2002 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Nicolas François |
| Vintage | 2002 |  | |
| Type | White - Sparkling | ||
| Producer | Billecart-Salmon (web) | ||
| Variety | Champagne Blend | ||
| Designation | Cuvée Nicolas François | ||
| Vineyard | n/a | ||
| Country | France | ||
| Region | Champagne | ||
| SubRegion | n/a | ||
| Appellation | Champagne | ||
| UPC Code(s) | 017151814295, 3113946204047, 3113946208045, 3113946209059, 3113946262443, 3113946263778, 451776247500, 7070292766017, 7350080673940 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2019 and 2032 (based on 51 user opinions) | |
| Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Billecart Salmon Brut Cuvee Nicolas Francois on the Wine Market Journal. |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average and median of 94 pts. in 340 notes) | |
| Tasted by N.Bonaparte on 5/22/2024 & rated 94 points: 2 years since my last bottle and way more accessible this time with large Riedel somm red burg glasses. This needed 20 min in the glass to fully open up. Very well balanced with nice depth and finish. Quite tart. This is certainly in its prime with a decade plus left of optimal drinking. This still falls short of the 2002 Krug and Cristal. However, given the price difference, this provides way better value. Revisit 2025 (523 views) | |
| Tasted by Cailles on 5/20/2024 & rated 94 points: Tasted blind. No detailed notes taken. This Champagne is all about finesse, like to drinking a cloud. Yet, it possesses sufficient acidity and tension to maintain balance. It exudes a very romantic character. While it may not be my preferred style, its greatness is undeniable. 94/95pts. (660 views) | |
| Tasted by Collector1855 on 5/12/2024 & rated 94 points: Parker 100 Pointer Lunch, tasted blind: Lovely nose of bruised apples, spices. Solid, but outshined by the 2004 Clos de Goisses. (1206 views) | |
| Tasted by Torchy on 4/19/2024 flawed bottle: April BYO (Bodø, Norway): Cork (1434 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 4/12/2024: Generous and densely styled, and delicious. Orchard fruit including pear and apricot, crème brûlée, almond and caramel apple. A mineral and metallic note. Billecart Salmon excelled in 2002. (1456 views) | |
| Tasted by etyc on 4/11/2024: Brioche, apples/pears, this is a nice drinking spot. Not much experience with this, so not sure how it will develop with more age? (1109 views) | |
| Tasted by dcwino on 4/6/2024 & rated 96 points: Another Wine gathering at RJ’s; 4/4/2024-4/7/2024 (Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina): Beautiful mature nose displaying decadent sweet yellow fruit, baked apple, lemon curd, strong brioche, oyster shell, light caramel and fine limestone mineral. Perfectly integrated palate, finely layered sweet yellow fruit, delicate and airy, incredibly fine medium generous mousse, bright acidity, fine limestone mineral, and a seamless long yellow fruit driven finish with strong brioche at the end. Super fine mousse is really attractive. This is exceptional fined wine that is drinking beautifully. (1760 views) | |
| Tasted by chablis28 on 3/29/2024 & rated 94 points: Return of the Shrimp Heads to La Belle Vie, now PS Steak in Minneapolis. 6 of us back in our beloved lounge w/ the old LBV lounge menu. CV,KB,LI,BB,JV & MA. Lonny's btl tonight. I've had this a couple times before going back 6yrs to Jan 2018 and it has mellowed substantially. Tonight, its delightful with fruit cocktail, mineral, bread & more mineral. This is much more finessed than in its youth and 100% ready to go. Maybe even a little past if you prefer the livelier presentation in its youth like me. That said, I enjoyed every drop & where it's at in maturity too. Drink up if you own them IMO. (1683 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 3/28/2024 & rated 94 points: Shrimp Heads Ride Again (PS Steak (Pseudo La Belle Vie, Mpls, MN)): Medium gold color. Drank a glass over an hour. Same bottle as Chablis28, and I think Craig's note is spot on. This is more oxidative now, showing toast, almond, flan, green melon, and honey on the nose. The palate shows the oxidativeness more, golden pear, honey, baked fruit, lemon, briny minerality, sour lemon, mature and richer than in its youth. I've got some, and I not worried at this point. Still excellent, but one to keep an eye on. (1659 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 2/26/2024 & rated 93 points: Med gold color; chalky yeasty notes with subtle honey, honey nut cheerios, pear, apricot skin notes; full soft and rich mouthfeel with fine bubbles, slight sour ting at the end with long finish. Very nice but it peaked 2 years ago when it won in a bling tasting against all the great prestige cuvees. At home W/S&L, Q, Carbonara. (2165 views) | |
| Tasted by Handy1 on 2/24/2024 & rated 93 points: Deep gold color. Nice mousse. Some brioche and apple/pear. Moderate acidity. Still drinking well no rush. (1619 views) | |
| Tasted by astroman on 2/23/2024 & rated 91 points: Soldera vs Stella (Gemma): Bready, nutty, full body, good acidity, slight caramel, with med finish. 2nd time having in 2 months but this does not taste as good as the first in Nov 2023. (1737 views) | |
| Tasted by Sean Tay on 2/23/2024 & rated 94 points: Pronounced nose intensity with notes mineral, bread, yeast, apple, pear. High acidity. (1692 views) | |
| Tasted by AllRed on 2/17/2024 & rated 94 points: Périgord Truffle Dinner (George Trois, Winnetka): Pale golden color with a short mousse. Notes of caramel, apple, marzipan and dried peach. The fine bead dissipates after a while, drinking more like a very fine still wine than sparkling. Rich and layered, with flavors of caramel apple, pear, nougat, lemon curd, stone and biscuit. A lovely mature Champagne. While this worked nicely with each of the first three courses, my favorite pairing was this and the scallop. (1808 views) | |
| Tasted by Ohlawuly on 2/16/2024 & rated 94 points: Deep gold. The nose offers complex aromas of baked apple, pear, peach, and toasted bread. Medium body with medium-minus acidity. Long finish with a little sweetness in the end. This champagne is in its good drinking window and is very enjoyable now. (1458 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 1/5/2024 & rated 93 points: Darker color, sappy, brooding yeast, pecan/almond paste; fine bubbles, clearly has some age but hanging in there, very Burgundy like, long tangy structured finish. At its peak now if not a past, depending if you like aged champers. 日本人パーテー (2426 views) | |
| Tasted by astroman on 12/30/2023 & rated 95 points: Amazingly fresh, floral with nuts at the back, oxidative on the palate with lots of freshness. Complex with super mid palate structure. (1455 views) | |
| Tasted by etyc on 12/30/2023: Drank. (1337 views) | |
| Tasted by melvinyeowq on 12/25/2023 & rated 94 points: Wines at Paul's Xmas lunch: One of my favourite champagnes last year and this bottle was just as good. Similar impressions to my previous experience - rich, toasty and just so delicately balanced. Exquisite wine and think it converted a few non-Champagne people around the table. Best '02 that I have tasted alongside Krug. (2128 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 12/23/2023: Our Annual Champagne Tasting: Bart's bottle. Daringly following the Cristal and Krug GC, this held steady. Pear, sweet lemon, red berries, sour apple and more. Nice mouthfeel (1798 views) | |
| Tasted by Francophile1 on 11/19/2023 & rated 93 points: Thanksgiving Mondo Dinner 2023 (Atlanta, GA): If you are looking for a fabulous starter champagne to kick off an evening of decadence, this makes a good choice. Fine bubbles and beautiful caressing finish. (2779 views) | |
| Tasted by Somm David T on 11/2/2023 & rated 96 points: This is absolutely as exquisite as when we had it for Christina’s birthday March 1, 2023. The benefit tonight is time & attention to focus on it. Delicious. Green apple, lime, lemon pineapple, stone fruits, slightly bruised golden apple and pear, leans into apple cider, cream, ginger ale, nuts w/ skin, very fine powdery chalkiness, limestone, saline, biscuit dough, sea fossils. Amazing body and acidity, fruit blossoms, jasmine, yellow florals and well; structured knitted, balanced, extremely well polished finish that lasts two-minutes. Drinking beautiful now & with time & life for 10 yrs or more. Happy Birthday Sofia. (2622 views) | |
| Tasted by jviz on 10/13/2023 & rated 94 points: From magnum. Incredible richness and at a lovely plateau in its evolution. Broad and balanced with depth and interest. Long and regal. Loved this, especially in the format (2551 views) | |
| Tasted by jmoore431 on 9/29/2023 & rated 94 points: Shared this with friends at dinner out, no formal notes taken. (2458 views) | |
| Tasted by fizz on 9/20/2023: Toast, honey, touch of citrus. Enough acid to keep it fresh, but probably at a peak now. (2423 views) | |
| Tasted by Tannin1855 on 8/13/2023 & rated 97 points: Very fresh and full of energy. Beautiful rich mouthfeel with fantastic intensity. Perfect balance. My kind of Champagne. This worked beautifully on its own as well as with smoked fish canapés. This definitely shows its best around 50-55 degrees F. It kept getting better with air over the course of about 2 hours. (2773 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 8/11/2023 & rated 94 points: Light gold color. Drank a couple glasses over 2 hours. Brought this to Spoon for Vicki's birthday with the kids. I wasn't moved by this as much as some bottles in the past for whatever reason. It was plenty good, but just lacked that totally ethereal feel to it. Sour dough nose, almond dust, apple and quince. The palate is tart, baked apple, chalk, melon, dough, candied Mandarin orange peel, lemon liqueur, quince, mildly oxidative, and full bodied. (2740 views) | |
| Tasted by Frijole on 8/6/2023: medium gold, lots of clarity, very tiny bubbles Nose: apricots, asian pear, tangerine rind, wax, marzipan, macadamia nuts, honeycomb, lemon, brioche, musk, oyster shells Pal: apricots, asian pear, tangerine, marzipan, macadamia nuts, honeycomb, chives, toasted almond, lemon, oyster shells, clay, musk, minerals Feel: medium, savory, astringent, acidic Finish: medium, long TC10 (2527 views) | |
| Tasted by The_Cat on 8/2/2023 & rated 99 points: wow wow wow shiny gomden color. Very complex nose fine brioche some pineapple and apple tart a bit of almond cake. Extremely fine bubbles full bodied with perfectly balanced acidity so nice and long (2459 views) | |
| Tasted by Collector1855 on 7/14/2023 & rated 94 points: Expressive nose of quite a bit of mushroom funk, apples, marcipan. Good but for a 2002 prestige Cuvée a bit underwhelming. (3245 views) | |
| Tasted by qtsam11 on 7/6/2023 & rated 94 points: Unsure of the disgorgement date. Poured a dark straw, light gold color. The nose was musty initially, but that blew off. Rich and toasty with wonderfully balanced acidity. Some butterscotch, toasted nuts and stewed fruits. Still quite fresh, this is a beautiful and amazing wine that feels like it can go for many more years. Unfortunately, served slightly too warm, and with the food and other wines at the table, I wasn't able to give it the full attention it deserved. (2424 views) | |
| Tasted by fizz on 6/24/2023: Lemon, toast, almond butter, earthy note. Complex. Fresh and energetic still. Lingering aftertaste. Looking good. (2426 views) | |
| Tasted by PAX ROMANA on 6/19/2023 & rated 95 points: Drank over about a week using a Kloveo champagne stopper (I actually prefer my champagnes with a bit less fizz). An absolutely beguiling sparkler. In the perfect place for me: great balance of freshness and tart fruit flavors with some yeasty, malty undertones. Acidity and dosage also married perfectly. This is honestly a wine that could go with so many foods but I decided to drink it solo to really savor the complexity and power of this magnificent juice. (2725 views) | |
| Tasted by Benoit Hardy on 6/17/2023 & rated 94 points: Nose of yellow fruits, mushrooms and brioche. Fine effervescence. With this wine, the temperature is essential. Too cool, it is smooth and anesthetized. Too hot, it becomes clumsy. It is played to within 1 degree. Once at the right temperature, it is a pleasant champagne. We feel the “big cuvée” with a creamy touch and a beautiful patina. One could imagine a higher dosage than its 4g but it is in fact the maturity of the vintage that speaks. The chalkiness in the second part of the mouth responds well to the ample vinosity of the attack. The juice is loose, with a nice complexity on nuts, yellow fruits, honey, jasmine and finally cinnamon at the end. Structured, well-constructed champagne, which reveals itself in layers. Beautiful precise finish, with a tracer salinity which opens the way to a good length. Excellent champagne, very elegant. (2368 views) | |
| Tasted by ThijsV on 5/31/2023 & rated 92 points: BYOB dinner NOTK (Supernova hotel, Rotterdam): Initially a spiritus note, that covered most of the other aroma’s, but luckily it blew off after some time. Ripe, plenty of fruit, apricot, dough, brioche, yeast. Seems still to be on the young side, no hurry. High acidity, long finish. 92-93 (2421 views) | |
| Tasted by MadeiraLev on 5/11/2023 & rated 94 points: Still going strong after 21 years... Medium straw/yellow. Plenty of fizz-nice tight bead. Nose dominated by yeast and brioche. Similar on the palate with decent acidity. Really, really good! (2792 views) | |
| Tasted by Sfo_ryan on 5/1/2023 & rated 95 points: Excellent. Drinking quite well at the moment - exceptionally fresh for its age. This was from the 2016 release. Recommend! Have one bottle left - will wait for a while for the next one. (3063 views) | |
| Tasted by aquacongas on 5/1/2023 & rated 95 points: blind I guessed 2004. Dense, some nuts, lemon driven. Balanced, precise finish. 94-95 (3089 views) | |
| Tasted by Radboy on 4/14/2023 & rated 95 points: Terrific wine! Hints of honey on the high end with flavors of nuts and brioche with great acidity. Wish I had more! (2772 views) | |
| Tasted by fussyeater on 3/22/2023 & rated 92 points: Beat the Dom Perignon 2012 (Medlar, London SW10): Single blind. Looks quite evolved and is darker gold. Slightly muted citrusy nose although a little short in length yet what is there is decent and first rate. #5 WOTN for me. From Jancis glass. (3309 views) | |
| Tasted by DAN BAILEY on 3/22/2023 & rated 94 points: Single blind. Darker gold colour. Rich and clearly more mature than the wines so far. A well rounded, more mature version of the previous wine! My 4th favourite and the group’s 5th. (2768 views) | |
| Tasted by NickA on 3/22/2023 & rated 92 points: Beat the DP 2012? (Medlar, Chelsea): Deepish straw. Rich on the nose, with prominent toffee notes. Solid and well-built on the palate, with a crisp finish and everything nicely integrated. It seemed to lose energy in the glass and I ended up deducting a point from my score. I correctly guessed Billecart given its maturity and stature. Group #5. (2925 views) | |
| Tasted by dcwino on 3/17/2023 & rated 97 points: Another great wine dinner with Bernard Burtschy (Taberna del Alabardero, Washington D.C.): Expressive nose displaying concentrated sweet yellow and white fruit, lemon curd, sous apple, tarte tatin, white flowers, honey and mineral. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated fruit, rich, dense and deeply toned but also good precision and balance, very fine generous mousse, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral, and a long rich concentrated yellow and white fruit driven finish with cinnamon and brioche at the end. This has developed beautifully. With air. It starts to display elegant fruit. This is a big scale, deeply toned Champagne that is drinking beautifully. No need to hurry. (3160 views) | |
| Tasted by Collector1855 on 3/10/2023 flawed bottle: Unfortunately corked (2845 views) | |
| Tasted by dream on 3/9/2023 & rated 93 points: A rich and dense Champagne perhaps without the flair of the top Tete du Cuvees but the style is very classy with excellent intensity and concentration. There are delicious flavors of ginger and lime with good freshness and very little in the way of oxidized notes. Balanced with fine bubbles and showing very youthful so perhaps there is more to come here. 93+ (1345 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 3/6/2023: I’ve loved every bottle of ‘02 Cuvée Nicolas. While this bottle was good, it didn’t move me like previous ones. It wasn’t travel shock; like a dumb ass, I brushed my teeth a little while before I opened the bottle. (2817 views) | |
| Tasted by crogers on 3/4/2023: With Patrone (1098 views) | |
| Tasted by sh6k on 2/28/2023 & rated 96 points: Spectacular. Chalky restrained nose, with whiffs of cherry chocolate. On the palate, a layer cake: chalk that almost has a kefir character, then rich chocolate hazelnut (not Nutella, more like a chocolate covered hazelnut), then a green apple finish. Finish isn’t crazy long. Tons of gorgeous flavor. Drinking brilliantly right now, but also no hints of age so I expect at least 10 more years from it. (2653 views) | |
| Tasted by jnewman77 on 2/13/2023: JT and Marty Super Bowl Extravaganza (Chez Newman): This was excellent; starting to develop some aged notes that lend complexity, but with beautiful fruit and texture still. Probably nearing its peak for me. (3155 views) | |
| Tasted by skyivan on 1/27/2023: 氧化了 酸度高 花果香少 (2227 views) | |
| Tasted by viniferatu on 1/15/2023: la Gloire de la Loire... but champagne makes knifework more fun open knit and immediate, white flowers, crisp stone fruits, cooked citrus, creamy and easy before turning dry and mineral, lovely stuff (3441 views) | |
| Tasted by Justin S on 12/31/2022 & rated 93 points: Whereas a few years ago this was powerful and driven by an acidic lemony spine, today this is starting to develop more rich, honeyed flavors. For my preferences, it is in the sweet spot and I will not hold any longer. (2856 views) | |
| Tasted by TheFoodieTraveler on 12/26/2022 & rated 94 points: beautiful. slightly oxidized in a good way; buttered almonds, yeasty, but lots of pinot noir acid. a joy. (2816 views) | |
| Tasted by magyarsvensk on 12/24/2022 & rated 95 points: Warm toast, mirabelle plums, vanilla cream notes. Aromatic, precise. Impressive showing for this beautiful wine. (2556 views) | |
| Tasted by AaronMaxwell on 12/24/2022 & rated 94 points: Finally, I’ve finished the last bottle of this. Drinking perfectly. Brioche, toasted nuts, and citrus. (2559 views) | |
| Tasted by soyhead on 12/22/2022: lovely showing, possibly my WOTN. sappy fruit with some tropical notes. dense but fresh (2282 views) | |
| Tasted by Bob23 on 12/22/2022 & rated 95 points: Delicious. Toasty, brioche, warmth and generosity without flab or overt sweetness - really a lovely bottle, and drinking nicely now. Got better as it opened, so no rush to consume if you have more bottles. (2160 views) | |
| Tasted by Burghunt on 12/18/2022 & rated 94 points: 60% Pinot Noir from the Premiers and Grands Crus from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne 40% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, 20% vinified in oak barrels. Ageing on lees: 10 years It is a lovely mature champagne. Golden color with fine bubbles. Rich aroma of mature peach, pear and mandarin orange. Delicious and creamy, long after taste. Such a delight to drink. (2340 views) | |
| Tasted by rosenst1 on 12/12/2022 & rated 94 points: Rich, lovely mousse, though not as exuberant as previous bottles. Great flavors and balance. I think this is unlikely to improve beyond age 20 - enjoy if you have it! (2664 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 12/11/2022: Another great bottle of this tonight. Rich; I think it's finally reaching a agogee. A beautiful mix of pear, sweet lemon, red berries, sour apple and more. I love the mouthfeel on this wine. I've liked every bottle of this I've had (2503 views) | |
| Tasted by MC2 Wines on 12/5/2022: SAC: 2002 Retrospective: I was excited to try this one as I don't have as much experience with it but feel like I always like it. The best I can say is I remember liking it again last night, but it got a bit lost in the rush of the last course and everyone starting to mix and mingle and connect and so less focus on the champagne. (3049 views) | |
| Tasted by vintage_whine on 12/2/2022: Dominated by red fruit character, cherry blossom, lactic. Bitterness characteristic of the vintage But the acidity and fruit concentration show youthfully, and the length is fantastic. Really underrated long term wine of the vintage (2256 views) | |
| Tasted by Shay.Aldriedge on 11/30/2022 & rated 94 points: Opened alongside a 2002 Piper Rare (winner), 2006 Piper Rare, 2006 Taittinger Comtes, 2007 Billecart Nicolas Francois, and 2012 Dom Perignon. As you can tell, this was opened in great company and showed very well. Profile wise, this was in between the Piper Rare (rich and layered but bright) and the Taittinger Comtes (a bit surprisingly the brightest and lightest of the group). Not as honeyed aromatically as the two Piper Rare offerings, but loads of white peach, grilled lemon, honey and orange roasted cashews and sea salt. This showed a kiss more depth than its 2007 sibling, with lemon scone, limestone and racy acidity. It certainly drinks younger than it is. Classically Billecart in its “down the middle” style. Never too much/little of anything. I wish I had another bottle to open in 5-7yrs, as this is aging glacially and beautifully. (2699 views) | |
| Tasted by Hiker4life70 on 11/28/2022 & rated 94 points: I love this. We just finished putting up the tree and ornaments and decided to celebrate with our oldest daughter’s birth year champagne. Super bready brioche and almond nose with a little apple on its crisp finish. I am glad we have another bottle. (2529 views) | |
| Tasted by joshabramson on 11/11/2022 & rated 94 points: Super solid. Crisp, bright, and fresh. (2600 views) | |
| Tasted by Barsacpinci on 10/30/2022: I've had this several times and it continues to deliver. Such a wonderful wine. Light straw color with fine bubbles. Brioche nose. Excellent fruit to balance light acids. This is excellent, glad I have more. (2619 views) | |
| Tasted by isaacjamesbaker on 10/22/2022 & rated 94 points: A blast with buds (Washington, DC): Rich apple juice color. Pretty nose of saline, lime, preserved lemon, brine and chalk. Brisk and taut on the palate with limes, salted lemon peel, plenty of chalk dust, talc. Also these cool aged notes of cinnamon biscuits, ginger snaps, honey and lemon pie. Minerals round out the finish. Nervy and delicious. (782 views) | |
| Tasted by jmoore431 on 10/15/2022 & rated 95 points: Very fine, filigreed and ethereal. From magnum, this seemed ironically more evolved and relaxed than previously consumed 750s. This mag was wonderful. (3215 views) | |
| Tasted by thewiz on 10/14/2022 & rated 95 points: (Disgorged in fall of 2015, 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, dosage 4 gr/L) Intense yellow colour with streams of fine bubbles showing white chocolate, citrus flowers and opens up with mint, fresh cut grass and eucalyptus in very nice and pleasant way. Lovely maturing palate showing yellow apples acidity with a creaminess on the mid and also some ginger and butterscotch notes in a very pleasant way on the intense and lengthy finish, and showing a delicious minerals saltiness on the lips.. (Best 2017-2042) (2270 views) | |
| Tasted by hajoha on 8/11/2022 & rated 92 points: Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois 2002. Begynnende modning og autolysepreg. Moden frukt på smakt - modne epler. Ørliten sherry-tone her. Ikke så ren som Billecart pleier synes jeg, men fortsatt fin. Høy konsentrasjon og super friskhet. Drikker bra nå og tipper en lang stund fremover. Finish sitter lenge. 92p (4332 views) | |
| Tasted by tobyc on 8/5/2022 & rated 95 points: Exquisite scent, intensity in a featherlight way. Light yellow fruit, some yeasty notes. Harmonious, balanced acidity, creamy texture, pears and yellow apples w. citrus on the finish. Wonderful, beautiful, well composed. Seems to be at a peak now. Drink (or keep) (3516 views) | |
| Tasted by darrennelson12 on 7/31/2022 & rated 88 points: Second bottle this year, and just ok again .. maybe past their prime, Very little bubbles, some lemon notes .. overall If I tasted blind I would not think it was a solid vintage option. 0 for 2 on this one, would not buy again .. (3579 views) | |
| Tasted by rosenst1 on 7/26/2022 & rated 92 points: A bit more subdued than previous bottles but still lovely. (3613 views) | |
| Tasted by glou.sf on 5/21/2022 & rated 95 points: Quite fresh nose with lemon notes, tart fruit, and a slight smoke note. Lots of acidity on the palate with more lemon, tart peach, and minerals. Long finish. Lovely Champagne! (4387 views) | |
| Tasted by PDXWineO on 5/14/2022 & rated 95 points: This bottle is in a perfect spot. Light brioche flavors that are perfectly balanced with the acidity. This bottle has a long way to go and I will search out more. (3599 views) | |
| Tasted by vintage_whine on 5/10/2022: Rich and soft texture but austere flavors, bitter grapefruit and kumquat skin. Textural and phenolic, it’s massive but doesn’t have the elegance and brilliance id hope for (3639 views) | |
| Tasted by N.Bonaparte on 5/1/2022 & rated 94 points: It’s been a couple of years since my last bottle. This bottle had an incredible amount of energy. Even after 75 min in the glass. I thought I was drinking an 2008. This was a well balanced wine with a nice finish. If I drink this again soon I would probably decant this. Revisit 2025 (3624 views) | |
| Tasted by Kevin Mak on 4/30/2022 & rated 93 points: Medium Gold -Dry -Medium Acidity -Low Alcohol -Delicate Mousse -Medium Bodied -Long Finish Medium (+) Intensity - Lemon, Apricot, Orange Peel, Hazelnut, Honey, Brioche Very Lemony, concentrated citrus flavours with some nuttiness and toastiness, very fine and gentle mousse, a gorgeous champagne with balance, length, intensity and complexity. Drink Now (3429 views) | |
| Tasted by Papies on 4/30/2022 & rated 93 points: Our sixth and last bottle and as ever consistent and beautiful. Very much vinous, well aged, soft honey, soft tasty and with lovely evolution. Another easy 93 (3001 views) | |
| Tasted by mayakacz on 4/26/2022: 3g/L. 20% vinified on oak. Disgorged 2019. Medium lemon colour. High intensity aroma of plum, honey, vanilla, baking spices. Dry, high acidity, medium body. High intensity flavour of plum, stewed apple, quince, honey, vanilla, candied lemon, walnut, almond. Long finish with walnut and almond. (3104 views) | |
| Tasted by Jd6725 on 4/8/2022 & rated 96 points: Slowly unfurling beauty. A bit rich and hedonistic, but with 1-2 hours of air it just strutted all it's stuff and showed as well as the first time I tried this in Sep 2021. This is a bottle that is ready to go now if you want, but needs some air. Surprisingly only 4g/l dosage. Certainly tastes like more in a good way. (2861 views) | |
| Tasted by Odedis.Wine.reviews on 4/5/2022 & rated 91 points: Golden in color. Nose of apples, yeast, spices, bread, minerals, salt water, citrus, limes, barnyard and earth. Medium plus in body with high acidity. Very dry on the palate with limes, lemons, green apples, earth, minerals, toast, wet leaves, herbs, vegetables, nuts, yeast, sea salt and white pepper. Crisp and refreshing. Yeasty and interesting. This is a nicely aged Champagne from a great vintage. Showing lots of complexity now. Feels very young for a 20 year old, and will continue to age nicely in the next decade. Robert Parker 97 points. Wine Enthusiasts 96 points. I had the Brut Reserve Non Vintage not too long ago, and I liked it better. Good by itself or with food. I paired it with fresh oysters. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Disgorged in 2015. 12.5% alcohol by volume. 91 points. $200. (3524 views) | |
| Tasted by Papies on 4/2/2022 & rated 93 points: Dinner at the Papies (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): Two very consistent bottles o the day and very much consistent with our earlier 2 tasting of a worthy 93+. Well aged and well evolve, lovely richness and also soft vibrant feel. Definitely one to drink sooner than later but also delicious now so why wait. 93+ (3562 views) | |
| Tasted by melvinyeowq on 3/14/2022 & rated 94 points: Dinner at Tasty Loong: Very similar to the 2000 that I tried a couple of years ago but with everything dialled up a notch. Lots of green apple and rich toasty notes on the nose, incredibly fresh still, and with air it became more refined and complex. Truly a great vintage for this wine. (4097 views) | |
| Tasted by Ivan Strouchki on 3/5/2022 & rated 92 points: On the nose: Billecart's signature green apple; sea breeze, intermittent hints of white truffle; at lower frequencies, sage. On the palate: a solid grip, while retaining beautiful freshness, the fine bubbles included. I guess many would stress, a champagne definitely on the vinous side. But then think, at colder temperature, of an Auslese champagne, along the lines of the best Auslese and their unique combination of weight (the dosage does show here) and a beautiful counterbalancing lemony / salty finale; at slightly higher temperature, a beautiful Meursault Genevrières champagne, with tarte tatin, butter brioche, and vigorously vivifying counterbalancing minerals. In my experience of 2002 champagnes, not as good as Cristal, but better than Dom Perignon—as of now anyway. 92-93 (3221 views) | |
| Tasted by SimonS on 3/2/2022 & rated 96 points: Drunk over a week using coravin sparkling system. Another fantastic showing from this wine. Biscuit, lemon, complex, fresh. (3605 views) | |
| Tasted by skyivan on 2/22/2022 & rated 92 points: 2022.2.19. 近20年的香槟，入杯颜色比香槟王略深，各种成熟的果味和蜂蜜香味扑鼻而来预示着氧化成熟风格。香气馥郁丰满。入口成熟的苹果、柑橘、杏子、果干和烤面包等味道浓郁，集中。层次过渡得很好。酸度相较于12年的香槟王没有那么强烈。酒体也比香槟王更浓郁。鲜咸感做的和酒体很搭。 (3664 views) | |
| Tasted by rosenst1 on 2/15/2022 & rated 94 points: Consistent with previous bottles all from K&L - lovely rich wine with great acidity and a fine mousse. Hard to believe it is 20! I think this is at peak and will last longer but probably not improve. (3566 views) | |
| Tasted by VincentMorey on 2/12/2022: I am not a regular champagne drinker, though this third bottle of the evening was probably my second favorite of the night, and it took about 2 or three glasses before I understood it more (and seeing how it changed a bit over the course of a meal and mixed in with other drinks). Still had a lovely amount of tartness, acidity, brightness, and a rounded sort of earthiness from aging. It reminds me of some really good Japanese food sake that drinks feminine, yet is mineral, higher in acidity, and by no means purely easy drinking, yet has elegance in the profile. This had way better texture of the beads than the Dom Perignon 2008 tasted in the same evening, although it's likely an apples to oranges comparison. (3287 views) | |
| Tasted by Francophile1 on 2/12/2022 & rated 93 points: Wow! Drop dead gorgeous Champagne. I might even put this up against the 2002 Cristal in a blind head to head battle. This might beat it. Delicious! (3075 views) | |
| Tasted by renwom on 2/3/2022 & rated 93 points: Delicious. Started husband's 60th birthday dinner with this. Beautiful, balanced mouthfeel, tiny, refined bubbles all infused with fruit and flavor. Perfect balance of fruit and acidity. Yum. (3050 views) | |
| Tasted by Papies on 2/3/2022 & rated 93 points: Second bottle in 2 weeks and a consistent performance. A special bottle , well aged and mature and simply delicious. lacks a bit of vitality that would give s the comfort to age this for another 20years and thus we feel better be enjoyed in the next 5 max 10. Delicious still and an excellent wine for the lovers of well matured champagne. 93 (3316 views) | |
| Tasted by AllRed on 1/29/2022 & rated 93 points: Dinner with Friends (Reserve 22, Glen Ellyn): Mature deep color. Baked orchard fruit, citrus and dough with a vanilla creme undertone. Medium bead. Creamy palate. Dough and orchard fruit. Lovely. (3242 views) | |
| Tasted by Vino Me on 1/29/2022 & rated 92 points: Opened by AllRed. First time I have had this particular cuvee which was first made in 1964. It is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards and 40% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs.. Medium yellow color. This was a creamy Champagne which has aged very well. Notes of dough, citrus and almonds. Moderate head. Longer finish. Still drinking well but at the end of it's window. Someone who prefers some age on their Champagne will like this better than I did. 92-93 points. (2981 views) | |
| Tasted by Gregmonroe on 1/26/2022: WWC - GA (FWC): Tasted blind - gold in the glass, lots and lots of fine bubbles (tasted in a flute); nose of granny smith apple, yeast, and slight oxidation; similar taste profile - lots of apple, but with a very nice oxidative quality. Good acidity and lasting finish. Beautiful wine. I guessed a Tattinger Comtes de Champagne, 1998 or 2000. (2892 views) | |
| Tasted by Papies on 1/22/2022 & rated 93 points: On for the lovers of well matured rich and vinous champagnes. And in that it does not fail and this is a superb wine. Poor thing followed I. The wake of the superb Cristal 2006 ( Papies 97) so it was bound to fall on sharp critics but still this is a wine that deserves respect and is a full on brioche , soft honey, light noble oxidative and so well mannered . Very pretty . Andreas 95/Nicol 93 60% Pinot Noir / 40% Chardonnay, 20% of the wine vinified in 15yr old oak and bottled with 4g/l (3238 views) | |
| Tasted by affordableCollector on 1/6/2022 & rated 94 points: fine bubble stream. gold, in color. apricot, tangerine, red apple, lemon, cherry, warm brioche, almond skin, lemon curd, honey, saline, mineral, citrus zest. rich, creamy, warmed brioche, firm acidity, on the finish. (3553 views) | |
| Tasted by PourMeSomeMore on 1/1/2022: Bottle disgorged 4/2019 So very different from the prior multiple bottles. Needed considerable time to open and improved as I never placed back on ice. Imho this needs much more cellar time and not sure it wiil approach what I enjoyed so much on original release. But here's hoping. (3415 views) | |
| Tasted by magyarsvensk on 1/1/2022: This version was disgorged in 4/2019. Lemon creme fraiche, brioche, woodsy cologne notes, lots of complexity. Starting to taste mature, but it could use a few more years. (2999 views) | |
| Tasted by darrennelson12 on 12/31/2021 & rated 91 points: Not bad but not great .. crisp green apple to start, some buttery notes. Finished tart and salty .. not my favourite but good Will wait a few years to try to other bottles and see what we think (2826 views) | |
| Tasted by 10xM on 12/12/2021 & rated 91 points: Tart apple. Think granny apple smith. Brioche. After about an hour, oyster shells with salty sea water. More of eastern usa border oysters. More sweet than dry/acidic attack. Very nice wine. But not good as piper Heidseik rare. Drank at Lincoln ristorante in NYC. (3803 views) | |
| Tasted by Derek Darth Taster on 11/29/2021 & rated 93 points: Monday night at P90 with the boys. Tasted blind. Just as good as before, and maybe even a bit fresher. Just a hint of mushroom on nose. Lots of rich flavours, nuttiness, light marzipan, lemon curd, chalk and stony minerality and some saline oyster-shells also. (4172 views) | |
| Tasted by ovenmitt on 11/28/2021 & rated 95 points: No formal notes, from memory…. Anniversary number 19.Excellent bottle. Probably should have waited longer after having it shipped. Smokey quality with wild strawberry, slate and Meyer lemon. This will continue to hold and evolve for a good long time. (3589 views) | |
| Tasted by ChrisR on 11/27/2021: Rich and broad-shouldered. Apples, peaches, a little citrus and bread, with a bit of sweetness on the finish. Crisp acidity to cut through the richness. Richer and deeper than the excellent 2006. (3279 views) | |
| Tasted by up4wine on 11/25/2021 & rated 94 points: A Champagne that gave great pleasure to the group on Turkey Day at the outset of the festivities. Nice sparkle with rich flavor. (3102 views) | |
| Tasted by rosenst1 on 11/25/2021 & rated 95 points: Just a lovely wine rich but light on its feet, still young but showing well. Great stuff. (2961 views) | |
| Tasted by sh6k on 11/21/2021 & rated 96 points: Toast toast toast. Pinot forward. Good acid and some hints of chalk. Just a great champagne drinking well now. (3191 views) | |
| Tasted by LWI on 11/21/2021 & rated 94 points: Citrus, predominantly fresh clementine peel, spice, vigorous and with impressive depth. Solid grip in the finish with just a hint of grapefruit. Promising (96) (2953 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 11/20/2021 & rated 94 points: Lovely nose of macadamia, marcona almond, sourdough, soft apple, tea; gorgeous mouthfeel, at once rich and creamy, and delicately balanced, fine bubbles, super long, stunningly beautiful. Perfectly aged and probably at its peak now and will hold. Momofuku Vegas (3035 views) | |
| Tasted by brigcampbell on 11/18/2021: Blind. Very fine bubbles which reminded me of a Krug so I guess that's a high compliment. It was very nice wine but I was distracted by the other two bottles from the same producer that were outstanding, no they were spectacular (3202 views) | |
| Tasted by Frank Murray III on 11/18/2021: Served blind. Very floral in aroma. Cut green apple, crisp and bright with what to me seemed like a good brushing of red berry. Zesty and still young. (3350 views) | |
| Tasted by csimm on 11/9/2021 & rated 95 points: Halloween in the Vice Versa Cave: Deeply pitched apricot, lemon curd, ripe yellow citrus, marmalade, and honey make for a fairly advanced showing here, though it’s not without the requisite frame to hold it all in place. Finishes on the richer side, with an unctuously chewy candied lemon rind that is fortunately lifted by the casual but persistent bead of bubbles deliberately pulsating through the veins of the otherwise developed profile. A succulent Champagne that manages to pull it all off without seeming to too heavy or opulent. 94-95 points. Drink now. (6149 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 11/5/2021 & rated 96 points: Siggy Turns "Fitty": The Big 5-0 Blowout! (Spoon & Stable, Mpls, MN): Light gold color. Drank a glass over an hour. Wow, this was just sterling; intense, layered and nervy, tart green apple, ginger, apple peel, yellow apple, oodles of ocean minerality enhanced by a streak of chalk, light-moderate toast, guava and lemon oil. Very long, ultra fine speedy bubbles. Fantastic. (3558 views) | |
| Tasted by chablis28 on 11/5/2021 & rated 96 points: Thank you Kevin! Served at Siggy's fabulous 50th B'day Celebration at Spoon & Stable. Fortunately, I scored a small pour of this too. Even so, you sense its signature nervy tension & concentration. A little more gusto to the 02 Dom's svelte elegance. Killer bubbly! 96+ (3209 views) | |
| Tasted by blanquito on 11/5/2021: Still showing youthful but much better than the bottle I had a year ago. Pitch perfect balance, stylistically middle of the road, with great acids, palate and length. Seriously good, wish I had loaded up at <$100. 94 pts (2845 views) | |
| Tasted by S1 on 11/4/2021: Chas Offlineorama VI, Another embarrassment of riches; 11/3/2021-11/7/2021 (Various locations): Still super young with lots of funk from the Meunier, some reduction still with tart apple and a cool saline-like minerality. Absolutely delicious. (2986 views) | |
| Tasted by MC2 Wines on 11/4/2021: Charleston VI; 11/3/2021-11/7/2021 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): Young and fresh and yet just beginning to have the slight markers of age. I think this is Pinot dominated and has that nice spicy note to it. Not really ready yet, but very tasty. Maybe my favorite of the champagnes. (3178 views) | |
| Tasted by Cailles on 10/24/2021 & rated 92 points: No notes taken. I’ve had this before (rated 95 & 96 pts) and it was exciting, fresh, pure elegance and quite complete. This bottle, however, showed a bit more flat, less fresh. Maybe it was served a bit too warm. Medium+ expressive on the nose and palate with fine citrus, apple, dark berry aromas along some minerality. Good precision but not super complex. Very fine mousse and overall round and balanced but as mentioned with not enough cut. Decanting: Not decanted, no decanting needed. (4010 views) | |
| Tasted by drwine2001 on 10/3/2021: A Magnificent Burgundy Afternoon (San Francisco): Magnum. Medium yellow. Off dry ginger and bitter citrus with outstanding acidity and soil. Terrific and quite fresh. (4112 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 9/29/2021: Another outstanding bottle of '02 Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart (3541 views) | |
| Tasted by Golf_Wine on 8/25/2021 & rated 93 points: A very good champagne. Was hoping for a little more depth/weight. At this price there are better bottles though. (3885 views) | |
| Tasted by shza on 8/22/2021 & rated 97 points: This is spectacular right now. Great acid, perfect point of maturity with a taste of caramel but not too much oxidation. Really delicious. (3712 views) | |
| Tasted by WST on 7/4/2021: It's hard to follow a 2009 Cristal, but the suave '02 Cuvée Nicolas-François does so effortlessly. I've said it before, Billecart Salmon nailed the 2002 vintage. Great complexity here, lots of fruit, savory notes and flowers. (4362 views) | |
| Tasted by SimonS on 6/6/2021 & rated 94 points: Another bottle of total freshness - more like my first than my second. (4205 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 5/14/2021 & rated 94 points: One of Those Big Birthdays (Margaux's Table, White Bear Lake, MN): Light gold color. Drank a glass over 45 minutes. Great sea air nose, bread dough, baked apple, caramel, lemon pie, quince and citrus. Delicious. (4591 views) | |
| Tasted by galewskj on 5/14/2021 & rated 94 points: Rocknroller has a special birthday (Margaux's Table): This was drinking better than 3 years ago. Fresh, elegant vibrant. This is in a great place right now. (4248 views) | |
| Tasted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine on 5/14/2021 & rated 95 points: Kevin's Big Six-OHhhhhhhhh Nooooo (Margaux's Table in White Bear Lake): Small 2 oz pour. Great 2002 Champagne! Lively on the tongue with crisp acidity (lots of life left in this Champagne!), green apple, sea shell, limestone and stone fruit. This was a pleasure to drink! Wish I owned some of this! 94+ to 95. (4440 views) | |
| Tasted by thewiz on 5/12/2021 & rated 93 points: (Late release from the house disgorged in fall of 2015, 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, dosage 4 gr/l) Maturing nose showing lovely cream and butterscotch notes combined with youthful yellow apples, minerals and some fresh cut grass in a delicious way. Intense palate showing youthful yellow plums acidity with butter and creamy notes on the mid to late before a distinct yellow plums peel bitterness takes over on the lengthy finish. This was a very pleasant showing and perfect to sip in the late afternoon sun, opens up very nicely in the glass, but should reward some further cellaring. (Best 2017-2037) (2669 views) | |
| Tasted by SimonS on 5/10/2021 & rated 93 points: My first bottle (a couple of weeks ago) struck me as brand new with at least a decade or two of future life; this second one seemed to have a deeper yellow colour and a lot of biscuit on the nose. It was still fresh and lovely, but not as new born as the first. It also fell away steeply after a night in the bottle, whereas the first held up well. I am not 100% sure if this is bottle variation or taster variation, but I think it may be the former. Will report on a third bottle in due course! (3721 views) | |
| Tasted by bavaur on 5/9/2021 & rated 95 points: Chilled, opened for 30 minutes and then drunk during dinner. Almost imperceptibly fine bubbles in the glass but a great popping mouthfeel nevertheless. Aromas of baked apple, creme brûlée and light spices. A slightly glycerin feel on the palate with honey/brioche notes and more ripe apple and gooseberry flavours. Feels like it was picked yesterday, not 19 years ago. This will go on and on and on. (3217 views) | |
| Tasted by rosenst1 on 5/9/2021 & rated 95 points: Definite deeply colored - gold and pink. Superb. Great mousse, intense winey flavors from the 60% Pinot Noir and lovely creaminess and acidity from the Chardonnay. This is drinking well but is still an infant. A wonderful bottle for Mother's Day. (3065 views) | |
| Tasted by matage on 5/7/2021 & rated 93 points: Mineral, toffee/fudge, grilled lemon, yellow plum. Very "grown up" and firm - in a good way. Nowhere near peaking though.. Perfect the Amuse Bouche - kickstarting an amazing meal at Restaurant Frantzen. Glass: Zalto Bourgogne. (3053 views) | |
| Tasted by sh6k on 4/26/2021 & rated 95 points: Drinking very well right now. Long finish. Tons of toast chalky flavor, slight metallic, very full in mouth, lemon acidity well balanced not too prominent. Toast dominant. (3773 views) | |
| Tasted by Tartiflette on 4/24/2021 & rated 93 points: Again a super experience though very young. So much of everything good. Looking forward to full maturity. (3535 views) | |
| Tasted by bram_epicurien on 4/16/2021 & rated 93 points: Friday evening in Singapore at Odette, bringing my own bottle. Beautiful deep golden Color. Pronounced nose with marzipan, buttered brioche, toasted pineapple, mild honey, wet stones and light pepper. Med acidity, Med+ body, Med alcohol, Med+ flavor intensity, Med+ finish. Still young and vibrant, tasting some pineapple and green apples, chocolate, caramel, and smokiness. Love it and still a long life ahead! (3736 views) | |
| Tasted by carl.cornaglia@gmai.com on 4/16/2021 & rated 95 points: A beautiful golden color with very fine bubbles that lead to a very rich and creamy delight. Great finish that lingers with plenty of life. (3499 views) | |
| Tasted by SimonS on 4/12/2021 & rated 94 points: Superb. Very strong mousse and totally fresh. Hard to believe this wine has any age, let alone nearly 20 years. Kept well overnight. Looks well set for another decade or two. (3712 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 4/6/2021 & rated 93 points: Nice med. dark yellow, hint of gold; lovely nose of peach pit, hay, sourdough, lemon; great depth and concentration, fine bubbles, almost creamy mouth, long persistent finish. What more could you want? Great with calamari. Blair's w/H,E (3688 views) | |
| Tasted by fizz on 4/4/2021: Citrus, chalk, bread, nuts, apple. Rich and fresh in the mouth. Refreshingly delicious. Complexity and texture complements food also. (3239 views) | |
| Tasted by 5laton on 4/2/2021: This was the original label and release. It was nice but a little slow to open up, and didn't reach third gear until about three hours in. Couple of remaining glasses were wonderful on day 2, showing a lovely nose of spicy pastry, made me think of cardamom buns. This original disgorgement continues to eat its dosage and is ready to go, with the palate now showing more of the sculptural effects of sugar rather than sweetness. The more recent releases need additional time, for my preferences. (1333 views) | |
| Tasted by rcb25 on 3/28/2021: Bruised apples, marzipan, brioche. On the palate its ample and rich with delicate bubbles. A very long and contemplative finish. Great champagne with plenty of life ahead of it Extra info/Tech specs ABV: 12.5% Closure type: natural cork Stem: Gabriel-Glas StandArt Assemblage: 60% PN from the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de la Marne, 40% Chardonnay from Côte des Blancs. 20% vinified in oak. Aged on lees for 10 years, 4g/L dosage Decant: N/A (3367 views) | |
| Tasted by The_Cat on 3/28/2021 & rated 96 points: Pale golden seducing vibrant mineral and juicy fruit Flavors very elegant bubbles medium to full bodied with perfectly balanced acidity and super lingering fonish (3508 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 3/20/2021 & rated 95 points: Medium gold color. Split bottle over 3+ hours. That nose gets you with the marzipan up front, brioche, baked apple and pear, chalk minerality, sea air, cinnamon pastries, sublte anise, fresh bread and vanillin spice. The palate is powerful yet elegant, fairly full bodied, apple, spiced orange peel, chalky minerality, marzipan, lemon, toast, and hazelnut. Great presence and balance, just super! (3702 views) | |
| Tasted by @chardonoir on 2/20/2021: Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Nicolas Francois 2002. Druvor: 60% Pinot Noir och 40% Chardonnay från Grand Cru lägen i Côte des Blancs (Chardonnay) and Montagne de Reims (Pinot Noir). En djup doft av kola, mogen tropisk frukt, kakdeg och en hint sherry uppbackat av snygg mineral. Smaken är krämig, elegant och läcker med noter av persika, lemon curd, rött äpple, och apelsinskal. Nicolas Francois 2002 är just nu i en fas där syran och fräschören går hand i hand med fina toner av mognad. Allt sitter på plats och är i harmoni. (3966 views) | |
| Tasted by vespasian on 2/12/2021 & rated 95 points: Gorgeous golden colour, steady, fine bubbles; lovely nose, almost dessert like, fruits of the forest, baked oatmeal, hazelnut all entwined with a complex autolytic character; totally convincing on the palate, long, complex and evolving. Great freshness too. Delicious. (3592 views) | |
| Tasted by LB88 on 2/2/2021 & rated 93 points: Light crisp but could do with a little more age. (4050 views) | |
| Tasted by RED AND BLACK on 1/31/2021 & rated 94 points: Early drinking window, this champagne has enormous potential. Iodine and brioche nose, but very soft and elegant. On the palate this is full, and very vinous especially when it gets warmer. This is a great champagne with at least another 10 years to go. 94 now with upside (3510 views) | |
| Tasted by mjdixon on 1/23/2021 & rated 93 points: Very nice vintage champers - drinking perfectly with that aged chardonnay taste Definite nut and honeysuckle flavours and plenty of fizz... (3488 views) | |
| Tasted by Krokfjord on 12/31/2020 & rated 94 points: Champagne er så digg akkurat når modningen har begynt: som lyden til Yngwie eller Eddie (RIP) - rein og uten stygg vreng, men fortsatt full av power. Her er der søt gjærbakst, grønne epler, nydelige små bobler. En fantastisk champagne som er perfekt nå og i hvert fall 10 år til. (3575 views) | |
| Tasted by Rollerball on 12/31/2020 & rated 95 points: Wow this stuff is good. Paired beautifully with the many varied elements of a NYE Oshugatsu box from Kiraku Berkeley: Shiraae with maitake, Shungiku Ohitashi, Ebi and Wakame, Saba Nanbanzuke, Umesuisho, A5 Miyazaki Wagyu and Hokkaido Uni, King Crab and eringi mushrooms, Grilled Black Cod, 7 various sashimi. Nuanced, bright, round and--despite how assertive--really crunchy and quafable with dinner. Radiates it’s message with poise and ease. Enjoyed out of a Zalto Universal. Should cruise here for five+ years but why wait? Now-2026. (3152 views) | |
| Tasted by 5laton on 12/27/2020: Purchased at auction. Older label, presumably from the original release. Lovely bottle of this, much more enjoyable than a newer release tasted last month. Even better on day 2; I might reconsider my decision not to backfill this vintage. (3288 views) | |
| Tasted by sbjm on 12/27/2020 & rated 98 points: J: dry, not fruity. Clean finish and does not linger on palate. Keeps coming back to drink more of it. Nutty side S: clean finish. A bit spicy with first taste on palate. Full bodied with more of a chew. November 2021: increase rating from 90 to 96. One of our favorites September 2023: Have had many bottles of this over past two years. Continues to improve with additional aging. Beautiful, deep color and the spicy first taste has become more pronounced. Still with clean, short finish. Increase rating again this year from 96 to 98. Remains a favorite and we have it often. (3383 views) | |
| Tasted by catowne1 on 12/25/2020 & rated 95 points: Stellar. Nose of apple pie, or my wife says peach cobbler... biscuits, raw almonds, honey suckle. Great acidity on the palate. Low dosage. No sweetness to be found. Finishes excellent with a creamy yellow citrus note. Lemon curd. Just fantastic. Plenty of life here. No doubt this wine will go several more years. (3072 views) | |
| Tasted by Collector1855 on 12/22/2020 & rated 95 points: Year end Champagne lunch (Singapore): All wines tasted blind. Lovely nose also here with brioche, white flowers, citrus and yellow fruit. The palate is crisper with less dosage than the Piper/Rare next to it. A good middle ground between racy and hedonistic. Shows its age nicely with tertiary aromas. In a great spot now but can easily last another 10 years. (5154 views) | |
| Tasted by jnewman77 on 12/9/2020: This was an excellent bottle; lovely golden color with a delightful nose of ripe orchard fruits, apple tart, brioche, and pear blossom. Some underlying mineral notes emerge with a bit of air. The palate has great concentration and depth with a lovely vinous mouthfeel, but still has some nervosite underlying. Delicious and certainly has plenty of time ahead. (3640 views) | |
| Tasted by Troon on 12/4/2020 & rated 94 points: This wine was outstanding. Did not decant, but served in a wine glass as opposed to a flute to allow more exposure to air. It continued to evolve over the next two hours as we enjoyed it. It was paired with a lobster bisque. I don’t have specific tasting notes as this was part of a socially distant and zoom Christmas holiday dinner with my wine buds. I do wish I had more. (3500 views) | |
| Tasted by 5laton on 11/22/2020: Disgorged January 2016. This was a recent re-release with an updated label and plaque de muselet, opened to check in on whether I should backfill some additional bottles. This showed a spiced applesauce personality, and was much more primary than an original release bottle earlier this year that had additional richness and development. Perhaps in time this release will equal the original, but ultimately this bottle did not convince me to reload. (3162 views) | |
| Tasted by Matt Scott on 11/21/2020 & rated 96 points: Almond cookies, terra cotta, forest floor, lemon curd, croissant and dried lilies. There’s a major focus, yet this is full and not bashful, with some lovely bakers yeast throughout. Excellent texture and length. Such a magnetic persona. Beautiful. Drink now - 2034. (4296 views) | |
| Tasted by Max S. on 11/21/2020 & rated 97 points: This was my wedding wine. I was not disappointed. It was as if I was drinking brioche toast topped with thin slices of green apple and drizzled with the lightest honey. (3577 views) | |
| Tasted by shifter on 11/15/2020 & rated 92 points: Yeasty nose, brioche toast. A touch of lemon. Palate is luxurious and full. Much lower acid than Krug and even lower than DP. Really coats the mouth with full, beautiful warmth. Finish is long and brings you back for more. (3705 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 11/7/2020 & rated 94 points: Light medium gold color. Drank two glasses over 2 hours. This was a very nice bottle. Very fresh on the nose, orchard fruits, pear, toast, dough, stone. The palate is crisp and lively, fine mousse, medium plus body with a nice nuttiness, pear, lemon, toasty, apple peel, dry stone, light ginger, lemon cream. This comes off so balanced and seamless. Not as ethereal as a bottle back in February, but still great. (3815 views) | |
| Tasted by nwebstar on 11/6/2020 & rated 95 points: Brand new bottle to last note and quite a difference. Right from get go was more evolved and flavourful. Less breadiness but lovely rounded flavours but bounded by BC elegance. Colour was a little more green gold. Honey and sweet spice (cinnamon) even some berries and melon. Had a natural moreishness to it. (3123 views) | |
| Tasted by nwebstar on 11/5/2020 & rated 93 points: Very Billecart. Fresh and elegant. Needed at least 10min in glass to show form and 2nd sitting to finish some 4hrs after opening (stopped and stored in fridge) delivered an even better experience. Colour showed little to no age. Bread/yeast and spiced honey but always finishing dry (too dry?). Perhaps lacked a little depth of experience the only criticism. Wonderful but not wow. (2962 views) | |
| Tasted by EastBayPhil on 9/26/2020 & rated 96 points: Outstanding. (3372 views) | |
| Tasted by canan on 9/25/2020 & rated 93 points: BYO (Michaels place): Touch of oxidation but lovely and packed with red apples and berries. (2902 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 9/9/2020 & rated 94 points: Fruity with touch of age, slight nutty aspect, deep, long, complex; on the palate, big and powerful with a long finish. Showed very well. With new label. My WOTN. Blind DD at Capital Seafood. (3289 views) | |
| Tasted by N.Bonaparte on 8/13/2020 & rated 94 points: Needs 20 min in the glass- unmistakably 2002. So well delineated. Certainly in its prime with decades left. Very good value. (3884 views) | |
| Tasted by Derek Darth Taster on 8/8/2020 & rated 93 points: YB belated at Pine Close. Tasted blind. Drank in Gabriel Standart. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, gold colour. Legs. Fine bubbles. Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of buttered toast, almond nuts, chalky minerality, rich honeyed lemon oil, hints of mushroom earth. Developing. On the palate, dry, rounded high acidity, medium- alcohol (12.5%), medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of rich yeasty lees, rich rounded honeyed citrus lemon, buttered toast, creme brulee, elegant hazelnuts, stony + chalk minerality. Light marzipan. Slight oxidative character. Long finish. Very good quality. Still has further development ahead in the next few years. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. (4032 views) | |
| Tasted by Cailles on 7/13/2020 & rated 95 points: This is a wonderful, luxurious Champagne which has the freshness, softness and is inviting and just wonderful to drink. While the 95 points are well deserved, this wine doesn‘t have the depth (and somewhat the flavor intensity on the nose and length) to go higher than this. A crowdpleaser. TN: Medium- expressive nose with bakery scents and citrus. More expressive, intense and with good precision on the palate displaying citrus, apple, hints of wet stone and fine brioche and bread aromas. With medium length. The structure is close to perfection with perfectly integrated acidity which brings great freshness, a soft and creamy texture and very soft bubbles. Decanting: In a beautiful spot today, right from the go. (4777 views) | |
| Tasted by 5laton on 7/10/2020: Bottle purchased and cellared since release. Wow, this was outstanding. Wonderfully rich and textured and showing nice development and better dosage integration than a few years back. There's still a slight 7-Up aspect to the nose that I'd like to see fade away. But happy to have a couple more of these to open over the next few years. (2986 views) | |
| Tasted by irvingn on 6/3/2020 & rated 98 points: This champagne is in a great drinking window. It was yeasty, nutty, with hints of creaminess throughout. Absolutely delectable. A real treat after a long week. (4292 views) | |
| Tasted by AaronMaxwell on 5/28/2020 & rated 94 points: Smells delicate and sweet, riddled with honey and vanilla. And dark, a matured yeasty something is taking over the nose - biscotti is the closest I can get to something I know :) But drinking side by side vs. a 2008 Dom, this is sweeter and muskier on the nose. On taste, not so tart, but more zesty orange fruit, citrus and honey. This ends like an orange/vanilla soda with bright effervescent texture. (4429 views) | |
| Tasted by Andre Brattland on 5/11/2020 & rated 93 points: Intense, but still a bit tight feeling on the aromas with lime, butter, nut, bread baking, wet ground, sea salt and this distinct grapefruit flavor at the very end. Pretty full-bodied Champagne that is still very tight after opening. Doesn't give much until a long time has passed. Then it grows up a bit. Ripe, yet fresh citrus, apple, and this distinct grapefruit flavor on the finish. Pretty sea minerality and biscuits seduce. Will not be surprised if 10 years work on this one. 93 points. (4751 views) | |
| Tasted by Tartiflette on 3/31/2020 & rated 93 points: Just becoming an interesting Champagne now. Very light straw color. Lovely fresh acidic nose and bubbles vibrant but noticeably with age. This is such a well made wine and I am looking forward to following it. Drank my last '96 last summer and this has promises to be just as good. Citrus/mandarin zest accompanied with brioche, hazelnuts, stony minerality and rye bread in the end. Long aftertaste. (4172 views) | |
| Tasted by Paul S on 2/26/2020 & rated 94 points: Dim Sum Club at Imperial Treasure Teochew (Imperial Treasure Teochew, Ion): Excellent again, this was such an enjoyable Champagne. It did need an hour or so to open up though. The nose had a twang of hard cheese at first, but that lifted after some time to show a really attractive nose of milk and cream and brioche, some green apple fruit, a tiny touch of strawberry, and then a kiss of minerality. With some time, a touch florals emerged as the wine warmed up. Lovely stuff. The palate was really nice too. Still fresh and lovely, with a gentle mousse and bright acidity draped over a lovely, transparent mouthful or sweet apples, strawberries and cherry flesh. Really juicy and delicious stuff, with the round, friendly 2002 nature that made this such a yummy drink. The finish was long and satisfying too, with a lovely depth of sweet, fleshy fruit, with just a little sprinkle of spice and mineral lingering on a long fresh backpalate. Really lovely, and starting to drink beautifully. (4579 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 2/22/2020 & rated 96 points: 2002 Tete de Cuvee Champagne Tasting Volume II (Jan's Place, St. Paul, MN): Light medium gold color. Drank a glass over an hour. This was brilliant too and after the '02 Dom, it did not disappoint. This was the best bottle of '02 NFB to date. Bold oyster shell nose with fesh cut pear, lots of biscuit and baking bread dough, nutty and vibrant. The palate is very crisp and the acid shines, great dry stones, very well toasted, fine mousse, elegant, lemon, apple, almond cream, quite long too. 96+pts. (4488 views) | |
| Tasted by iobtoel on 12/25/2019 & rated 96 points: Lightly toasted brioche. Tight, superbly balanced. Hints of honey at the end. Fine mousse that just coats the tongue. Long pleasurable finish. (4348 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 11/25/2019 & rated 93 points: Yellow, gold-ish; hint butter, popcorn, vinous, tart berries, minerals, fresh, crisp, tasted new and young; some earthy mineral notes with good lift, tangy juicy, med+ finish really nice. Capital Seafood for DD. (4613 views) | |
| Tasted by mattdathan on 11/23/2019 & rated 95 points: Sumptuous! (4056 views) | |
| Tasted by aChave on 11/14/2019 & rated 93 points: Billecart-Salmon Tasting (Dan & Mila’s): “Founder’s Cuvée”. Once again, Superb. Fine fruit, light toast, long finish. A little more toast than the 2006, and a little softer. 60% PN, 40% Chard. (4095 views) | |
| Tasted by Cailles on 10/30/2019 & rated 96 points: This is a stunning Champagne with the unbelievable finesse and softness as the clear highlights. The aroma profile is clearly Pinot Noir and comes with good precision. From a value for money perspective I find this quite spectacular. The wine is still quite youthful with just the first hints of tertiary development showing. TN: An array of highly precise blue and black forest berries, some red fruit, hints of minerality, nougat, fine toast, some shy oxidation aromas. Unbelievable fine mousse, a stunning soft structure and very good harmony and good length. Decanting: No decant needed. Good from the go. (5025 views) | |
| Tasted by sirpat00 on 10/26/2019 & rated 94 points: Buttery, oxidative notes of hazelnut, light red berry fruit that carries on nicely on the palate. Fine toast, fresh acidity and pretty long finish. Very fine moussage. Sweet caramel notes over time. This is compelling stuff and drinks extremely well. But in terms of complexity the range of aromatics is limited. (3988 views) | |
| Tasted by JS1056 on 10/10/2019 & rated 94 points: Rich, powerful, opulent. Almond, brioche, apricots and some subtle citrus. This was a big wine. Served with ribeye and lobster with hollandaise and was right at home. I am not a sparkling aficionado but his was a wine I could enjoy in any circumstance. (3543 views) | |
| Tasted by jmoore431 on 9/25/2019 & rated 94 points: Very similar/consistent with my note Spring 2018. Still loads of carbonation and suds; hints of tobacco and spices emerged in the glass as it warmed and aired. Tons of life left in this. (3792 views) | |
| Tasted by Jammy Wine on 8/25/2019 & rated 93 points: Tasted blind and the muscular Pinot fruits dominated the aroma profile. Ripe and rounded, Pinot Noir fruits of orchard fruits, raspberries and ripe lemons. Fairly leesy and textured, most likely due to extensive lees ageing, suggesting Grande Marque rather than Grower Champagne, also the dosage is generous giving a slight sweetness on the finish. Pinot Noir tannins, fairly rich but a bit clumsy. 80% Pinot 20% Chardonnay? 2004? Pol Roger Cuvee Winston Churchill? (93/100) Disgorged c. 2015 (4170 views) | |
| Tasted by rustyRudy on 7/19/2019 & rated 96 points: Nice bubbles, tart lemon with apple, toast and a balanced finish. (4187 views) | |
| Tasted by andrewdodd86 on 7/19/2019 & rated 97 points: Lemon central, amazing depth, aged but not oxidized. Just amazing stuff (3817 views) | |
| Tasted by BenBlu on 7/17/2019 & rated 92 points: 2002 Vintage Champagne horizontal (Elystan Street, London): Blind and after a terrific prior flight of Krug and Clos Goisses this champagne didn't deliver for me. It does hoewever echo my sentiment that I voiced before that this needs a lot time. It seemed very clear in colour, there seems to be some potential/material here but it doesn't come out to play. It was (just) the best wine in a weak flight. I think hold this for 5 years + (a 1996 NF recently opened showed very young but very good). Drink the Billecart CSH today and wait for the NF. (4556 views) | |
| Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 7/16/2019 & rated 93 points: Rich and vinous, full-bodied and harmonious, gentle but vibrant mousse, lovely touch of nutty development, 60% Pinot Noir but the fruit is more defined by the 40% Chardonnay, comfortably on its plateau of maturity, time in hand. (3867 views) | |
| Tasted by CamWheeler on 6/23/2019 & rated 92 points: SLDS at Quay: Marzipan, lemon, apple, honey and pear on the nose. Weighty body, with sweet and powerful fruit that has texture to give it interest and very good acidity helping the wine to flow and finish well. Very good wine to start things off. (3545 views) | |
| Tasted by varforintenu on 6/18/2019: Very nice ! Drank it with good friends a summer evening. Still a bit young and closed. I will wait another 5-10 years before tasting the next one. (3566 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 5/10/2019 & rated 94 points: Light medium golden color. Drank 2 glasses over dinner for 2 hours. This is tightly coiled, impressive energy and power, full of dry extract, tart citrus, quince, lemon, saline and ocean breeze, hazelnuts and great length. Wow. (3906 views) | |
| Tasted by affordableCollector on 5/1/2019 & rated 94 points: Defined bubble stream. Medium gold, in color. Golden apples, golden pears, cherry, peach, citrus, brioche, mineral, chalk. Creamy texture, citrus peel, on a dark berry finish. (2300 views) | |
| Tasted by Vinophiliac559 on 4/30/2019: Soooo tight, this is full of energy and extremely wound up at the moment. Medium persistent bubbles, nice mousse, vibrant acidity, little development at this point, some autolytic notes throughout but not a major focus, tart green apple, citrus, medium weight, imo needs a little more time to develop some complexity and allow the edges to soften a bit. Overall very good champagne with room for improvement with more time (3711 views) | |
| Tasted by Southern Wine Buff on 4/20/2019 & rated 94 points: Quite pale but deep yellow, with a stunningly fine and strong bead. Nose and flavours centre around pale stonefruits, albeit with a hint of citrus on the end of an impressively long and substantial palate. An utterly gorgeous vintage champagne that should develop in the bottle for quite a few years yet. (3590 views) | |
| Tasted by Ebrim on 2/8/2019 & rated 92 points: Shirt note - herbs, lemon, Nutts, nougat, baked bread, bitter in finish, well balanced and very high concentration, medium+ complexity, long and mineralic finish, outstanding quality 92/93p (4450 views) | |
| Tasted by BSA on 1/1/2019 & rated 93 points: Fungus, ripe lemons, white flowers, slate. Rounder yellow fruits in the mouth, oak vanilla. Lovely concentration. Quivering acidity. Long finish. Like constantly licking a lemon popsicle. On day 2: More towards white flowers, bit more creamy, seamless and acidity less noticeable. Keep in cellar for at least 3-5 years. 93-94p now. (4263 views) | |
| Tasted by PourMeSomeMore on 12/31/2018 & rated 95 points: Delicious! Ripe plum and honey on the nose, really fine bubbles that last and a juicy moderately rich mouthfeel with a touch of smoke on the fabulous finish. It has cut, but not so much that you can't enjoy on it's own without food. Yum. fyi, my style is grand dame, DP 02 & 09, Bollinger grand cuvee & older vintage. (3866 views) | |
| Tasted by drwine2001 on 12/29/2018: Still some fizz. Mellow, creamy, fully mature, moderate dosage. Outstanding bottle at a perfect place in time. (4236 views) | |
| Tasted by cubswinws on 12/24/2018 & rated 94 points: Just stunning. Truly amazing sparkling wine. Still a baby. (3749 views) | |
| Tasted by Elpaninaro on 12/20/2018: Small sample at a tasting Good young champagne color, sweet fruits on the nose- apples, a bit of pear, berries, light bread notes, on the palate still quite closed, a fine depth of sweet fruit- as with the 1999 St. Hilaire tasted alongside this is very much a fruit-driven champagne and yet there is also a noticeable and exciting underlying tension, a young wine with solid future prospects. (***)+, 2025-2040. (3864 views) | |
| Tasted by Parrish02 on 12/15/2018 & rated 93 points: Beautiful straw color with soaring apples and citrus on the nose. A ton of structure and power to spare. The pinot dominates at this point and it drinks more like a Blanc de noir than a 60/40 blend. Still quite young with a ton of evolution ahead. (3364 views) | |
| Tasted by sh6k on 11/25/2018 & rated 95 points: Rich rich rich. Lemon. Better the second day — rounded acidity. Malo. (3911 views) | |
| Tasted by fclarity on 11/22/2018 & rated 92 points: Popped and poured on t-day. This remains a bit sweeter than I would prefer. However, it has great texture and length. This is lovely and may get better but I wouldn’t count on it (3655 views) | |
| Tasted by Mat1681 on 11/15/2018 & rated 94 points: A big, complex wine, dried red fruit, nutty, bonfire toffee - approx 60% Pinot base - glimpse of interesting barnyard tertiary qualities coming through on the nose still quite tight, austere, holding back and not ready to be woken yet, leave resting for at least another 5 years. Is this really 16 years old?? (3841 views) | |
| Tasted by James Kim on 11/3/2018 & rated 90 points: Gathering at Brian's (Brian's Home): From memory. Yeasty/brioche with citrus and some herbs. Nice weight. Seems coiled and not showing as much. Perhaps needed more air. Paled in comparison to the 2008 Cristal afterwards. (3915 views) | |
| Tasted by aagrawal on 10/28/2018 & rated 91 points: K&L Champagne Tent Tasting (San Francisco, CA): Some aged character, integrated brioche; palate is medium bodied, nice blend of richness and tartness. Better than my last taste of this for sure. 90-92 (4582 views) | |
| Tasted by Rani on 10/20/2018 & rated 92 points: Very yeasty and rich, good mousse and acidity. Quite the powerhouse but ready to drink now. (3603 views) | |
| Tasted by BenBlu on 10/8/2018 & rated 94 points: After having had this two years ago (please see my previous note) I am pleased to report that it is starting to put on weight and I am slightly more optimistic for its future then I was last time. Drank over 2 days our of Riedel Sommelier Chablis glasses. The Pinot is starting to take over a bit more I found. It is till very young looking in the glass though and tasting like a 8-10 year old rather then a champagne with 16 years of age. I think this will make very old bones and fingers crossed in 10 years or so it will truly show its stuff. I'd pin the ideal drinking window down here for 2025-2035 out of normal bottles. I am puzzled though as to why the 2002 is showing that tight - the 90 and 95 of this cuvee were drinking SO marvellous in the 10-15 years age bracket. Maybe I caught this too late for its first peak or has there been a change in style? Hold onto your bottles for greater things to come I'd say. (4344 views) | |
| Tasted by fclarity on 9/22/2018 & rated 93 points: This wine had a medium yellow/straw colored center with a fantastic mousse. The medium intensity nose showed citrus, vanilla, guava, and white stone. In the mouth, this wine was quite light and refreshing with lovely small bubbles and good acidity. It was a refined wine but had nice finish nonetheless. This is a very nice Champagne. However, it is nowhere near the quality of their ethereal Clos St Hilaire. It will easily last at this level for a decade+ (3956 views) | |
| Tasted by gediminasbielskus on 8/26/2018 & rated 91 points: Nose is beautiful and chalky slithly honeyed autolytic notes that is covered by developed fruits. The palate has a brightness but a heavy weight that provides a very long finish. (4174 views) | |
| Tasted by srh on 8/4/2018: Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 7 *shared* wines] from 08/03/18] (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): An *absolute* TREAT, Dr. Tom! As you alluded, can CERTAINLY be mentioned in the same breath with Salon, which I once had @ a trade tastiing. • 60% P.N from the 1er & Grands Crus from the Montagne de Reims & the Grande Vallée de la Marne, 40% Chard from the Côte des Blancs; • Dosage: 4 g/l • 20% vinified in oak barrels with partial malolactic fermentation, then aged for 10 yrs on the lees; 1,500 cases imported N: VERY attractive yeasty minerality with apples moving forward; Intensity lurking P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with GORGEOUS frt BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by an acidity which makes its presence known into & through the LONG, tangy finish with an attractive swtness in a dialectic with a very, VERY slight bitterness. SUPERBLY done, & with MANY yrs of life left! :) 12.5% ABV; My EXCEPTIONAL-/EXCEPTIONAL! Press *highlights*: 2-98s & a 19/20 Decanter, 98 Suckling, & 97 Vinous. [This vendor's $159.95 puts it @ the very bottom of wine-searcher's TOP 15% of current listings.] (4623 views) | |
| Tasted by aquacongas on 6/25/2018 & rated 94 points: Zum Gaumenneutralisieren hilft Champagner fast immer. Perfekte Balance aus diesem genialen Jahrgang. Noch im aufsteigenden Stadium, locker 10 Jahre vom Peak entfernt. Limette, rosa Grapefruit, Aprikose, keine Tertiäraromen, beginnende Nußnoten, getoastes Toast, salzig und erfrischende Säure. 94 (4973 views) | |
| Tasted by SimonG on 5/21/2018 & rated 93 points: There’s a lot of wine here. Very fresh and poised, a touch of autolysis starting to show as it warms, but this is still pretty taut and yet really quite full. Needs another five years at a guess. Should be very good. ***(*) (5053 views) | |
| Tasted by beezer6 on 5/12/2018 & rated 94 points: BBQ and Wine at Jordan's (Chez Whitehead): From magnum. Thanks Kenny! Lovely brioche laced yellow pears and honeyed apples. Long finish. Limited notes. (5058 views) | |
| Tasted by DavilaDC on 4/26/2018 & rated 96 points: Amazingly effervescent with tiny bubbles. Crisp acidity, green apple and white peach flavors. The nose has a bit of biscuit and yeast. This wine powered through a beautifully prepared scallop dish and enhanced raw oysters served with a champagne mignonette. Extremely versatile. This wine shows it's pure structure as it warms and can't hide behind its initial serving temperature. (4893 views) | |
| Tasted by HowardNZ on 4/1/2018: Dinner for Wayne and Hannah ('96 and '02 Burgs, '82 Lagune etc): The Champagnes were served in Riesling-type glasses. Pale colour. Small bead. An attractive citric and mineral bouquet with a touch of spice. Not much autolysis evident. In the mouth, precise and pure. Lemons, peaches and pears with some minerals. 'Tight and restrained' said Con. Excellent acidity. Still young with only a slight oxidative edge on the finish. Drinking very well but it'd be good to revisit in another 2-4 years. (5272 views) | |
| Tasted by jmoore431 on 3/13/2018 & rated 93 points: Full straw color with rigorous bead, surprisingly sudsy with loads of bubbles on first pouring. Quickly settled down to perfect calm; seemed to also slowly age in the glass from perfectly fresh, doughy, brioche to more complex floral and fruit qualities. A bit of a wild ride but enchanting to experience. Great potential here. (4449 views) | |
| Tasted by wineordeath on 3/13/2018 & rated 93 points: Leads with lees and faint raisin. Pear and dried apples. Full, but dry and tingly on the palate. Very crisp. Still very young and not really showing well. A bit short. But good. 60% pinot, 40% chardonnay. (4061 views) | |
| Tasted by walkerjfw on 2/20/2018: 3rd Annual PNV Kick Lunch this year with Jamie/Juan/Patrice/Zander/Tom/Steve/Jay...another epic event (Farmstead, St. Helena, CA): Opened with some bubbles, a generous contribution from Jay. Yellow straw color, frothy bubbles. Classic brioiche and yeast nose. Great fruit, pears and orchard fruit.Crisp and clean. Still drinking young. Great stuff (4234 views) | |
| Tasted by Trydebull on 2/10/2018 & rated 89 points: Ljusgul. Doften ger rabarber och aprikos. Smaken är moussig först men kort smak. Gröna äpplen och lite bitter smak. Fick överraskande stryk av alla i andra i flighten. (3894 views) | |
| Tasted by dcwino on 1/26/2018 & rated 94 points: Sine Qua Non dinner (Eddie V's - Tysons Corner, VA): Initially served too warm, dominated by deeply toned sweet yellow fruit. On ideal serving temperature, very fresh and energetic nose displaying granny smith, lemon curd, lemon zest, honey, brioche, spicy spices and strong limestone mineral. Excellent concentration, lemon oil and spice spices driven palate impression, fine mousse, bright acidity, strong mineral presence and a long clean energetic finish with lemon zest and mineral at the end. Showing generous fruit yet very fresh and energetic. There is a strong BdB impression. Drinking beautifully but will improve further for another decade or two. (5066 views) | |
| Tasted by Jeremy Holmes on 1/13/2018: Full, fresh, rich and concentrated. It has a sappy, grapey quality in the mouth and plenty of yeasty things going on. The front of the palate is elegant and citrussy and it drives home with intense berry. (4306 views) | |
| Tasted by chablis28 on 1/12/2018 & rated 95 points: Same btl as R&Rlers. Served immediately after and almost concurrent with my '04 Dom tonight. This wine totally crushed the Dom, IMO. I like Kevin's adjective "aggressive". I might seek bit more finesse but it completely compensates for that with gobs of lip smacking, intense, mouth coating, complex layers of citrus, minerality, toast and gusto. This came along and elbowed out almost all remnants of the more ethereal and feminine Dom. The Dom was dominated and nearly eliminated from memory with this wine. Loved it! Drinking fairly young too for an '02 with zero signs of premox. (4681 views) | |
| Tasted by rocknroller on 1/12/2018 & rated 95 points: Sonoma Group Redux Dinner (Craig & Nita's Place): Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. Vibrant, aggressive bead, brilliant mineral nose, very bright and crisp, finessed and focused with lemon, lemon chiffon. The palate follows precisely, with the same energetic minerality with a chalk infused streak, white fruits, lemon chiffon, power and drive wrapped in a well delineate, elegant bow. Long and fresh. This feels very alive and just hitting its stride. This is great stuff. Drank this next to the '04 Dom, and both were excellent with the CNF having considerably more drive and energy, though my wife preferred the Dom. 95+(+)pts. (4279 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 1/10/2018 & rated 92 points: Bit more fuller aromas and toast compared to the Cuvee Louise, slightly richer, touch more fruit, with a nice powerful finish. Opposite in character to the Louise, both quite good. Water Grill w/Eric & co. (3921 views) | |
| Tasted by Millennial Drinkers on 12/14/2017 & rated 95 points: Last wine we tasted after our tour at Champagne Billecart-Salmon. Our tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable about the domains history and all the wines. Bright golden yellow with tons of tiny bubbles. Thick nose with layers of honey, stone and white fruits, almonds and some lemon zest. Well rounded with high acidity (7.5/10) and medium plus to full bodied. Fresh, lively and zesty on the palate with layers of brioche, stone fruits, green apples and a touch of citrus. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2037. Made up of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from the same plot every vintage. Only 20% is vinified in oak and also aged for 13 years on the lees. (4197 views) | |
| Tasted by drwine2001 on 12/9/2017: Medium yellow. Good mousse for 15 year old Champagne. Toasty nose. Mellow fruit, dry, and creamy. In great shape without a trace of oxidation. Two problems, though. It has an odd herbal component that is out of place, and the main action happens through the mid-palate, after which it takes a pretty noticeable dive. Representative bottle? (4252 views) | |
| Tasted by GTFreek on 12/6/2017: 60/40 Pinot/Chard. Medium plus nose shows lemon peel, pineapple, brioche, and then notes of age/oak, toasted apple, walnut, hay. Palate shows deep layers, citrus, brioche, rye bread, orange zest, tropical, earth tones like white mushroom, loads of complexity and very elegant presentation, nicely dry finish. Certainly delivers, though it's pricey! Appropriate for the category though. (4014 views) | |
| Tasted by Patrik H on 11/29/2017 & rated 91 points: On the nose: Yeast, fudge, bread, vanilla, sherry, apple On the palate: Citrus with high acidity. Still not rounded. Will need more time Medium + finish (4113 views) | |
| Tasted by dcwino on 11/9/2017 & rated 96 points: 2017 Villa d’Este Wine Symposium - Kelly and Kevin's excellent adventure; 11/9/2017-11/14/2017 (Villa D’este, Lake Como and Milan): En Magnum, limited release and my friend Laurent seems to have 50% of the world allocation. Expressive nose displaying intense ripe yellow fruit, lemon curd, tarte tatin, brioche, honey and limestone. Excellent concentration, dense and oily, generous fine mousse, bright acidity, strong mineral presence and a long sweet yellow fruit and mineral driven finish. It is a big scale decedent yet energetic Champagne. Drinking beautifully now but will age gracefully especially in magnum format. (5808 views) | |
| Tasted by galewskj on 11/4/2017 & rated 93 points: Billecart Salmon Tasting (France 44): Drank about 1/2 a glass at a tasting. Head and shoulders better than their NV's. The nose and the palate are rich and luscious, with bracing acidity. Toasty, maybe a little too toasty. It is drinking well right now even though it is pretty wound up. A couple years from now, I'd expect it to have improved. (4341 views) | |
| Tasted by StasMedvedev.lv on 10/23/2017 & rated 94 points: Grand Maisons de Champagne for RWC in Riga: 🏅 Rating 94/100 (4,4⭐) (3108 views) | |
| Tasted by andrewdodd86 on 9/30/2017 & rated 97 points: So much more bright, light, and less dark golden fruit, pear & apple, vanilla, almond, biscuit lemon (4484 views) | |
| Tasted by rustyRudy on 9/29/2017 & rated 96 points: Compared to the 1999 this is more crisp and citrus , great small bubbles, , balanced and beautifully done. Everyone's favorite of the two. Bone dry, fresh and lively, rejuvenates your palate. Great with food and by itself. (4288 views) | |
| Tasted by John Dunlap on 9/5/2017 & rated 95 points: Tasted at Billecart-Salmon as part of an excellent tour, which included a sit down tasting, where the wines were discussed in detail. The 2002 Nicolas Billecart is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. According to our guide, the only exception to this 60/40 combination was 1985 when the percentages were completely reversed. Grapes come from family plots. As the website states: the wine is a blend of “… Cote des Blanc vineyards (Chardonnay) and the Montagne de Reims (Pinot Noir).” Four grams of sugar. Approximately 20% of the wine was partially vinified in tight-grained, used, toasted oak barrels. This Champagne rested on its lees for nearly 16 years. Amazing! Bottled in 2016. Very full-bodied. Both on the nose and palate, I noticed a wonderful brioche swath throughout, honeycomb and graham cracker elements, as well as almonds and a touch of old brandy. Others mentioned honey and the guide suggested that there might be a bit of fennel on the palate. A really outstanding wine. Can keep this wine for years. Other good vintages not yet released may include 2008, 2012, and 2015. Serve with darker poultry, including guinea hen, quail, and pigeon. Foods with cream sauces ham or bacon as a base would work nicely. (4447 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 8/31/2017 flawed bottle: Chicago Wine Flock...Don Serving So Many Great Blind Wines/Flights (Park Ridge, IL): Surprisingly rather oxidative and advanced, this was the wine I expected to be stand out in the flight, but turned out to be the one disappointment. (5269 views) | |
| Tasted by Sean Tay on 8/4/2017: It smells like grapefruit, lemon, lime, bready and biscuity. (1629 views) | |
| Tasted by dcwino on 6/25/2017 & rated 95 points: Winos' excellent adventure in France; 6/22/2017-6/27/2017 (All over France): En Magnum. Very vibrant nose displaying decadent yellow fruits, lemon, apple sauce, a hint of brioche, white pepper, honey and limestone. Excellent concentration, dense, abundant fine mousse, perfect amount of acidity and a long clean finish with a hint of honey and decadent yellow fruit at the end. There is a beautiful interplay of sweet and decadent fruit and bright acidity and mineral. This is still quite youthful and will age gracefully for the next two decades or longer. (7329 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgnick on 6/8/2017 & rated 92 points: Custard, ripe apple, and nut fruit on the nose. Palate is fat and ripe yet there is soaring acidity to balance it. Quite a big champagne. (4829 views) | |
| Tasted by 5laton on 3/17/2017: Nose shows nice leesy richness and exotic tree fruit. Deep, penetrating palate with a surprising amount of toasty autolysis, but also some yellow fruit, a touch exotic, with some subtle ginger and spice notes. Nicely concentrated, this showed youthful on day 1 and more developed on day 2 with surprising boldness. Very good, but also rather expensive for what it is. (2597 views) | |
| Tasted by henrygjeffreys on 2/11/2017: 60 % PN 40% Chard BEautiful nose - floral, citrus then on the palate gorgeous layers of hazlenuts, coffee and yeasty notes. Amazing precision and balance Still very young, no hurry to drink this (5364 views) | |
| Tasted by KenK on 2/6/2017 & rated 94 points: Lovely stuff. Big bold clean and fresh intensity. Stoney tense pure with great underlying fruit. Really good, long life ahead. Poured from Magnum. (5152 views) | |
| Tasted by KenPlace on 2/6/2017: - Greenish color with small pearls. It's in total harmony with a medium body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Fabulous. Very crisp and refreshing (4857 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 2/5/2017 & rated 94 points: Good Wine with an Exciting Super Bowl (Chez Kailin - Northbrook IL): Tasted this several hours after it was opened, so it had already lost much of its effervescence, so I may be understating the wine's greatness. Opulent aromas and flavors, with toasted walnut, ripe apple, lemon custard, wild red berries and toasted brioche all coming through over the course of 10 minutes I kept this in glass. Very long and minerally finish. (5351 views) | |
| Tasted by TexasBob on 1/29/2017 & rated 91 points: Quite clear with a slight golden sheen. Bubbles started up quite fat but quickly settled down into tiny bubbles. In fact, there was a mini tornado of bubbles in the center of the glass throughout. Lemon cool-aid, slightly diluted, on the nose. Delicious with light lemon notes, very fresh, good solid minerality. (4141 views) | |
| Tasted by Derek Darth Taster on 1/21/2017 & rated 93 points: Davyd's Birthday Celebration 2017 (Extra Space): Tasted blind. Pop and poured. Drank over 1.5 hours. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, yellow lemon colour. Legs. Fine bubbles. Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of toasty oak, almond nuts, chalky minerality, dried orange peel, honeyed lemon. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium- alcohol (12.5%), medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of toasty oak, almond nuts, rich yeasty lees, dried orange peel, honeyed lemon, chalk minerality. Slight oxidative character. Long finish. Very good quality. Rich show-stopping champagne. Aged 10 years on lees, no wonder. Still has further development ahead in the next 5+ years. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. (4151 views) | |
| Tasted by HowardNZ on 12/29/2016 & rated 94 points: Ten Champagnes tasting: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, 4 grams per litre dosage. Deep gold colour. A complex bouquet, reflecting the Champagne's 10 years on lees. Perfumes of crème brûlée, blanched almonds, lemon rind, honey comb and oyster shell. Showing more of an oxidative character, on bouquet and palate, than in previous tastings of this vintage. This Champagne is developing nicely. Refined, à point and fresh on the palate. Complex layers of flavour, creamy, rich and autolic, while underpinned by excellent acidity and minerality. Now drinking better than a couple of years ago. I'm sure it'll improve again over another 5-8+ years. WoTD. (4293 views) | |
| Tasted by Jeremy Holmes on 12/12/2016: Delicate, subtle and fluffy with lemon and bread notes. It is incredibly fresh from Magnum. (3970 views) | |
| Tasted by Blauweiss on 12/7/2016 & rated 93 points: Munskänkarna Göteborg Champagne-class, Session 9, flight 1. WOTN! Rich nose, with loads of sweet apple, creamy but also a very fresh minerality. Full bodied and rich on the plate, needs some time in the glass to open up, but the reward is plentiful. Gorgeous! (3755 views) | |
| Tasted by rossi.wine on 12/5/2016 & rated 94 points: On the nose chalky minerality, red apples, white stone fruit, hints of yeast. Very pure and powerful on the palate, lots of precision and minerality. Fresh with plenty of fruit. Very vibrant and long. Very well structured. Hold. 93-94+ (4220 views) | |
| Tasted by BenBlu on 11/27/2016 & rated 94 points: Colour is fairly light for a champagne with 14 years of age, very clear. On the nose there is a lovely smell of fresh orchids, something mineral which is also echoed on the palate. Quite zippy still, in a way more primary then I would have expected and I am missing a bit of intensity and length. Certainly a beautiful champagne, but in my view this bottle failed to clearly outclass such vintages as 98 and 99 of this cuvée which I would have expected. It is not on the same level as the 90 or 96 I don't think, maybe even slightly behind the 95 which drank incredible at around 10-14 years of age. I think today you want to open the 96 for pleasure and you hold your bottles of the 2002 till 2020 ++. My expectations were very high given the vintage and the fact that Nicolas Francois is my favourite cuvée in champagne - they weren't fully met as I think the Bollinger Grande Annee 2002 is one, and Taittinger's CdC 02 two notches better. (3854 views) | |
| Tasted by wineordeath on 11/25/2016 & rated 93 points: Leaps out and attacks the nose! Lees, brioche, fig, apricot, very intellectual nose. Lush, rich, chewy palate, but still reveals the low dosage in its mineral character. Delicious (3478 views) | |
| Tasted by bestdamncab on 10/23/2016 & rated 92 points: 2016 Annual K&L Tasting (K&L San Francisco Store): K&L Champagne Event, nose of smoke, lemon, apple, citrus and minerals, same on the palate, medium/big body, lots to love here, never achieves my expectations however, close to peak-maybe 1 more year, subtle, lon, crisp finish. (4033 views) | |
| Tasted by aagrawal on 10/23/2016 & rated 88 points: K&L Champagne Tent Tasting (K&L, San Francisco): Bit funky nose, yeast; palate is slightly bitter, medium-plus acid; medium finish. Not my style. 88 (4351 views) | |
| Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 10/20/2016: Great fruit character and a beautiful cut to it. Very fine stuff indeed. (3850 views) | |
| Tasted by hguy4x on 10/14/2016 & rated 94 points: Lemon, citrus, brioche and hints of strawberry & raspberry. Great minerality on the finish. Still a little young, was even better an hour later at the end of dinner. 94++ (3625 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 10/9/2016 & rated 91 points: Distinct but subtle berry notes on the nose, slight pinot character with very slight oxidative character; somewhat rougher bubbles after the Heidsieck Millenaires, Billecart BdB and Salon. At first it seemed less fine in the mouth, but coming back to it it seemed very foamy small bubbles. 91-92. I usually like this much more than I did today. Guessed '02 Blend. Blind at Dirty Dozen tasting. (3746 views) | |
| Tasted by Markus IWC on 9/10/2016 & rated 90 points: Beautifully mature and silky. Pears and honey. Round and smooth character. (2476 views) | |
| Tasted by Ramberg on 9/8/2016 & rated 93 points: Brief tasting note. Deep and full nose, citrus fruits, freshly baked bread with high toned floral perfume. Palate with ripe red apples, some sweet red berries, fresh citrus, clean, balanced with very fine acidity and very good length. Youthful and fresh, with a nice streak of minerallity showing. (92 – 94+) (3609 views) | |
| Tasted by DrZett on 9/2/2016 & rated 89 points: Great vertical Grange tasting (Rare-Bordeaux-Weine, Wachtberg (Germany)): Very fresh and nice on the nose. Seems that this one needs a little more time to show all of it's flavours. Don`t know if it is possible to decant Champagne, but this one could need it. (4297 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 8/23/2016 & rated 93 points: Monopole Wine: Very fragrant, fine, lovely mouthfeel and persistent. (3811 views) | |
| Tasted by soyhead on 8/21/2016: Nose - cherries and plums with hints of dough Mouth - rather red fruit focused, attractive floral and saline elements. Would pair great with salmon (3849 views) | |
| Tasted by FamilyLarsson on 8/6/2016 & rated 94 points: En underbar Champagne! En härligt krämig mousse, gula äpple, citrus, toast, hasselnötter och fin underbar syra som inte tar över. (4131 views) | |
| Tasted by thewiz on 7/20/2016 & rated 89 points: (Disgorged in fall of 2015) Light yellow colour with a light and sublime nose showing butter, fresh cut grass, lemon and minerals in a youthful way. Very light on the palate and not as acidic as I would imagine. Still very delightful with a fruity taste and a nice, but short, lime peel finish. This is very muted and closed down, but I think that it's post-disgorgement stress and the graceful start of a long life. But I guess I need to store some bottles to find out! =89p (this bottle at this day, but I think it will be much better within six months)! (3847 views) | |
| Tasted by Sundbyberg on 4/29/2016 & rated 92 points: Fresh, lots of acid and citrus, but over the 15 minutes it takes to finish the glass, it opens up gradually. Very promising but this champagne needs many more years, of course. (4584 views) | |
| Tasted by TexasBob on 3/15/2016 & rated 94 points: Golden hue. Diluted Lemon Pledge, almonds, cream, honey, and a bit of cordite, strangely, on the nose. Fresh-squeezed lemon juice buttressed by zesty acids and firm tannins. Honey sweetness at the end palate and into the finish. Enormous structure with unbelievable minerality indicating at least a decade or more of prime drinking window. Note that an hour of air is quite beneficial. Really delicious. (4567 views) | |
| Tasted by RayOB on 2/4/2016 & rated 92 points: Drank at 67 Lot's of brioche and honey on the nose with a lovely balanced light palate. What is not to like about this. Lovely. (4608 views) | |
| Tasted by iobtoel on 12/25/2015 & rated 94 points: Clean, crisp, well balanced. Some hints of yeasty notes with citrus overtones. Slipped down remarkably well with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce! (4853 views) | |
| Tasted by drwine2001 on 12/24/2015: Medium yellow. Citrus and ginger. Moderate dosage and body. Excellent and ready. (4752 views) | |
| Tasted by sonodoc on 11/27/2015 & rated 94 points: Very nice! Well balanced, a little citrus and apple, not too much yeast. Disappointed that I have only one more bottle of this! (4514 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 10/4/2015 & rated 93 points: Lovely vinous notes, creme brulee, just ripe apple/orchard fruit; light yeasty aspect; mouth was ethereal, yet excellent concentration, bright lift and finesse; fine bubbles, long, amazing with seared scallops. At Il Cortile in Paso Robles. could use 5-10 years but didn't mind at all drinking it tonight. (4680 views) | |
| Tasted by peternelson on 8/11/2015 & rated 94 points: Some reduction present, sourdough notes, super light and ethereal but creamy and fine; I liken it to a Comtes de Champagne (even though this is 60%PN, 40% Chard); dry, chalky finish, great verve and character. Very fresh, powerful, and long. Blows away the 1999, but also about a $60 price increase from that vintage. Vinified in barrel, aged 9 years in cellar, 8 g/l. (4988 views) | |
| Tasted by Paul S on 6/18/2014 & rated 94 points: Melvyn's 50th Birthday Bash (Hua Ting, Orchard Hotel): A lovely Champagne – I was very taken by this. The nose was a pretty mélange of apples and flowers backed up with a good dose of yeastiness. The palate was still really fresh and lively, and while it had the lovely fleshy roundness of the 2002 vintage, it certainly was a lot less advanced than most of its brethren, with a super-youthful cut and thrust to it and a great sense of balance in its green apple and zesty lemon notes, all this wrapped in super-fine mousse. There was a great sense of harmony and integration in this wine so that its considerable depth was held with a very light hand, which made it very drinkable. Even then, I think this still needs a good 8-10 years to hit peak, which is saying a lot for the a 2002. Super stuff, and definitely one to watch for the future. 93+ (5944 views) | |
| Tasted by Champagne88 on 5/28/2014 & rated 94 points: I've had the pleasure of enjoying this wine a few times now, and I think it worth while pointing out that it does come off as being dosed a bit more heavily than most Cuvee FNB's. I think this is likely the result of the very ripe fruit in 2002, and the fact this vintage was fermented at low temperatures primarily in stainless steel (to preserve freshness). Definitely nothing wrong with it, but having had a half dozen bottles of this wine now, it's worth pointing out. I echo my belief, voiced in an earlier review, that this wine will benefit from another decade or more in the cellar. 94+ (6964 views) | |
| Tasted by Jeremy Holmes on 5/21/2014: Rich and fruity with plenty of patisserie notes. Creamy in the mouth, very fine bead and good concentration. The dosage appears quite high but a big lick of minerally acidity cleans up the finish. (5868 views) | |
| Tasted by Champagne88 on 5/11/2014 & rated 95 points: The best 2002 champagne I have tasted to date, and with the prospect of a 2002 Krug becoming less and less likely, it may well end up being the very best. Still young, despite having a respectable amount of bottle age before being released. Light, straw gold color, with a fine but persistent bead. You really get the full spectrum of fruit on the nose here, likely the result of excellent fruit and of it being fermented at very low temperatures. A bit of nuttiness and yeast is present as well, with a touch of oak coming through. The palate largely echoes the nose--with fabulous layers of orchard fruits, some richness from the oak, and just the right amount of minerality on the seemingly endless finish. This will benefit from another decade or more of aging, but it's hard not to want it all now. I can't help but love this wine and this house. Billecart consistently releases its vintages later than the bulk of the Grand Marquee producers, while still managing to price them more reasonably. I hope the trend continues. 95+ (5577 views) | |
| Tasted by HowardNZ on 4/17/2014 & rated 94 points: Billecart-Salmon Champagne, Burgundies, Rhones, Bordeaux etc with Sebastien, Brandon and Maciej (Museum Hotel, Wellington): Again in the decanter (which Sebastien particularly recommends for this Champagne). Pinot Noir 50%, Chardonnay 50%. A small production Champagne, with 5-6 grams dosage. Colour the darkest gold. Nose a little closed but intriguing and lifted. Aromas of honey, tropical fruit, creme brûlée, lemon, blanched almonds and wet stone, a little leesy and oxidative. Bouquet a little like a good white Burgundy, with some age. Initially, tight and primary on palate. After the bubbles subside, this is again more of a wine than a Champagne to drink. Real depth, concentration and power, with elegance and a complex flavour profile. Rich flavours of clotted cream, nuts, butterscotch, vanilla bean, autolysis and minerals. Beautiful acid structure. Great length. This feels a little like it's still sleeping but it's got all the stuffing needed for longer term cellaring. (6065 views) | |
| Tasted by pointrob on 1/3/2014 & rated 97 points: wow wine for me layer upon layer of tastes, lemon grapefruit mineral, even butter? toasty and very long ever evolving in glass one of the finest i have had my new favourite next to Krug (5325 views) | |
| Tasted by drwine2001 on 12/29/2013: End of Year Vintage Champagne (SF Wine Trading Company): Light yellow, fine bead. Light toast, vanilla and some bitterness on the palate. Excellent creaminess yet still discrete, fantastic back end minerality. This is very good and at a reasonable state of maturity. (4547 views) | |
| Tasted by jjou on 12/4/2013 & rated 94 points: Fruit and rich, buttery bread, verbena. At some point reminded of a honey cough drop. Tiny beads. Wow. (4048 views) | |
| Tasted by rjonwine@gmail.com on 11/20/2013 & rated 93 points: Light yellow color with abundant, steady, tiny bubbles; appealing, yeasty, almond, brioche nose; tasty, creamy textured, autolytic, brioche, mineral, almond cream palate; medium-plus finish (60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay) (820 views) | |
| Tasted by bestdamncab on 10/20/2013 & rated 93 points: 2013 K&L Annual Champagne Tasting (K&L San Francisco Store): K&L Tasting. Nose of a butter filled croissant, yeast, and orchard fruit, more of the same on the palate, mouth filling, tastes like other great champagnes from the 2002 vintage-elegant, big body, three years from its peak, and a long, long finish. (4153 views) | |
| Tasted by AtoZ on 10/19/2013 & rated 93 points: Really nice. Will be better in a few years. Good full flavor with bitter dry extract on finish like I prefer. Works with lobster. (4101 views) |
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Billecart-SalmonProducer websiteChampagne Blend"Champagne blend" is a classic grape blend that typically includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier in any proportions.However, this blend can also include Arbane, Fromenteau (Pinot Gris), Petit Meslier and/or Pinot Blanc as well. FranceVins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings 2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest" 2019 vintage reports 2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage." 2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.com ChampagneLe Champagne (Le comité interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne) | Grandes Marques & Maisons de Champagne (Union des Maisons de Champagne)France - When it comes to wine, France stands alone. No other country can beat it in terms of consistent quality and diversity. And while many of its Region, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne most obviously, produce wine as rare, as sought-after and nearly as expensive as gold, there are just as many obscurities and values to be had from little known appellations throughout the country. To learn everything there is to know about French wine would take a lifetime. To understand and appreciate French wine, one only has to begin tasting them. Click for a list of bestselling items from all of France. Sub-Region: Champagne - The French region of Champagne (including the cities of Rheims, Épernay, and Aÿ) was the first region in the world to make sparkling wine in any quantity. Today, the name of the region is synonymous with the finest of all sparkling wines, and wine-making traditions of Champagne have become role models for sparkling wine producers, worldwide. Surprisingly, the region of Champagne is now responsible for only one bottle in 12 of all sparkling wine produced. Styles of champagne range in sweetness ranging from an extra brut or brut 0, to the basic brut to demi sec to doux; some houses produce single vintage champagnes and others produce non-vintage (or incorporate wines/grapes of multiple vintages), often to preserve a specific taste; combinations of grape varietals; and colors, including a rosé. There are several sub-appellations, including the Valley of the Marnes river running from Épernay west, Massif de Saint-Thierry north and west of Rheims, Valley of the Ardre, the Mountains of Rheims (between Rheims and Épernay), Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, and Côte des Bar in the South. Champagne wine only uses three grape varietals (cépages): Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. ChampagneThe vineyards of Champagne on weinlagen-info |