Billecart Salmon Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart 2012

It all began in 1818, when Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon founded a Champagne house that was, above all, mindful of the excellence of its wines.

Since then, every member of the Billecart family has committed to carrying on the family tradition through an unchanging pledge: "Give priority to quality, strive for excellence".

The Wine Advocate
RP 96

Reviewed by: Kristaps Karklins

Billecart-Salmon's Nicolas François 2012 marks the first release since 2008 and is another success for the house. The fundamentals remain unchanged: cold settling and low-temperature fermentation, a small proportion vinified in oak barrels and partial malolactic fermentation (20% was blocked in 2012).

The vintage was marked by a prolonged flowering, significant rain and mildew pressure, resulting in a small harvest. The grapes for this cuvée were picked between 17 and 22 September. “It was crucial to select only the ripest grapes, as ripeness varied significantly between parcels,” explains Billecart's chef de cave, Florent Nys.

But what about the wine itself? Disgorged in May 2023 with a dosage of 3.8 grams per litre, it offers aromas of lemon confit, honeysuckle and ripe peach, combined with nuances of beeswax and orange zest. On the palate it's full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with a layered, concentrated core, chalky structure and vibrant acidity despite the warm vintage.

It ends with a persistent, saline finish, hinting at the gastronomic complexity that has emerged with this remarkable time in bottle. Compared with the 2008, which remains more closed and reserved, the 2012 is broader and more expressive.