BILLECART-SALMON 'Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart' 2008 Bottle (los)

Description

The 2008 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart is an exceptional tribute to the House’s founder, featuring a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay sourced from Grands Crus vineyards in the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims. This vintage showcases a stunning golden yellow colour and an aromatic bouquet of orchard fruits, floral notes, and hints of brioche and praline. James Suckling awarded it 97 points, lauding its precision and vibrant aromas of lemon curd and salted caramel. The Wine Advocate rated it 96 points for its clean bouquet, while Vinous echoed this with 96 points, noting its youthful potency and structure. Decanter awarded 95 points, appreciating its restrained character and complexity, with optimal enjoyment from 2028 to 2038.

*****

JAMES SUCKLING 97 points
Lovely precision and drive to this with aromas of lemon curd, brioche, praline, apricots, pomelos, mandarin zest and salted caramel. It’s held together by a sharp, citrusy backbone of acidity, balanced with a fine, silky mousse. Both structure and softness here. Citrus fruit brightness on a beautifully elegant and seamless finish. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. 150 months on lees. 2.9g/L dosage. Drink or hold. - Claire Nesbitt

VINOUS 96 points
The 2008 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart remains quite potent and young. It’s starting to gain some weight, but it remains a classically austere Champagne. The fruit is reticent, and its contours are angular. The 2008 is a very good wine, but, as I have said in the past, it is a Champagne that belongs to the prior era here. Vinification was 83% in tank and 17% in oak, likely a decision made to give the wine more body in this decidedly lean vintage. Dosage is 2.9 grams per liter. Disgorged: first trimester 2022. - Antonio Galloni

THE WINE ADVOCATE 96 points
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
Drink Date: 2023 - 2050
The 2008 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François was disgorged during the third quarter of 2022 with less than three grams per liter. It has a delicate, pure, clean bouquet with aromas of orchard fruits, spring flowers, honey and licorice, with hints of brioche and pastry with aeration. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and crystalline, with racy acids and a chalky texture, the palate is tense and the finish is long, penetrating and salty. It exhibits perfect Billecart style, yet tension is present, a sign of the vintage. It is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir (sourced from Aÿ, Mareuil and Verzenay) and 40% Chardonnay from Mesnil, Chouilly and Cramant, and it matured 83% in tanks and 17% in old oak barrels.

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Tom Hewson
(at London, 03 May 2023)
Part of First Taste: Billecart-Salmon Nicolas François 2008
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2038
On release this is reserved, taut and subtle, with sourdough, confit lemon and gentle blackberry Pinot fruit presented with daring dryness (just 2.9g/L residual sugar) and intensity. The texture surrounding the firm acidity is cool, clean and lightly creamy, the mousse beautifully delicate. Somewhat inscrutable and firm at the moment, this structured and lean Cuvée Nicolas François stands to gain considerable expressiveness with time under cork. Made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 83% grand cru vineyards. 17% oak-vinified with 150 months on lees, disgorged in summer 2022.