1999 Billecart-Salmon Brut Blanc de Noirs Cuvée Le Clos Saint-Hilaire
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Tasting notes
Zero dosage . Disgorged June 2014 . 6,750 bottles made. Amazing floral notes, almost violets, sit on top of wet hay, bilberry and a feeling of chalkiness even on the nose. Roasted almond and then we get ginger, cashew and a sumptuous yeasty, Marmite note coming through – the richness on the palate coats your mouth, and then the subtle praline note comes through on the buttery finish. Not quite as much tension here perhaps after the 1998? (AC)
Critic scores
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Billecart's 1999 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is exotic and beguiling. Constantly changing in the glass, the 1999 offers exquisite aromatics, silky and a real sense of underlying phenolic structure. Crushed rose petals, licorice, smoke, game and tobacco add nuance as the wine opens up. With time in the glass, the personality of these Pinot vines becomes more and more expressive. The 1999 was bottled with no dosage, but that would be impossible to ascertain in a blind tasting.
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.