2012 Billecart-Salmon - Champagne Brut Rose Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon (750ml)

Billecart-Salmon was founded in 1818 by Nicolas François Billecart and his wife Elisabeth Salmon, and the family has run the estate ever since, now guided by the seventh generation. This prestige rosé was created in 1988 as a tribute to Elisabeth herself, celebrating the founding partnership that gave the house its name. Known for cold, slow fermentations that preserve delicacy over power, Billecart-Salmon reserves this cuvée for exceptional vintages only, releasing it after many years of patient cellar aging rather than on a fixed schedule.

The 2012 vintage blends 55% Chardonnay from top Grand Cru villages including Chouilly, Avize, and Cramant with 45% Pinot Noir sourced largely from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Aÿ, and Ambonnay, drawing on fruit that is roughly 85% Grand Cru and 15% Premier Cru. Color comes from a small addition of still red wine, about 8 to 10% of the blend, made mostly in stainless steel with a touch aged in oak. The wine underwent partial malolactic fermentation and rested on its lees for nearly a decade before disgorgement in early 2023, finished with a low dosage just under 4 grams per liter.

Luminous salmon pink with coppery highlights, this Champagne offers red berries, rose petal, and blood orange, layered with spice and a chalky mineral edge. The palate is rich yet vibrant, finishing long and perfumed. It pairs beautifully with roasted duck, lobster, or a delicate charcuterie spread.