1998 Billecart Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois
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Tasting notes
The 1998 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François is an attractive, exotic wine. Hints of tropical fruit, hazelnut, dried flowers, spice, apricot jam, chamomile and tangerine oil show the gentle patina of time. The 1998 is mature or close to it, but it also has plenty of life ahead of it. This is an impressive showing, and such a pleasant surprise. At the same time, the wines of the present day clearly have greater finesse. Dosage is 5.8 grams per liter.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Disgorged November 2007. Dosage 6 g/l. 56% Pinot Noir from Ambonnay, Mareuil and Verzenay. 44% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Mesnil. Only 1% of the blend was oak vinified back then. Partial malo. François Billecart made this. The year was not that sunny and produced quite a high yield. Deep gold. Fully mature yet still quite fresh. A tad stodgy and stolid. Not as lifted as the 2002. Distinctly chewy. Not graceful. (JR)
Disgorged in 2009, the 1998 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François is arriving at full maturity, wafting from the glass with aromas of mandarin oil, warm biscuits, dried fruits and spices. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, elegantly creamy and enveloping, with a textural but incisive profile, lively acids and a long, sapid finish.
Billecart-Salmon's 1998 Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart showed the house's trademark cut and focus, which worked well to complement the early courses.
About the producer
Founded in 1818, Billecart-Salmon is one of the region's oldest continuously family-owned Champagne houses and has a fine reputation for crafting exceptionally elegant and pure Champagne wines.