Regal and Ready-to-Drink Champagne for Your Cellar or Your Glass
Many collectors that I talk to have the same issue with their cellars; what is coming in doesn’t match what is being consumed (because all their Cabernet allocations need to age before they’re ready to drink). When they don’t have enough bottles with a drinking window that is open now, they often find themselves hunting for something ready-to-drink at auction with older bottles. I have a few solutions.
We are welcoming the new release of 2015 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" NFB Brut Champagne $199.99, but still have a little bit left of the exceptional 2012 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" NFB Brut Champagne $199.99. This 2012 is a perfect Champagne for your cellar—the 1966 and 1961 are still drinking fabulously, and this certainly has the guts to make a beautiful old Champagne at a similar age. Even better, it is now 14 years old and drinking spectacularly, with lovely hazelnut complexity and a definitively long, chalky finish. This is a wine that will hold its head up high no matter what kind of “big gun” wine dinner that you bring it to, with exceptional complexity and lovely grace.
Another perfect candidate is the Krug "Grande Cuvée" 173ème Édition Brut Champagne $259.99. Olivier Krug says almost every time that he presents on his wine that there is no difference in quality across his range, and only a difference in price because of smaller production on his vintage and Clos wines. I would go further. I think the Grande Cuvée is Krug’s best wine, and at every event I have ever done with them it has been the oldest Grande Cuvée that is my wine of the night. This 173 is about to be replaced with the 174 and is really hitting its stride now. But in 10 years it could be the wine of the night at any blow out wine dinner—no matter how expensive the other bottles on the table are. I love the 173 for its Puligny-like precision, which comes from the strong Chardonnay vintage of 2017 that makes up most of the blend. It is blessed with 13 vintages inside the bottle, going back to 2001, so it is ready now if the occasion arises. The incredible peacock’s tail finish of an older Grande Cuvée is something that every Champagne lover should experience once… The trick is keeping your hands off the bottles!
A toast to you,