Review: Billecart Blanc des Blancs Grand Cru
- vinterest
- Apr 30, 2015
- 1 min read
The low-down: Champagne...boom! Grand cru...boom! Billecart-Salmon...boom! Blanc de blancs...boom! We're big fans of blanc des blancs (100% chardonnay) champagne for its flavour. Billecart-Salmon is one of the leading houses of Champagne, family run for the last two hundred years with 100 ha under vine.
These chardonnay grapes are from five grand cru vineyards in Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger (where the Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs we opened last year is from) and Oger. The dosage is between six and seven grams per liter in line with the R Pouillon Cuvee de Reserve.
We picked this up from Le Clos at Dubai airport for 57 Euros...yes Billecart Grand Cru commands a premium...
The take: Not overly bubbly. Light, transparent yellow/lime green. Nutty, chalky, grapefruit nose. Very creamy attack. Sweet and sour. Hints of sour apple and grapefruit. Minerally as well. Not as dry as other blanc de blancs we have tasted recently: e.g. the Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs or the Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut (55% chardonnay). Over time becomes much sweeter with sherbet and praline. Not very fruity although there are hints of lemon.
In closing: Creamy with hazelnut, citrus and sour apple!
Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
Fact corner:
Country: France
Region: Champagne Grand Cru
Producer: Billecart-Salmon
Vintage: NV
Grape: Chardonnay
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Serving temperature: n/a
Price range: Premium
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