2005 Billecart Salmon Le Clos Saint Hilaire

Tasting notes:

The Clos Saint-Hilaire cuvée was created in 1995. Named after the patron saint of the church in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, this single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs is only made in exceptional years. 100% vinified in oak casks and aged on the lees for 14 years. Complex aromas of acacia, broom, orange blossom and apricot alongside notes of roast coffee, toast, mild spices and minerals. Expressive and generous on the palate, this full-bodied Champagne is well-balanced with a deliciously mineral finish. Only 4,800 bottles are made.

Producer description:

In 1818, Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon got married giving birth at the same time to their Champagne House. Billecart-Salmon’s signature style, however, came in the 1950s, when they decided to carry longer fermentation at a lower temperature to retain the freshness and finesse of the wines. They are mainly famous for their Brut Rose which has become the flagship of the house, something unusual in Champagne.