Billecart-Salmon: Two Gems to Brighten Your Autumn

Scott Beckerley, K&L San Francisco Champagne Expert.

What better way to start our month of Champagne than with two of the brightest stars from the Billecart-Salmon portfolio? We also have the extreme pleasure of having Billecart-Salmon at our annual Champagne Tent Event tasting later this month. We are fortunate, indeed!

Billecart-Salmon is one of the oldest champagne houses in the region. It dates back to 1818, beginning with the marriage of François Billecart and Elizabeth Salmon. Seven generations and the motto is still "Give priority to quality, strive for excellence." That is still even more true today with the extra care and quality that Billecart-Salmon puts into their entire line.

As much as I'd love to write about all their great wines, we will be looking at two today. The first of these is our best-selling Brut Rosé. I'm sure that most of you know it! The NV Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne $94.99 for the 750ml, $59.99 for the 375ml, and $219.99 for the 1.5L; 93JD 93JS. Over the past few years, the Brut Rosé has increased in quality and brightness, having lowered the dosage. The newest releases are a very pale pink color with super fine bubbles. The nose is so alive with juicy oranges, yellow peaches, and tart cherry scents. There are also subtle fragrances of white flowers and roses, as well. On the palate, the bubbles are small and creamy. Very creamy! The tart orange flavors come through first, followed by fresh strawberries and Rainier cherry fruit. It expands a bit at this point and spreads out on the tongue while delivering riper red fruits. The finish at the top of the palate and back of the throat is clean, with tangerine and raspberry fruit. A complete breakdown of my bottle is available on myorigin.billecart.com for bottle 221518.

My second pick is the always fascinating and unique NV Billecart-Salmon "Sous Bois" Brut Champagne $99.99 95VN. This bottling, like Le Rosé, has changed over the years. The oak has become even more elegant and integrated. This is a rare oak-fermented and oak-aged bottling, which you do not see very often. Quite complicated and expensive to do! The appearance is a pale straw color with a small bead. Very reminiscent of the bubbles in Le Rosé. It has heady scents of oak spices, cream caramel, yellow apples, apricots, and a very light touch of anise. On the palate, it also begins cleanly then the weight comes on quite quickly with rich, nutty flavors and baked orchard fruits. Not that this is in any way heavy! It is refreshing, with a lean and clean finish of tangy oak, light citrus, and for me, pineapple upside down cake! This is THE champagne of autumn! It will go so well with so many of the foods that we enjoy at this time of the year. Smoked turkey, roasted pork, sweet potatoes, roasted vegetables, anything with mushrooms! My bottle number for this write-up is 181365.

Also in stock: NV Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne (375ml), $59.99, 93JD 93JS. NV Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne (1.5L), $219.99, 93JS. NV Billecart-Salmon "Le Réserve" Champagne, $64.99, 94WE. 2015 Billecart-Salmon Rosé Champagne, $119.99.

A toast to you and to the season!

— Scott Beckerley, K&L San Francisco Champagne Specialist