Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Nicolas François, Brut Champagne 2008 (Gift Box)

First created in 1964 as a tribute to the House’s founder, this is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir from premier and grand cru vineyards in the Montage de Reims (A�, Verzenay, Mareuil-sur-A�), and 40% Chardonnay from the C�te des Blancs (Mesnil, Chouilly, Cramant). A portion of the wine is fermented in oak casks and the whole was aged on the less for ten years. A wine of generosity and richness, elegance and tension, with aromas of apple, stone fruit, warm citrus, fruit blossom and rose, almond and marzipan. The palate is full and racy with an impression of summer fruits and citrus, richer touches of fig, honey, toasted bread, and complex herby/tea notes. Intensely mineral, very dry, mature, bright, and complex. This is drinking beautifully but has good further cellaring potential, drink 2023-2040.