2006 Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire – 99 Points James Suckling | Champagne

99 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! 98 POINTS VINOUS! JUST 6,750 BOTTLES! ONE HECTARE! 100% OLD-VINE PINOT NOIR! THE LEGENDARY 2006 BILLECART-SALMON LE CLOS SAINT-HILAIRE – ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S RAREST AND GREATEST WINES!

99 Points – JamesSuckling.com | 98 Points – Vinous

2006 Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire – Champagne, France

RRP $1,300 per bottle

NOW THIS IS CHAMPAGNE AT AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT LEVEL!

There are great Champagnes.

There are extraordinary prestige cuvées.

And then there are wines so rare, so individual and so closely connected to a single piece of land that they transcend the conventional idea of Champagne.

BILLECART-SALMON LE CLOS SAINT-HILAIRE IS ONE OF THOSE WINES!

This is not a blend of vineyards.

Not a blend of villages.

Not a blend of grape varieties.

ONE VINEYARD!

ONE HECTARE!

ONE GRAPE VARIETY!

ONE EXTRAORDINARY EXPRESSION OF TERROIR!

And the 2006 vintage has achieved some astonishing accolades.

99 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

98 POINTS VINOUS!

100% PINOT NOIR!

VINES PLANTED IN 1964!

100% OAK VINIFICATION!

NO MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION!

JUST 2 g/L DOSAGE!

ONLY 6,750 BOTTLES PRODUCED!

RRP $1,300!

This is one of the most extraordinary and collectible Champagnes produced by one of the region's greatest family-owned houses.

A Champagne of remarkable depth.

A Champagne of extraordinary precision.

And a wine that demonstrates just how magnificent Pinot Noir can become when grown in an exceptional vineyard and treated with extraordinary patience.

ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S GREAT SINGLE-VINEYARD WINES – AND AN ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT 2006!

Billecart-Salmon – More Than 200 Years of Champagne Excellence

The story of Billecart-Salmon begins in 1818.

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

More than two centuries later, the house remains family-owned.

That is an extraordinary achievement.

Particularly in a region where many of the world's most celebrated Champagne brands are owned by enormous luxury groups.

Billecart-Salmon has maintained its independence.

Its identity.

And its remarkable commitment to quality.

The house is celebrated for producing Champagnes of exceptional elegance.

Wines with extraordinarily fine bubbles.

Beautiful purity.

And magnificent balance.

But Le Clos Saint-Hilaire occupies a position unlike anything else in the portfolio.

It is not simply another prestige cuvée.

IT IS THE HOUSE'S EXTRAORDINARY SINGLE-VINEYARD PINOT NOIR CHAMPAGNE!

Le Clos Saint-Hilaire – A Vineyard Unlike Any Other

Now here is where the story becomes particularly fascinating.

Le Clos Saint-Hilaire comes from an enclosed vineyard in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.

JUST ONE HECTARE!

One hectare is approximately 2.47 acres.

An astonishingly small piece of land from which to create one of Champagne's most celebrated prestige wines.

The vineyard is planted entirely to Pinot Noir.

And the vines were planted in 1964.

That makes the vineyard particularly special.

Mature vines.

An exceptional location.

And decades of experience understanding how the fruit behaves in different growing seasons.

The vineyard is enclosed by walls.

A traditional clos.

And it possesses its own winemaking facilities.

This allows Billecart-Salmon to handle the fruit separately and preserve the individuality of the vineyard.

The Champagne is named after Saint Hilaire, the patron saint of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.

And the wine has become one of the great examples of single-vineyard Champagne.

ONE HECTARE!

OLD-VINE PINOT NOIR!

A WALLED VINEYARD IN MAREUIL-SUR-AŸ!

ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE CHAMPAGNES IN THE WORLD!

100% Pinot Noir – The Extraordinary Power of Blanc de Noirs

Now here's another remarkable detail.

100% PINOT NOIR!

Not a drop of Chardonnay.

Not a drop of Meunier.

Just Pinot Noir from one extraordinary vineyard.

This is what makes Le Clos Saint-Hilaire so different from Billecart-Salmon's other prestige Champagnes.

Cuvée Nicolas François combines Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Cuvée Louis Salmon is a magnificent Blanc de Blancs made entirely from Chardonnay.

But Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is something else entirely.

A Blanc de Noirs.

A white Champagne made from dark-skinned Pinot Noir grapes.

And in the hands of Billecart-Salmon, the results can be extraordinary.

Pinot Noir contributes remarkable depth.

Structure.

And concentration.

Think ripe orchard fruit.

Red berries.

Delicate spice.

And wonderful savoury complexity.

But the most impressive examples also possess remarkable freshness.

And an extraordinarily persistent mineral finish.

100% PINOT NOIR – WITH THE DEPTH OF A GREAT RED WINE AND THE ELEGANCE OF WORLD-CLASS CHAMPAGNE!

Mareuil-sur-Aÿ – One of Champagne's Great Pinot Noir Villages

The village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ is situated in the Grande Vallée de la Marne.

It is one of Champagne's most respected villages for Pinot Noir.

The vineyards benefit from favourable exposures and chalk-influenced soils.

These conditions help create wines with beautiful concentration and freshness.

Pinot Noir from this area can be wonderfully expressive.

Ripe cherries.

Orchard fruit.

Delicate spice.

And subtle mineral character.

But Le Clos Saint-Hilaire goes much further.

Because it is not simply a wine from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.

It is the expression of one individual vineyard.

A vineyard with its own history.

Its own character.

And its own remarkable identity.

ONE VINEYARD – ONE EXTRAORDINARY EXPRESSION OF MAREUIL-SUR-AŸ!

The 2006 Vintage – Richness, Generosity and Extraordinary Balance

The 2006 vintage in Champagne is celebrated for producing wines with wonderful fruit generosity.

It was a growing season that allowed Pinot Noir to develop impressive ripeness.

The best Champagnes combine that richness with freshness and structure.

And the 2006 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is a magnificent example.

The fruit is generous.

The palate is wonderfully concentrated.

And the wine possesses remarkable depth.

But what makes this Champagne so special is its precision.

Despite its richness, it retains beautifully defined acidity.

And a wonderfully persistent finish.

The result is a wine that combines the generosity of the vintage with the distinctive mineral character of its vineyard.

THE RICHNESS OF 2006 – WITH THE PRECISION OF ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S GREATEST SINGLE VINEYARDS!

100% Oak Vinification – Extraordinary Depth and Complexity

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

100% OAK VINIFICATION!

Every part of the base wine was vinified in oak barrels.

This is an important distinction.

Many Champagnes are fermented predominantly in stainless steel.

But Le Clos Saint-Hilaire takes a different approach.

The wine is entirely barrel-vinified.

This allows the Pinot Noir to develop additional texture and complexity.

Subtle spice.

Toasted nuts.

And beautifully integrated savoury notes.

The oak is not intended to overwhelm the fruit.

Instead, it helps create a wine of remarkable depth.

The result is a Champagne with an almost Burgundian sense of structure.

Rich.

Complex.

And extraordinarily refined.

100% OAK VINIFICATION – MAGNIFICENT DEPTH WITHOUT SACRIFICING ELEGANCE!

No Malolactic Fermentation – Preserving Extraordinary Freshness

Another important detail is the decision to avoid malolactic fermentation.

NO MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION!

Malolactic fermentation is a process that converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid.

Many winemakers use it to create rounder, creamier wines.

But Billecart-Salmon deliberately avoids it for Le Clos Saint-Hilaire.

This preserves the wine's natural acidity.

Its tension.

And its remarkable ageing potential.

And that is particularly important in a ripe vintage such as 2006.

Because the fruit already possesses magnificent concentration.

The winemaking allows the wine to retain its freshness.

And beautifully defined structure.

NO MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION – EXTRAORDINARY PRECISION AND LONGEVITY!

More Than a Decade of Maturation – Extraordinary Patience

Great Champagne requires patience.

And Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is a magnificent example.

The 2006 vintage was disgorged in November 2020.

That means the wine spent well over a decade developing in the house's cellars before disgorgement.

During that time, the Champagne developed extraordinary complexity.

Fresh brioche.

Toasted hazelnuts.

Walnuts.

Dried orchard fruit.

And delicate savoury notes.

The bubbles became beautifully integrated.

The palate gained remarkable texture.

And the wine developed a wonderful sense of depth.

But despite its maturity, the Champagne retains extraordinary freshness.

The acidity is beautifully defined.

The fruit remains expressive.

And the finish is remarkably persistent.

MORE THAN A DECADE OF PATIENT MATURATION – AND THE RESULT IS MAGNIFICENT!

Just 2 g/L Dosage – Extraordinary Purity and Precision

Now here's another remarkable detail.

JUST 2 GRAMS PER LITRE!

That is an extraordinarily low dosage.

The dosage is the small addition made after disgorgement to balance the Champagne.

And in the 2006 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire, it is beautifully restrained.

This allows the vineyard character to remain at the forefront.

Fresh orchard fruit.

Delicate spice.

And chalky salinity.

The wine possesses magnificent richness.

But there is no excessive sweetness.

Just extraordinary balance.

2 g/L DOSAGE – PURE, PRECISE AND MAGNIFICENTLY DRY!

Just 6,750 Bottles – Extraordinary Rarity

Now here is a number that really matters.

ONLY 6,750 BOTTLES!

That is the reported production for the 2006 vintage.

An astonishingly small quantity for a Champagne of this reputation.

This is not a wine produced in enormous volumes.

It is a Champagne created from one tiny vineyard.

And only in selected vintages.

For collectors and serious Champagne enthusiasts, that makes Le Clos Saint-Hilaire particularly special.

The combination of vineyard pedigree, remarkable quality and limited production gives this Champagne genuine rarity.

JUST 6,750 BOTTLES PRODUCED – A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL CHAMPAGNE!

99 Points – James Suckling

An extraordinary result.

James Suckling awarded the 2006 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire an astonishing 99 points.

98 Points – Vinous

98 POINTS VINOUS – AN EXTRAORDINARY ENDORSEMENT OF THIS GREAT CHAMPAGNE!

Ripe Plums, Baked Raspberries, Walnuts and Extraordinary Mineral Precision

Now this is where the 2006 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire really comes into its own.

In the glass, the Champagne displays a beautiful deep golden colour.

The bubbles are exceptionally fine.

And the mousse is wonderfully integrated.

The aromas are extraordinary.

Baked raspberries.

Ripe yellow plums.

Dried figs.

And orange zest.

Then come the more complex characters.

Walnuts.

Toasted vanilla.

Delicate spice.

And subtle brioche.

On the palate, the wine is magnificent.

There is wonderful concentration.

Beautifully ripe Pinot Noir fruit.

And an extraordinarily refined texture.

The oak contributes subtle depth.

The long maturation brings remarkable complexity.

And the absence of malolactic fermentation preserves beautiful freshness.

The finish is long.

Saline.

Spicy.

And wonderfully persistent.

A MAGNIFICENT COMBINATION OF POWER, MATURITY, ELEGANCE AND EXTRAORDINARY PRECISION!

This is prestige Champagne at its finest.

A Magnificent Champagne for Food

One of the great attractions of Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is its remarkable ability to complement serious food.

Its combination of richness, acidity and savoury complexity makes it a magnificent match for an extraordinary range of dishes.

Roast Chicken with Truffle

A magnificent pairing with the Champagne's depth and savoury character.

Lobster with Brown Butter

Beautiful with the wine's rich texture and fresh acidity.

Turbot with Beurre Blanc

The mineral precision complements the delicate richness of the fish.

Veal with Wild Mushrooms

Wonderful with the Champagne's structure and subtle oak influence.

Duck Breast

The Pinot Noir character complements the richness of duck.

Roast Quail

An extraordinary pairing with delicate game.

Aged Comté

Magnificent with the wine's nutty and savoury complexity.

Serve at approximately 11–13°C in a proper white-wine glass to appreciate its extraordinary depth and elegance.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are passionate about wines that represent the very best of their regions.

And the 2006 Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is exactly that sort of wine.

First, there is the producer.

ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S GREAT FAMILY-OWNED HOUSES!

Then there is the vineyard.

JUST ONE HECTARE!

Then there are the vines.

PLANTED IN 1964!

Then there is the grape variety.

100% PINOT NOIR!

Then there is the winemaking.

100% OAK VINIFICATION!

Then there is the extraordinary precision.

NO MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION!

Then there is the dosage.

JUST 2 g/L!

Then there is the rarity.

ONLY 6,750 BOTTLES!

Then come the scores.

99 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

98 POINTS VINOUS!

And finally, there is the price.

RRP $1,300!

For anyone who loves exceptional Champagne, rare single-vineyard wines and bottles with extraordinary ageing potential, this is a truly special addition to the cellar.

A Champagne with history.

A Champagne with pedigree.

And a Champagne that demonstrates what is possible when one exceptional vineyard is allowed to express its remarkable individuality.

99 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING. 98 POINTS VINOUS. ONE HECTARE. 100% PINOT NOIR. JUST 6,750 BOTTLES.

2006 Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire – one of Champagne's rarest and greatest single-vineyard prestige cuvées.

Wine Details

• Producer: Billecart-Salmon

• Wine: Le Clos Saint-Hilaire

• Vintage: 2006

• Region: Champagne, France

• House Location: Mareuil-sur-Aÿ

• Founded: 1818

• Vineyard: Le Clos Saint-Hilaire, enclosed single-hectare parcel

• Vine Planting: 1964

• Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

• Style: Single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs prestige Champagne

• Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Vinification: 100% oak barrels

• Malolactic Fermentation: None

• Disgorgement: November 2020 (documented release)

• Dosage: 2 g/L

• Reported Production: 6,750 bottles

• Alcohol: Approximately 12.5%

• Aromas: Baked raspberry, plum, fig, orange zest, walnut, vanilla and spice

• Palate: Rich and structured, with fine mousse, vibrant acidity and a long saline finish

• Published Critic Scores: 99 Points – James Suckling; 98 Points – Vinous

• RRP: $1,300 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Roast chicken, lobster, turbot, veal, duck, quail and aged Comté

• Serving Temperature: 11–13°C

• Drinking: Magnificent now, with considerable potential for further cellaring