Category:
 
Sparkling Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Sparkling White
Producer:
 
Billecart
Label Name:
 
Louis Salmon Blanc de Blancs
Vintage:
 
2008
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Champagne — Côte des Blancs (Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil‑sur‑Oger, Avize)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
12.5%
Grape(s):
 
Chardonnay (100%)
Acidity:
 
5
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
8-10°C

Awards/Ratings
Key scores: Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 96, James Suckling 96, Vinous 95, Wine & Spirits 95, Decanter 94, Jeb Dunnuck 94, Wilfred Wong 97. aged ~11–12 years on lees; disgorgement reported Oct 2020 (some sources note May 2021)

Tasting Note
Crystal pale-gold Blanc de Blancs: lemon curd, green apple, mandarin, white flowers, toasted brioche and almond; chalky minerality, creamy mousse, racy acidity and a long, flinty, pastry-tinged finish.

Food Pairing
Western: oysters, lobster or scallop risotto, creamy shellfish dishes, roasted poultry, calf sweetbreads. Asian: sushi/sashimi (hamachi), tempura, shellfish dim sum, miso-glazed fish, delicate Chinese seafood dishes.

Production Method
Méthode traditionnelle (traditional bottle fermentation). 100% Chardonnay; ~33% of base wines vinified in oak; no malolactic fermentation reported by producers/critics; 11–12 years on lees; dosage ~7 g/L; long lees ageing before disgorgement.

Vineyard Info
Maison Billecart‑Salmon, family-owned since 1818 in Mareuil‑sur‑Aÿ. Renowned for finesse and long lees ageing; Louis Salmon is the house Blanc de Blancs prestige cuvée from top Côte des Blancs grand crus.