2012 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Louis" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

If it's possible for Champagne's prestige cuvees to be more prestige-y than normal, than the 2012 vintage is for you. If you’re a fan of ethereal Blanc de Blancs champagne your ship from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ has just come in! If every champagne tasted like this, nobody would drink anything else. Created in 2018 (vintage 2006) to honor Billecart’s first cellar master and brother of co-founder Elisabeth Salmon, Louis Salmon, the 2012 Billecart-Salmon “Cuvée Louis Salmon” Blanc de Blancs is racy, sexy, clean, pure, mineral-driven, mind-blowing, and, most importantly, absolutely delicious! Former Chef du Cave Francois Domi and his team, including current Chef du Cave Florent Nys, crafted a masterfully balanced cuvée from the now mythic 2012 vintage. An assemblage of 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay - “Cramant (23%) for minerality, Chouilly (11%), and Oiry (6%)for finesse, and Mesnil-sur-Oger (60%) for the structure and longevity” - a quarter of the vin clairs were vinified in oak casks, aged for 9 ½ year on the lees, and was dosed at a low 3.9g/l. A sophisticated, delicate, and aromatic Blanc de Blancs, the “Cuvée Louis Salmon” has popping acidity, finesse, complexity, and a noble splendor that can only be found in a sparkling prestige cuvée. Almond, hazelnut, fresh bread, peach, pear, tart green apple, chalky minerality, citrus, and a whole meadow of white flowers. The barrel fermentation adds richness, length, and notes of vanilla and sweet spice. Drinking beautifully right now and age-worthy in the cellar. The “Cuvée Louis Salmon” is tasting luxury. I cannot recommend it enough.