Champagne Billecart-Salmon - Les Rendez-Vous N°1 Meunier Extra-Brut deg 2019

About the Estate: Billecart-Salmon

Founded in 1818 in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ by the marriage of Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon, Maison Billecart-Salmon is one of the last great Champagne estates to remain completely independent and family-owned. World-renowned for the crystalline purity, absolute elegance, and legendary consistency of its cuvées, the estate distinguishes itself through meticulous winemaking methods, particularly low-temperature stabilization and slow, cold fermentation, which preserve the fruit's original brilliance.

About the Appellation: The Excellence of Champagne

The Champagne appellation extends over a unique terroir characterized by a belemnite chalk soil that acts as an exceptional thermal and hydric regulator. This cuvée is the result of a rigorous plot selection focused on the terroirs of the Marne Valley (Leuvrigny, Festigny, and Venteuil), prime areas where Pinot Meunier draws its structural complexity and delightful roundness.

About Cuvée N°1:

• 100% Pinot Meunier, 66% from the 2014 vintage and 33% from the 2012 vintage
• 52 months of aging on lees
• Disgorged December 2019

Description of Bottle Condition

This exceptional bottle is in perfect overall condition. The liquid level is optimal (original), the label and neck collar of this limited edition are absolutely pristine, with no scratches or discoloration. The wire cage and foil cap are impeccable. The bottle has been continuously stored in complete darkness in our temperature-controlled cellar.

Food & Wine Pairings and Serving Suggestions

Serving suggestions: Ideally served at a temperature of 10°C to 12°C. Avoid serving too chilled to allow the complex vinosity of this magnificent bottle to fully express itself. A gentle 10-minute decanting in a narrow decanter can work wonders.
Food pairings: This structured, Extra-Brut (zero dosage) gastronomic Champagne will be marvelous with a scallop carpaccio with citrus, pan-seared veal sweetbreads, or simply poached blue lobster served with a lemon beurre blanc.

Personal Note and Cuvée Specifics

"Les Rendez-Vous de Billecart-Salmon" represents the house's creative laboratory. This number 1 is an absolute rarity, a true speculative gem for enthusiasts: it is a single-varietal 100% Pinot Meunier with very low dosage. It is an interpretation of incredible purity, far from the clichés of heavy Meunier. One finds a vibrant tension, notes of yuzu peel, toasted brioche, damp chalk, and an infinitely refined saline length. A historical and unobtainable bottle."