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Wine Information
Intense and Attractive
Composition: Perfect harmonious blending leaving a strong dominance of "Grands Crus Pinot Noir" (70%), and completed by the elegance and the minerality of the Chardonnay (30%). 20% of the cuvée is vinified in oak from 5 year old barrels. Extra Brut.
Appearance: The yellow colour is adorned with golden reflections, underlined by a plentiful and dynamic mousse. Brilliant, crystal clear and bright, giving everything to the perfection of the wine. This cuvée stands out by the finesse of its slowly rising bubbles.
Aroma: Very beautiful intensity with a crisp and fresh character (Golden Delicious apple, citrus fruits and dried fruits). A pure and differentiating sensory development brought by brioche notes (fresh butter, warm madeleines, brioche). Refreshing and delicate complexity.
Palate: A wide range of flavours, fruits of the orchard, including fresh quince. The wine is round offering enjoyment with a powerful finish dominated by exceptional fruit maturity.
Serving: A vintage elegant in character to be fully appreciated with the best seafood, the finest hams and risotto... Serve at 11-12°.
From François DOMI, BILLECART-SALMON’ chief winemaker.
Vintage 1996
Up to this point 1996 has been considered a fantastic vintage which produced classic wines; the best since 1990. A long, dry summer produced grapes of record ripeness with record acidity. Some, including myself, question how the 1996s are aging. The wines are generally characterized by a distinctive rather lemony acidity and very good attack, but some wines now seem terribly austere, while others already seem dangerously short of fruit. None of the subsequent vintages are quite as distinctive as 1996, which in the more successful cases should almost certainly be drunk after the 1999s.