Billecart-Salmon : Le Clos Saint-Hilaire 2002

An exceptional champagne by Billecart-Salmon

The estate

Since its creation in 1818 by the married couple, Elisabeth Salmon and Nicolas-François Billecart, the Billecart-Salmon Champagne House has remained independent, having preserved all of its know-how and demand for high-quality cuvées for 7 generations.

The vineyard

The Billecart-Salmon vineyard covers 100 hectares from Côte des Blancs to the Reims mountain. The vines are cultivated and cared for in a traditional manner so that the wine resembles real fruit and to reflect the quality of its terroir.

The wine

A prestigious cuvée bearing the name of the patron saint of the Mareuil-sur-Ay church, the Clos Saint-Hilaire Brut 2002 by the Billecart-Salmon Champagne house was given 100 points by James Suckling. This exceptional cuvée is produced in limited quantities.

Capturing the expression of the 2002 vintage and revealing the personality of one of the greatest terroirs in Champagne, the Clos Saint-Hilaire Brut 2002 by the Billecart-Salmon house is produced from a one-hectare plot of old vines planted in 1964 and located in Mareuil-sur-Ay.

Winemaking and ageing

This champagne is exclusively vinified in barrels, with a long ageing process on lees which lasts for 16 years.

Blend

The Clos Saint-Hilaire Brut 2002 by the Billecart-Salmon Champagne House is 100% Pinot Noir.

Tasting

Colour

The wine is a superb, intense golden yellow colour with golden tints.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet immediately indicates the slow ageing process of this great champagne. The nose harmoniously mixes honeyed notes with fragrances of very ripe fruit and spices.

Palate

The attack on the palate highlights an ample and deep texture, scrumptious upon notes of candied citrus and brioche akin to panettone (Italian sweet bread). The minerality of the terroir is then expressed in a magnificent finish.

Food and wine pairings

A gourmet champagne, the Clos Saint-Hilaire Brut 2002 by Billecart-Salmon will stand out alongside fish and other seafood.