Weinhandelshaus Scholzen

The 2008 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François was disgorged during the third quarter of 2022 with less than three grams per liter. It has a delicate, pure, clean bouquet with aromas of orchard fruits, spring flowers, honey and licorice, with hints of brioche and pastry with aeration. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and crystalline, with racy acids and a chalky texture, the palate is tense and the finish is long, penetrating and salty. It exhibits perfect Billecart style, yet tension is present, a sign of the vintage. It is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir (sourced from Aÿ, Mareuil and Verzenay) and 40% Chardonnay from Mesnil, Chouilly and Cramant, and it matured 83% in tanks and 17% in old oak barrels.

Billecart-Salmon’s style is one of elegance, purity and delicate freshness. Low fermentation temperatures preserve purity and expressive fruit, and malolactic fermentation is systematically blocked. An expanded barrel program has been established since the arrival of Mathieu Roland-Billecart in 2018, with a focus on the best terroirs for the Brut Réserve or Brut Sous Bois. The 2005 is not a highly rated vintage in Champagne; with a dry winter and heavy rain in July, botrytis developed strongly. However, in Mr. Roland-Billecart’s view, “The Clos Saint Hilaire parcel vineyard produced beautiful fruit that deserved to be bottled as a vintage.”

Suckling 97,

Lovely precision and drive to this with aromas of lemon curd, brioche, praline, apricots, pomelos, mandarin zest and salted caramel. It’s held together by a sharp, citrusy backbone of acidity, balanced with a fine, silky mousse. Both structure and softness here. Citrus fruit brightness on a beautifully elegant and seamless finish. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. 150 months on lees. 2.9g/L dosage. Drink or hold.