Billecart Salmon Champagne & Brut

For over six generations, and now continuing into the seventh, the Billecart Salmon family has been dedicated to producing premium champagne. Their commitment to the craft is evident in their extraordinary vineyards, exceptional terroir, and innovative techniques that make their sparkling wines stand out. As one of the few family-owned houses in the Champagne region, Billecart Salmon’s philosophies, such as the use of long fermentations at cold temperatures with no malolactic fermentation, are a testament to their passion and tradition.

Billecart Salmon makes a range of different champagnes, all with different characteristics. We will have a look at some of the stand-out options that Billecart Salmon has to offer.

An example showing Billecart Salmon's range would be the Brut Rose Champagne. This champagne is a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier, and it is at a benchmark standard for roses that many Champagne houses look up to. With a delicate pink-gold colour, it has a nose of stunning red fruits such as cherry and raspberry, whilst, on the palate, it is a medium body with elegant notes of red currants and raspberry, with a refreshing pink grapefruit citrus zest to it.

The Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve Champagne offers more traditional champagne in an exciting and impressive way. With 40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, this champagne offers complex and fruity flavours. The sparkling wine offers a straw yellow colour. On the nose, it is lively and pure, with hints of citrus, fresh bread, and soft notes of apples and stone fruits. Featuring a medium body on the palate, it is finely textured and has flavours of cherry and melon. The finish is elegant, refreshing, fine and long.

Billecart Salmon Heritage

Billecart Salmon dates back to 1818 with the marriage of Nicolas Francois Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. From their union, they founded Maison Billecart Salmon. Nicolas Francois joined forces with Louis Salmon, his wife's brother. As he was passionate about oenology, he dedicated himself to creating the wines while Nicolas focused on the commercial side.

In 1958, Jean initiated a revolution in quality; inspired by traditional methods, he introduced longer fermentation with lower temperatures and a cold settling as part of the vinification in tanks. These techniques improved the quality as they helped maintain the freshness and finesse, which are key characteristics of Billecart Salmon wines.

In a blind tasting session involving 150 different vintages from the most illustrious champagne producers, the Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart 1959 was chosen as the “Champagne of the Millennium”. This prestigious accolade further cements the Billecart Salmon's legacy within the winemaking community and assures you of the exceptional quality and reputation of their wines.