Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Noirs Le Clos Saint-Hilaire 1998

Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Noirs Le Clos Saint-Hilaire 1998

Critic tasting note:

"A lovely hint of salted caramel and citric freshness and ripe Mirabelle characterise the appetising nose. The palate has a mellower side, adding a touch of vanilla to the acidic verve of the mid-palate. The fine mousse sparkles gently, highlighting razor freshness, depth and finishing on that beautifully pure lemon note. Lots of poise." - 97/100, Falstaff

Robert Parker The Wine Advocate

The 1998 Brut Le Clos Saint-Hilaire emerges from the glass with an exotic array of intensely perfumed, candied fruit. The wine possesses gorgeous textural richness in a deep, layered expression of Pinot Noir. The mousse remains refined and very elegant all the way through to the deeply satisfying, resonating finish. This is bottle: 001493 out of 6,750. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023. Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is a 100% Pinot Noir Champagne made from a small, one hectare plot located on the property in Mareuil-sur-Ay. The wine is fermented in oak and bottled with no dosage. In only its third release, Le Clos Saint-Hilaire has already established itself as one of the region’s most fascinating wines. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023.

The Billecart-Salmon house style is defined by class, elegance, and a sublime freshness to the wines. Long fermentations at cold temperatures with no malolactic fermentation are the rule at this small, family-owned property in Mareuil-sur-Ay. I also had a chance to re-taste the 2000 Brut Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon 2000 Brut Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart (reviewed last year). Both wines showed beautifully. - Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni