97+

Antonio Galloni

Vinous

The 2008 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon explodes from the glass with a mesmerizing array of aromas, flavors and textures. Blood orange, cinnamon, mint and dried flowers. The 2008 is incredibly young, but it is also incredibly tempting. Patience will be rewarded. In the meantime, readers might enjoy adding a few bottles of the stellar 2007 to their cellars, as the nervy, taut 2008 needs time. The 2008 is 55% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ, Verzy, Verzenay and Mareuil) and 45% Chardonnay (from Chouilly, Avize and Cramant), with 9% still wine from Mareuil. It is the first vintage that includes a portion of wines (17%) done in barrel and the first vintage in which the magnums were aged on the cork rather than on crown seal. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. 08/2021

95

Richard Juhlin

Richard Juhlin

Ambonnay, Bouzy, Mareuil, Aÿ, Verzenay for Pinot Noir and Chouilly, Cramant and Le Mesnil for Chardonnay. The color comes from 9% red wine from Valofroy a location planted with old vines in Mareuil. 17% of the wine is aged in old oak barrels for the first time and the proportion of Grand Cru is 76%. The dosage is a perfect 7 grams here. Another amazing Elisabeth! The proportion of oak may seem small, but it is definitely obvious and gives a new note and spice and works perfectly to fill in and give wealth where the 2008 vintage can be too acidic and lean. The color is deeper than the salmon pink non-vintage rosé with a lovely luster and tones of ruby ​​red. Lovely bouquet of purple and deep red roses, ripe strawberries and dark cherries, cocoa and leather together with a spicy note of aged barrels and forest. Rich, full-bodied, generous and unmistakable in its style. The acidity is most noticeable in the aftertaste where raspberries, strawberries turn into blood oranges and chalky minerality. A magnificent rosé champagne of the highest class. 09/2023

97+

William Kelley

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

Disgorged with seven grams per liter dosage, the 2008 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon is one of the finest wines I've tasted from Billecart in recent years. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of peach, mandarin oil, warm bread, red berries and petals, it's full-bodied, deep and vinous, with lovely mid-palate amplitude, terrific concentration and bright girdling acids. In what is quite a tightly wound vintage and from a house whose style is rather understated, this is a dramatic, fleshy wine that concludes with a long, flavorful finish. 09/2021

98

James Suckling

James Suckling

This is very vinous with aromas of iron, strawberries, old roses and geraniums. So aromatic. Full-bodied, really intense and layered with super dryness and depth. Lots of saline and spicy character at the end, such as clove and pepper, as well as hints of flowers and melted butter. Strawberry tart at the end. 17% in aged oak casks. Blend of 55% pinot noir from six villages (Mareuil sur Ay, Ay, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzenay and Verzy) and 45% chardonnay from three Grand Crus (Mesnil sur Oger, Cramant and Chouilly). 9% of the blend is red wine from a parcel in the village of Mareuil sur Ay. Bottled June 2009 and disgorged July 2019. Drink or hold. 07/2022