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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
"In the 1950s my grandmother set aside this park-like space next to our house in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ with vines, flowers and fruit trees, for our enjoyment. Realising this outstanding terroir's potential, my family decided to plant the first Pinot Noir vines here in 1964. We tried using the Pinot Noir to make white wine in small Burgundy barrels: an outstanding champagne was about to be born. After several years of painstakingly tending the vines, the 1995 harvest, the first year of this unique cuvée, was remarkable. We called it Le Clos Saint-Hilaire after the patron saint of the church in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. No more than 3,500 to 7,500 bottles are produced each year and each is individually numbered."
François Roland-Billecart, 6th Generation
The one-hectare Clos Saint-Hilaire meets the strictest guidelines: a single enclosed, contiguous parcel with complete winemaking facilities on site. The terroir's magic combined with the wine maker's skills make this wine exceptional.
Made only from Pinot Noir vinified in casks, it develops an outstanding purity. Billecart-Salmon decided to add very little liqueur, or dosage, after disgorgement in order to let the typicality of the single grape used to make this great wine evolve.
The Clos Saint-Hilaire is a single parcel where the vines, soil and subsoil are carefully tended with respect for the environment. Several years ago, BILLECART-SALMON decided to return to ancestral champagne-making methods in the Clos Saint-Hilaire by using work horses.
This method of maintaining the soil and tending the vines increases porosity and biodiversity: the roots grow deep and the minerals they draw from the soil foster the growth of smaller, more concentrated grapes, revealing the terroir's typical flavour.
This Blanc de Noirs cuvée is vinified in oak casks, allowing the richness of the terroir and the purity of the wine to express itself. For each vintage, there is a limited release of between 3,500 to 6,500 individually numbered bottles, reserved for those very special moments.
Wine Information
Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
Vinification: Vinified in oak casks. Aged for 15 years on lees
Dosage: 1g/l dosage
"The Clos Saint-Hilaire is a cuvee that I love. Everyone knows it is very unusual. Just because something is unusual it doesn’t always mean it is majestic but it definitely does in this case. It’s a cuvée which has amazed me with its finely roasted nuances, buttery hints of wood and honey and an ample richness. This unique taste is one I’ve never found anywhere else. In terms of pairings, I would propose a soupions stir fry with roasted ceps, dried fruits, Solliès figs and a blackberry vinaigrette! The ceps reflect the woody aromas and the chestnut aspects that are present. The ceps are also a reminder of the rare characteristics of this cuvee which has been entirely vinified in oak. For me, autumn is the best time to taste this wine, when you start to see the very first leaves in the autumnal colours. I project myself into a world which is fixed in nature, close to a forest or a pond, to fully make the most of the aromas of this exceptional and truly invigorating champagne." Thomas Boullault /Chef at Restaurant L’Arôme*, Paris
Vuosikerta 2002
A cold winter and a mild late spring cued for a perfect June allowing early and fast flowering. Outstanding weather conditions prevailed and the season went on without dramatic turns. Rains in August raised concerns regarding gray rot, but finally sunshine and dry conditions throughout September resulted in an abundant crop of largely healthy fruit (11,930 kg/ha). Dehydration due to wind further aided in achieving perfect ripeness and additional concentration. This, and the cool nights, helped in retaining fresh acidity and, despite the ripeness (10.3% potential alcohol), the wines did not suffer from heaviness or a lack of life. A near-perfect vintage, which produced balanced Champagnes consistently around the region. The best show an impeccable combination of freshness, power, structure and finesse. However, some have matured aromatically quicker than expected and are already past their peak. 2002 produced an abundance of spectacular champagnes, such as Dom Pérignon (the entire range), Krug Vintage and Clos du Mesnil, Piper-Heidsieck Rare, Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Ruinart Dom Ruinart and Dom Ruinart Rosé, Salon Le Mesnil and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, to name a few.
Viinilasisuositus
Viinin keskihinta
| 2020 |
|---|
| 420€ |
This data comes from the FINE Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions in 20 countries. The average prices from each year have been collected since 1990. This chart plots the index value of the average price of the wines.