In the glass
Aroma: fresh bread, citrus oil, crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers, verbena, macadamia nut
Palate: full-bodied, chiseled but fleshy, vinous fruit core, brisk acid
The house prestige cuvee: fresh bread and citrus oil over yellow orchard fruit, verbena and macadamia, full-bodied and chiseled with a vinous core cloaking brisk acids.
What it pairs with
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Lobster
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Fleshy vinous fruit and acidity meet sweet shellfish. -
Roast poularde
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Bread and macadamia notes echo roasted poultry. -
Aged Comte
Citrus-oil depth meets the nutty cheese.
How to serve Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 6-8°C. Cellar temperature (6-8°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a tulip flute. A tulip shape rewards the bouquet better than a narrow flute and frames the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Lobster, Roast poularde, Aged Comte. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Named for the house founder, Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart debuted with the 1959 vintage and was first released in 1964 as the maison prestige bottling.
- 1964 — First release of Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart, the 1959 vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Champagne Billecart-Salmon
- Grapes
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- Classification
- AOC Champagne
- Oak
- Cold fermentation; long lees ageing; Pinot-led prestige cuvee
- ABV
- 12.0%
- Price
- EUR 130 to 200 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10 to 30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1964
Scores
- Vinous 95 (2007 vintage, reviewed 2021)
Frequently asked about Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois
What does Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois taste like?
On the nose, fresh bread, citrus oil, crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers, verbena. On the palate, full-bodied, chiseled but fleshy, vinous fruit core, brisk acid. Structurally full-bodied, high acidity with a long finish. The house prestige cuvee: fresh bread and citrus oil over yellow orchard fruit, verbena and macadamia, full-bodied and chiseled with a vinous core cloaking brisk acids.
When should I drink Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois?
Drink 10 to 30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois?
Lobster is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Roast poularde and Aged Comte. Fleshy vinous fruit and acidity meet sweet shellfish.
What grapes are in Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois?
The blend is Pinot Noir, Chardonnay. The wine is classified as AOC Champagne.