Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV – 94 Points James Suckling | Champagne France

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNES! OVER 200 YEARS OF HISTORY! THE MAGNIFICENT BILLECART-SALMON BRUT ROSÉ – EXTRAORDINARY ELEGANCE, BEAUTIFUL RED FRUIT AND REMARKABLE FINESSE FOR JUST $215!

94 Points – JamesSuckling.com

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV – Champagne, France

RRP $215 per bottle

NOW THIS IS A TRULY MAGNIFICENT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE!

There are rosé Champagnes that impress with their colour.

There are rosé Champagnes that impress with their richness.

And then there are rosé Champagnes that achieve something far more difficult.

EXTRAORDINARY ELEGANCE!

BEAUTIFUL RED-FRUIT PURITY!

REMARKABLE FINESSE!

And an almost effortless balance between freshness, texture and complexity.

BILLECART-SALMON BRUT ROSÉ IS ONE OF THOSE CHAMPAGNES!

From one of Champagne's most respected family-owned houses comes a wine that has become a reference point for beautifully refined rosé Champagne.

And here's what makes this wine so exciting.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

A CHAMPAGNE HOUSE FOUNDED IN 1818!

CHARDONNAY, PINOT NOIR AND MEUNIER!

THE DEPTH OF RED WINE BLENDED WITH THE ELEGANCE OF CHARDONNAY!

36 MONTHS ON LEES!

EXTRAORDINARILY FINE BUBBLES!

JUST $215 A BOTTLE!

Think wild strawberries.

Fresh raspberries.

White cherries.

Redcurrants.

Pink grapefruit.

Orange zest.

Rose petals.

And delicate freshly baked brioche.

All wrapped together in a Champagne with a beautiful pale salmon-pink colour, a wonderfully creamy mousse and an extraordinarily elegant finish.

THIS IS ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE AT ITS MOST REFINED!

Billecart-Salmon – Over 200 Years of Champagne Excellence

The story of Billecart-Salmon begins in 1818.

That was the year Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon established the Champagne house in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.

More than two centuries later, Billecart-Salmon remains family-owned.

That is an extraordinary achievement.

Particularly in a region where many famous Champagne houses are now part of enormous international luxury groups.

Billecart-Salmon has maintained its independence.

Its traditions.

And its commitment to producing wines of exceptional finesse.

The house is renowned for its beautifully precise winemaking, delicate fruit expression and extraordinarily fine bubbles.

And nowhere is that philosophy more apparent than in its celebrated Brut Rosé.

ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S GREAT FAMILY-OWNED HOUSES!

OVER 200 YEARS OF HISTORY!

AND ONE OF THE REGION'S MOST ADMIRED ROSÉ CHAMPAGNES!

A Benchmark for Great Rosé Champagne

What makes Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé so special?

It is not simply the quality of the fruit.

Or the precision of the winemaking.

It is the extraordinary balance between the two.

Many rosé Champagnes are designed to be rich, full-bodied and intensely fruity.

Billecart-Salmon takes a more elegant approach.

The wine has beautiful red-fruit character.

But never feels heavy.

There is wonderful texture.

But no excessive richness.

And the acidity gives the wine remarkable freshness and precision.

The result is a Champagne that is both deliciously approachable and genuinely sophisticated.

WILD STRAWBERRIES!

DELICATE CITRUS!

CREAMY TEXTURE!

EXTRAORDINARY FINESSE!

This is what makes Billecart-Salmon such a compelling producer.

The Art of Blending – Three Great Champagne Grapes

One of the defining features of this Champagne is its blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier.

The precise proportions vary between releases.

The producer's newer Le Rosé specification, based on the 2020 harvest, contains:

45% CHARDONNAY!

35% PINOT NOIR!

20% MEUNIER!

Earlier Brut Rosé bottlings used a blend of approximately 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Meunier.

Each grape variety contributes something important.

Chardonnay – Elegance and Freshness

Chardonnay gives the wine its beautiful citrus character.

White flowers.

Freshness.

And mineral precision.

It provides the elegance that makes Billecart-Salmon so distinctive.

Pinot Noir – Red Fruit and Structure

Pinot Noir brings the delicate red-fruit personality.

Wild strawberries.

Fresh raspberries.

Red cherries.

And subtle structure.

It also provides the still red-wine component used to create the rosé.

Meunier – Generosity and Texture

Meunier contributes soft orchard fruit.

Roundness.

And an appealing generosity.

Together, the three varieties create a Champagne with extraordinary balance.

THE FINESSE OF CHARDONNAY!

THE RED-FRUIT BEAUTY OF PINOT NOIR!

THE GENEROSITY OF MEUNIER!

ONE MAGNIFICENT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE!

The Secret of the Colour – Pinot Noir Vinified as Red Wine

Now here's one of the most fascinating details about this Champagne.

Billecart-Salmon creates its beautiful rosé colour by blending a carefully selected proportion of still red Pinot Noir wine with its white base wines.

This is the traditional rosé d'assemblage method.

And it requires enormous precision.

Too much red wine can dominate the blend.

Too little can leave the Champagne lacking character.

Billecart-Salmon achieves a wonderful balance.

The red wine brings beautiful colour.

Delicate strawberry and raspberry aromas.

And a subtle structural element.

But the finished Champagne retains remarkable freshness.

Elegance.

And finesse.

The result is that magnificent pale salmon-pink colour.

Not dark.

Not heavy.

But beautifully delicate.

A TOUCH OF RED PINOT NOIR – AND AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPRESSION OF ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE!

Low-Temperature Fermentation – Preserving the Delicate Fruit

Another important aspect of Billecart-Salmon's winemaking philosophy is low-temperature fermentation.

The house is celebrated for its careful handling of fruit and precise fermentation techniques.

The newer Le Rosé technical sheet specifies low-temperature vinification in stainless steel tanks.

This approach helps preserve the delicate aromatic character of the grapes.

Fresh strawberries.

Raspberries.

Citrus.

And beautiful floral notes.

The result is a wine that feels wonderfully pure.

Fresh.

And beautifully defined.

There is no attempt to overwhelm the fruit with heavy oak characters.

Instead, the wine expresses the natural beauty of the grapes.

PURE FRUIT. BEAUTIFUL FRESHNESS. EXTRAORDINARY ELEGANCE.

36 Months on Lees – Three Years of Patient Maturation

Now here's another important detail.

36 MONTHS ON LEES!

THREE YEARS!

After the base wines are blended, the Champagne undergoes its second fermentation in bottle.

This is the traditional Champagne method.

The wine then spends approximately three years ageing on its lees.

During this period, it develops additional complexity.

Fresh brioche.

Delicate biscuit.

And subtle pastry.

The bubbles become beautifully integrated.

And the palate gains a wonderful creamy texture.

This is particularly important for Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé.

Because the wine needs to retain its delicate red-fruit personality while developing greater depth.

The result is a Champagne with wonderful balance.

Beautifully fine bubbles.

And an elegant, persistent finish.

THREE YEARS ON LEES – AND THE RESULT IS MAGNIFICENT!

A Beautifully Dry, Precise Style

One of the great attractions of Billecart-Salmon Rosé is its freshness.

This is not a sweet, fruit-driven rosé Champagne.

It is beautifully balanced.

Elegant.

And precise.

The newer Le Rosé specification identifies an Extra Brut dosage.

That means a particularly restrained addition of sugar after disgorgement.

The wine retains its fresh citrus character.

Its mineral definition.

And its beautifully delicate red-fruit flavours.

Earlier Brut Rosé releases may have a different dosage.

But the overall house style remains focused on finesse.

DELICATE RED FRUIT – WITH THE FRESHNESS AND PRECISION OF GREAT CHAMPAGNE!

94 Points – James Suckling

An outstanding endorsement of this magnificent Champagne.

A magnificent result for one of Champagne's most celebrated rosé cuvées.

Wild Strawberries, Raspberries, Citrus and Extraordinary Finesse

Now this is where Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé really comes into its own.

In the glass, the wine displays a beautiful pale salmon-pink colour.

The bubbles are exceptionally fine.

And the mousse is wonderfully persistent.

The aromas are magnificent.

Wild strawberries.

Fresh raspberries.

Redcurrants.

And delicate white cherries.

Then come the more complex characters.

Pink grapefruit.

Orange zest.

Rose petals.

And freshly baked brioche.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully refined.

There is wonderful red-fruit purity.

A silky, creamy texture.

And beautifully integrated acidity.

The Chardonnay provides freshness and elegance.

The Pinot Noir brings delicate red-fruit intensity.

And the Meunier contributes a wonderful generosity.

The finish is long.

Fresh.

And beautifully mineral.

ELEGANT, PRECISE AND EXTRAORDINARILY REFINED – WITH THE DELICATE RED-FRUIT CHARACTER THAT MAKES BILLECART-SALMON BRUT ROSÉ SO SPECIAL!

This is exactly what great rosé Champagne should be.

A Magnificent Champagne for Food

One of the great attractions of Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé is its remarkable versatility at the table.

Its delicate red-fruit character, creamy texture and vibrant freshness make it a wonderful match for a wide range of dishes.

Kingfish Crudo

A magnificent pairing with citrus and delicate herbs.

Salmon Sashimi

Beautiful with fresh salmon and a light citrus dressing.

Pan-Seared Scallops

Wonderful with browned butter.

Blue Swimmer Crab

The freshness complements the sweetness of fresh crab.

Langoustines

An extraordinary pairing with delicately prepared langoustines.

Grilled Lobster

Beautiful with lemon butter.

Duck Breast

Particularly appealing with a delicate cherry or berry accompaniment.

Fresh Strawberries

A lovely match when the fruit is served without excessive sweetness.

Serve in a proper white-wine glass at approximately 8–10°C to appreciate the wine's remarkable finesse.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are passionate about wines that deliver genuine quality.

Wines with pedigree.

Wines with extraordinary winemaking.

And wines that offer something genuinely special.

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé is exactly that sort of wine.

First, there is the producer.

ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST RESPECTED FAMILY-OWNED HOUSES!

Then there is the history.

FOUNDED IN 1818!

Then there is the style.

ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST CELEBRATED ROSÉ CHAMPAGNES!

Then there is the blend.

CHARDONNAY, PINOT NOIR AND MEUNIER!

Then there is the winemaking.

LOW-TEMPERATURE FERMENTATION!

Then there is the maturation.

36 MONTHS ON LEES!

Then comes the score.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $215 A BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves exceptional Champagne, beautifully refined rosé and wines of extraordinary elegance, this is a magnificent addition to the cellar.

A Champagne with history.

A Champagne with pedigree.

And a Champagne that demonstrates why Billecart-Salmon has become one of the world's most respected producers.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING. OVER 200 YEARS OF HISTORY. THREE YEARS ON LEES. JUST $215.

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV – one of Champagne's most elegant and celebrated rosé cuvées.

Wine Details

• Producer: Billecart-Salmon

• Wine: Brut Rosé NV (newer releases labelled Le Rosé)

• Region: Champagne, France

• House Location: Mareuil-sur-Aÿ

• Founded: 1818

• Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier

• Blend: Varies by release; documented newer Le Rosé: 45% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 20% Meunier

• Rosé Production: Assemblage including still red Pinot Noir wine

• Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Base Wine Fermentation: Low-temperature stainless steel

• Lees Ageing: Approximately 36 months

• Dosage: Extra Brut in the newer Le Rosé specification; older Brut Rosé releases may differ

• Style: Non-vintage rosé Champagne

• Alcohol: Approximately 12%

• Aromas: Wild strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant, citrus, rose petals and brioche

• Palate: Elegant, silky and beautifully balanced, with fine bubbles and a long, fresh finish

• Published Critic Score: 94 Points – James Suckling 

• RRP: $215 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Kingfish, salmon, scallops, crab, langoustines, lobster and duck

• Serving Temperature: 8–10°C

• Drinking: Enjoy now or cellar carefully for further development