearance is between clear gold and caramel-like deep gold, with a fine mousse that quickly dissipates. There is still a light tickle of fine bubbles on the palate.
Some element of oxidisation is clearly there, as are the yeast type brioche notes which seem to grow increasingly complex.
Very interestingly, a 2009 Robert Parker review describes:
Billecart-Salmon’s 1996 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire has lost some of its youthful exuberance and the fruit now is a touch softer than it was a few years ago. The aromatics and overall balance remain seductive and utterly compelling.
The Clos Saint-Hilaire is the most delicate, ethereal of the three, and this old-vine, single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs, is another of the more accessible 1996s.
I also loved this HK review from Finewineexperience.com, which describes the vintage really well.
I recall that when good 1996s began appearing on the market in the early 2000s, there was a lot of excitement for this vintage.
Richard Juhlin exclaimed in 2002 that 1996 was ‘Probably one of the great vintages of all time. Such acidity, allied to such high alcohol potential, had not been seen since 1928, which should guarantee an unusual longevity.’
1996 Champagnes reminded me a bit of Germany’s much-prized Eiswein style Rieslings .. What you get is a luminous, vibrant, crystal clear but super concentrated expression of Riesling and place, as all the water-ice is left in the wine press, and only the essence is vinified.
Summer had been mostly warm to hot, while critically the northerly winds blew (concentrating the sugars, but also the acidity), and September nights were cold, further ensuring acids didn’t drop too far.
Champagne writer Peter Liem describes the result, 1996 ‘was essentially unique—nobody had ever seen a vintage with the same combination of high ripeness and high acidity. Producers were thrilled with the extraordinary phenomenon of “10/10” (10 degrees of potential alcohol and 10 g./l. of acidity), which involved sugar levels comparable to those of 1989 and 1990 but also acidity levels of vintages such as 1986 or 1980.’
The north wind concentrated the acidity, the flavors, the sugars in the berries. But the pitfall of ’96 was that it concentrated the oxidative compounds in the bad grapes, and these have evolved very rapidly.
This is why some wines are not yet ready to drink, while others are already over the hill. This is also why there are not many rosés from ’96, because of this oxidation in the pinot noir.
Thanks for your immense generosity, brother LMC. What a massive bottle to kick-start our evening celebrating RN's birthday and a belated repeat get-together for DQ's as well. Wonderful dinner over 5 hours at Stoked.
Stoked, KL, Malaysia
1st May 2024
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2023 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
On the nose, fresh cut apples and sherry. In the glass, somewhere between clear gold and caramel, with mousse that disappears almost immediately in the glass, and very little in the way of bubbles, although the carbonation remains. On the palate, an interesting hybrid of citrus, green apple, and madeira - no question this is on the downward side of its aging curve, but it's interesting to capture the champagne at this stage, while there is still that last bit of life and energy. Time to drink up. Happy New Year!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2023 - hargy Likes this wine: 91 Points
this was a dark yellow verging on oxidised on opening so fully mature, if not in decline - the mousse is all but gone with very gentle bubbles - still quite delicious with the breadiness in check
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2023 - Benoit Hardy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Massive nose, vinous, brioche with a touch of apricot.
Mouth of great maturity, with a frank attack with an extremely dense juice carried by a lively and integrated acidity. The wine is spicy, with roasted aromas, it is a perfect table companion because it responds perfectly to the dish. Aeration was beneficial to give it all its amplitude and structure with a second part on black fruits and an oxidative touch. Everything is perfectly integrated in this wine which loosens up intensely. Majestic finish on spices, on an important length.
Excellent, but to drink at the table to appreciate all its facets.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2022 - jhngo wrote: flawed
Cooked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2022 - BradE wrote:
La Tache in Atlanta: Candy, cloying, sweet. Not my cup of tea.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2022 - shifter wrote:
La Tache and '96 Champagne (Atlanta): Cloying sweetness. Good on its own, which is great that we started with it. Hard to pair with food, but enjoyable to drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2021 - bill00 wrote: 92 Points
Typical '96 with really intense, ripe fruit and tons of acid. The parts are impressive and while it's not really disjointed it also doesn't fully come together in an integrated, harmonious way. Still quite good though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2020 - Ltim BE Likes this wine: 95 Points
Brilliant showing today. At its peak, complex, mature, stunning complexity. A real treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2020 - fclarity wrote: 96 Points
As usual, this sparkler comes out with rich, ripe fruit and an attractive mousse. The old vines character can seem a touch over-ripe at first. However, after about an hour of air this wine firms up and becomes a powerful mouthful of integrated fruit, acidity, and chalky mineral notes. The length is astounding!
When this wine is on, it is outstanding. If the storage conditions were less than ideal it can show a bit tired. While this wine will not get better with age, it is top notch right now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2020 - WIBA Likes this wine: 93 Points
beautiful acidity and elegance. so clean.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2020 - fclarity wrote: 96 Points
Clearly, there is some bottle variation with this wine. This bottle had a deep yellow center and clear rims. It had a solid mousse.
After an hour of air, this wine blossomed substantially. The medium+ nose showed lemon souffle, white stone, brioche, and just a hint of apricot.
This bottle showed absolutely none of the over-ripeness that the last couple bottles showed. It was rock solid, crisp, and very long.
This bottle would easily have lasted 5 years. Outstanding!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2020 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
I'll say I like it, but when you factor in QPR, I'm not 100% sure. Now some of that is this was pretty tight and not really showing very much. We drank it over the course of a few hours and I let some sit in a glass for awhile hoping that it would give a bit more and it stayed more on the quiet side through the whole night which sometimes happens with PN and while the wine has age, I'd argue you could say 96's can still drink quite young. So perhaps that's what this was. But for the normal spicy and herbal and complex PN that I like it wasn't there and for the price tag I was hoping it would be. SO live and learn.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2020 - fclarity wrote: 95 Points
This wine had a light gold center and an excellent mousse. The medium intensity nose offered up orchard fruit, lemons, brioche, and minerals.
I the mouth, this wine was clearly picked very ripe from old vines. It was rich with great acidity and a lovely mousse. These elements all supported each other well.
It was not as balanced as some champagne because of its extreme ripeness. I enjoyed it immensely but it may not be for everybody. In any event, this wine is not getting better so drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2020 - fclarity wrote: 95 Points
Again a bottle that tasted different but again, pretty spectacular. This wine has a medium yellow center with a nice mousse. The medium intensity nose focused on white minerals, brioche, lemon, and some dried fruit.
In the mouth, this wine was nice at first but certainly improved with air. It did not show the super-ripeness of the last bottle nor the blazing acidity of the first bottle. It was complex and gorgeously balanced with excellent length.
This bottle was comfortably in the zone with about 30-60 minutes of air. I would have like to have seen a bit more acidity to merit a higher score. But even without this my score was verging on 96.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2020 - Jammy Wine wrote: 92 Points
Le Clos Saint Hilaire is Billecart Salmon’s cuvée prestige. A 1 hectare vineyard in Mareuil-Sur-Ay, 100% Pinot Noir. Tasted blind - Impressive ripeness and body. Bright orchard fruits, apricot and ripe red berries of Pinot Noir fruits. Full bodied with great acidity and ripeness. Maturing fruits and slight savoury note reminds me of a ripe vintage champagne from the 90s. Good tension. Clos de Goisses? 1996? (92/100)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2020 - Markus IWC Likes this wine: 94 Points
Alex Billecart tasting wine #5:
Dark golden, slightly red tone.
Fresh nose with red berries, chocolate, mint, tropcial fruit (litchi), mature peach and floral nortes. Developed and complex.
Round and smooth on the palate, red berries, nice fruit, high acidity, nice balance, deep, complex, long finish. 94p
BV 3
WV 2
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2020 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Honung på näsan, kolapaj, pigg mousse, kraftig, bred i munnen, torr. Häftigt vin!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2019 - fclarity wrote: 95 Points
This bottle was from a different source than the last bottle. This wine had a deep yellow/gold center and a lovely mousse. The nose was light at fist but grew dramatically with an hour of air.
In the mouth, this wine was somewhat over-ripe/oxidized with some length. After an hour the wine became fresher with crisp acidity and huge length.
This Champagne has old vine intensity and certainly needed air to show well. A special wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2019 - hprphf Likes this wine: 94 Points
Zachy's BYO 2019: Really nice Champagne, crispy clean acidity, deep structure and great balance. Holds up after a night of great wines. 94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2019 - Argrath wrote: 96 Points
(Blind tasting)
Full, rich, complex and developed nose. Fully ready. Both fruity and flowery with nice tertiary mushroom notes. Nuanced apple, spice and liquorice depths.
Full, and properly austere palate. Very dry. Mature. Very good grip and very high acidity. Grape fruit, spice and chocolate. After time in glass, some hints of sherry.
I tasted this in 2012 and thought it shy then. It certainly had opened up. This is splendid now, but I think the fruit will reside and all that will be left behind is the 1996-acidity and mature mushroom/sherry notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2019 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
Slightly oxidized flavors but still fresh with strong acidity and fizz. Excellent intensity with flavors of brioche, citrus and mint which lead to a very complex finish with notes of copper minerals and exotic spices. Delicious champagne at the height of its powers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2018 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Compared to the bottle we had three years ago, this was quite a bit more evolved - still dominated by apples, but now noticeable notes of aging/oxidation are in the mix. Could just be bottle variation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2018 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 92 Points
A little caramel and nuttiness, apple, bracing acidity on the back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2018 - fclarity wrote: 96 Points
This Champagne was in perfect condition and had a deep yellow center and small tight bubbles. The low+ intensity nose showed pear, minerals, and quince. It did not change much during the 90 minutes this wine was open.
In the mouth, this Champagne was a revelation. It’s small precise bubbles, integrated with its fruit, minerals, and piercing acidity, created an amazing impact on the palate. It had somewhat subtle but staggering length.
While the color of this Champagne said it was mature, the flavor profile suggested it was young. I believe the reality is that it is drinking now but will last, and maybe even improve, for a couple decades. Very impressive!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2018 - fatboi Likes this wine: 94 Points
Might be the best one I've had yet. Not an over powering wine but approachable at first pour. Continues to show tons of green apple and pear. For the first time I noticed the red taste from the meunier. Very good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2018 - mr_swirl Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very impressive and unusual champagne. Pink gold nuances. 15Y on lees. No dosage, but elegant complex and rich. Fine roast and nut aromas, spices, truffle, honey. Very pure. The blanc de noirs adds a lot of character, but there is a nice fresh acidic lift. To be enjoyed with food. I love the depth this champagne has but it is not overpowered by richness or minerality, it has the elegance ...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2018 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fireworks for January: plethora of top wines with great friends (Black Salt Restaurant, Washington D.C.): Wow! Really crisp and pure, lovely freshness, the color is far healthier than the Krug 1996, but let us get beyond comparing a faulty bottle with a healthy one. Apple and citron, precise. Delicious. Very fresh, and the best Billecart Salmon I can recall ever enjoying. Including their rosé bubblies. Thanks to David Zimmerman for this. Rivals the Salon 1996 - coming later - for precision, even if it cannot match it for density.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2017 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Elisabeth Salmon dinner at S.K.Y. (Chicago, IL): Next to some of the other 96s we had tonight, I felt this was a fairly weak wine. It's mostly a story of the screaming 1996 acidity, and until I looked it up later, I would have been easily convinced that this was a blanc de blancs. Shows much too thin, sharp, and acidic for easy enjoyment, though that's not to say it's a bad wine. We'll see if this ever comes around (I'm not super optimistic).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2017 - Markus IWC wrote: 98 Points
Champagne 96 tasting, wine nr7. Best votes (3), Worst votes (1) out of 13. My best vote. Golden color, massive nose with exotic ripe fruit, roasted nuts, brioche, crackers, mature apples and wet minerals. Mature mouthfeel but still a nice freshness and crispy acidity. Elegant mouthfeel with pears, grilled lemon, apricots, wood, roasted nuts and hints of white cheese. 100% PN. 98p
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2016 - fatboi Likes this wine: 93 Points
A lively bottle. Showing lots of pears and apples. quite opulent and fresh.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2016 - sdr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Yes, I do like it - but so far it just doesn't deliver the intensity and distinctiveness I want. Just mild aroma and taste of Pinot Noir, pleasant but simple and not memorable. Perhaps it just needs more time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2016 - Kefrens Likes this wine: 97 Points
Grande Finesse. Traçant. Vineux. Explosif en bouche. Sublime. Puissance énorme. Peu passer encore quelques années en cave.
Ma plus belle expérience de champagne.
Accord avec champignon : un délice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2016 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Champagne - 100 Vintage and NV Champagne; 12/15/2015-12/15/2020: During a tasting lunch. Complex nose of apple, flowers yeast, very young and fresh for a 20 year old bottle. Enters the palate lively and bubbly, classic and refined. Good freshness and finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2016 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 90 Points
Wine-pages Glasgow Festival of Wine Pre Offline (Cail Bruich, Glasgow): Very precise. Huge acidity. Lovely white pepper spice. Touch of red fruit richness - presumably pinot dominated?
Lovely stuff, but it's just not thrilling me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2016 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
Pinot richness really apparent, but retains good acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 96 Points
The Ultimative 1996 Champagne Tasting with Richard Juhlin (Behrens am Kai in Düsseldorf 1 star restaurant): Sharp crispy acidity, citrus, very young, granny smith meets chocolate, long finish 95(97)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 95 Points
The nose is incredibly rich, showing pear, ginger, roasted nuts, raw dough, dusty dried floral tones and the slightest hint of lime. On the palate, it displayed silky-soft textures with giving way to stone fruit and minerals up front, then to hints of citrus and a revitalizing note of acidity. Minerals resonated on the finish, along with hints of apple and pear. It truly makes its presence known.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
In the glass, clear and deep gold with very fine bubbles. On the nose, dominated by crushed apples, with a very faint note of strawberry. On the palate, relatively primary, with apples and a full-bodied yeasty palate, but not yielding much else over the course of a couple of hours. A refined and elegant texture makes me think the best days for this are still years away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2015 - fatboi Likes this wine: 94 Points
was in a very good place. Apples and pears. well balanced. Drinking well now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2015 - sdr Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is good champagne but not great champagne. It's pale and lively with a distinctive pleasant light hazelnut pinot aroma. On the palate, it is medium bodied with notes of bread and nuts. Not very complex. Is this Clos really distinctive enough to justify a special bottling?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2015 - Pacalet Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very fresh toasty nose with peach and citrus fruit. Palate is lush and quite big which reminds you it is a pinot noir champ, yet the acidity reminds you that it is from 96 which balances out the big body. Still an infant, a glorious child, will be wonderful with much more cellar age. Greatness in the making.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2013 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sloppy Seconds Mondo Tasting (Bin 75): Golden yellow, larger bubbles, lingering mousse; nutty, red apple, green fruit, tart,; rich and luxurious, good acid, some aged notes, almond, long finish, chalk and yeast on the finish; phenomenal but it never evolved with extended airtime; a brick house of a champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2013 - Tavastgatan wrote: 93 Points
Bone dry and quite developed. Not really my style, too lille fruit for me. Was expecting more. Still a fine Champagne.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2013 - St Paul wrote: 93 Points
Long time since I had these bubbles and from being sharp and closed it now was almost fully developed. Hard to say if it is a phase. There are many 96´s going this direction right now. There are some being extremely sharp and complex but a lot are falling apart. Is it just a phase? Time will tell.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2012 - Argrath wrote: 91 Points
Very delicate, tender and subtly complex nose. Just about ripe apples, lightly yeasty, notes of flowers, apricots and some aniseed.
Harmonius taste. Round, quite full body. Very pure and elegant. Good grip. Ripe apple and yeast, but not a blockbuster. Still shy.
Tasted in a 1996 prestige tasting, this came out as too shy and subtle to make any lasting impressions. I lacked the secondary aromas - maybe you'll have to wait 25-30 years for them?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2012 - Ramberg wrote: 95 Points
Lovely, beautiful mature Champagne.
This bottle was like a flawless diamond, complex, with layers of fruit and taste and nose…
Great Champagne that will keep much longer still.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2011 - christopher wish wrote:
not sure how to judge this bottle. totally hyper active bubbles with massive fresh ripe berry fruits in your face.
there is nothing shy about this wine. after 6 hours it had not settled down. if you like this style it is amazing.
for me, i prefer a more well rounded and balanced champagne. as for the price it is kind of silly
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2011 - Jossik wrote: 87 Points
diversissimo dagli altri bevuti, molto immediato di mela e terrosità, bocca altamente bevibile, non ha note vinose, complesse o strutturate
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2011 - Le Musigny wrote:
Very fresh with good exotic fruit and in a fairly primary place.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2011 - Le Musigny wrote:
Outstanding bottle with good fruit (red) and , minerality, with good structure and acidity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2010 - sdr Likes this wine: 92 Points
While not quite as spectacular as before, this is still outstanding. The aroma of dark fruit, raisin and fig is immediately forthcoming. Not quite as full in the palate, though. Could it be losing fruit as Brad Baker suggests? This wine needs close monitoring but for now, it's still wonderful.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2010 - Le Musigny wrote:
Drinking really well at the moment but still very primary. This needs to settle down and develop secondary flavors although its fun to drink now. Citrus and floral flavors with a lot of acidity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2010 - typh wrote: 96 Points
As fresh as the day it was bottled. Lots of body and acidity. Alot of power and structure. If the Salon is the girl you take to the royal ballet, the St Hilaire is the one you take to the after party. You wont be disappointed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2010 - sdr wrote:
Radically different than the bottle 18 months ago. Vigorous, frothy, pale; it certainly looks healthy. But extremely thin and austere on the plate. Where is the fruit?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2010 - JJL wrote: flawed
Nothing like last week's bottle. Brought to Acker auction at Cru - just sour and bitter, devoid of any fruit. Unfortunately just like the bottle I brought with me to LA in November. Sounds like 'sdr' had the same issue.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2010 - JJL wrote: 97 Points
Nothing new to say - great as always.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2010 - JJL wrote: 98 Points
This was just on fire, over the top tonight. Sushi night - great nose of brioche, oyster, mushroom, flint, strawberry and touch of oxidation. Palate had fresh strawberries, bit of caramel, sour cherry finish. The acidity was long, but not harsh - amazing. It is such a great drinker now that I am afraid to age them. How much better can it get.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2009 - JJL wrote: 90 Points
Brought to the Beckwith's residence for Grand Cru's Champagne Holiday Party. Good, but not showing as it should.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2009 - JJL wrote: flawed
Dinner with Bipin, Francois, Gary and Tom at Chinois in Santa Monica - everyone brought a great bottle, except me - mine was oxidized. Gary's 86 Krug Mesnil was great but I felt Tom's '82 DP bested them all.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2009 - JJL wrote: 97 Points
Brought to dinner at Element in Princeton - great again, just like the last bottle, creamy, brioche, oysters, white fruits, great mouthfeel and acidity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2009 - JJL wrote: 97 Points
Drank at Restaurant Laurent in Paris - Just like the last bottle, creamy, brioche, oysters, white fruits, great mouthfeel and acidity. It was also a great deal on the list, less than 2x US auction and cheaper than the Krug Grand Cuvee on their list. Perfect match with an all seafood meal.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2009 - JJL wrote: 97 Points
Another great bottle of this Champagne. Brioche and caramel on nose with a touch of ocean breeze. Palate has the perfect amount of acidity, not overdone like a lot of '96's. The front palate has lemon and white peach, some oyster in the mid-palate, and finishes with a mild caramel. The texture of this wine is very creamy, but not cloying. Such a great drinking experience. Drank with clams and scallops and matched perfectly.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2009 - JJL wrote: 97 Points
Nose was a bit muted, but the palate was great. Red apple, rhubarb, smoke, perfect acidity, big mouthfeel. Some sour cherries on the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2009 - Cheryl wrote:
Phenomenal nose, bad palate. No.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2009 - JJL wrote: 95 Points
The Big "Four-O": 40+ Wines for 40 Years: Similar, but not as good as the last time. Drank after the Krug Clos du Mesnil, so that may have had something to do with it. Yeast and caramel on the nose with white peaches, lemon and minerals on the palate. Good acidity, but very smooth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2009 - JJL wrote: 97 Points
Sushi night - that means Champagne. This follows on the heels of the '96 Salon last week. While the Salon (Blanc de Blancs) was all about green apples, the Billecart (Blanc de Noirs) was much more complex and open. The nose had just the right amount of yeast with a touch of caramel. The palate starts with walnuts then evolves to white peaches and finishes with lemon and minerals. The acidity is high, but no tartness at all. Lots of wonderful bubbles, but not even a touch of bubble burn.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2008 - sdr wrote: 98 Points
This is the kind of wine that stops conversation and inspires awe. After hearing mixed reviews and seeing Juhlins' puzzling 85/94 rating I was extremely curious to try this soon-to-be-cult champagne. As splendid as Billecart-Salmon is throughout their range, especially the magnificent 1996 Grande Cuvee, this is better yet. The color is slightly dark with a brown hue. The pinpoint bubbles are infinite and there's quite a foam, but no sense of gassiness in the mouth. It's the aroma that is immediately and intensely captivating: brown butter, walnut, toffee, mochacchino, caramel; classic pinot noir (this is 100% PN). And once in the mouth, it's hard to swallow, the gustatory pleasure is so great. The flavor is as rich and dark as the nose suggests and the finish is long and beautiful. It's young of course, but much more open than many other '96s. There's plenty of bright acidity but the sheer weight of the fruit covers it, even in this youthful phase. An undeniable masterpiece.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2008 - Jossik wrote: 92 Points
Molto carico, quasi pesante all'inizio, ma poi diventa molto molto buono
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 90 Points
Definitely a bling Champagne in every sense, this tastes palpably glitzy with its shimmering golden fruit whose gloss gives it a real sense of sweetness, even though it's apparently non-dosage. I wouldn't have guessed it was pure blanc de noirs either - it doesn't seem that bassy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2008 - Hillbilly wrote: 95 Points
Aggressive wild nose with floral notes, exotic spices, sea breeze and complexity. Expands on the palate with pretty balanced acidity, though a little bit aggressive. Some fruit and some slightly stoney nature too, but really still wild and exotic flavors. The wide ranging flavors keep it from becoming too strict. Solid finish. This is a unique flavor profile in this Champagne and very fresh. A fun wine to drink. Very good. Wild.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment