Founded in 1818, Billecart-Salmon is a relatively small house at around 60,000 cases per year; (Moet et Chandon make around two million). It is still one of the few predominantly family-owned houses left in Champagne. Its presence in the UK really only took off in the early 1990s, when its Rosé quickly became the shrewd alternative for those in the know to Laurent Perrier.  Since then it has become one of the most respected houses in Champagne with some its wines now on strict allocation only.  

The quality of Billecart-Salmon is due to a number of factors, starting with meticulous care in the vineyards. Once in the winery the use of a double debourbage (the settling of fine particles through chilling the juice) rather than harsh fining preserves the delicacy of the wine. For the fermentation itself Billecart-Salmon insist on using their own cultured yeasts, which are selected from the villages of Avize, Cramant and Verzenay. The fermentation is then drawn out as much as possible by keeping the juice at low temperatures which helps create fine, long-lasting bubbles. Lengthy maturation before release allows the complex aromas and flavours to really develop and results in a beautifully harmonious wine

The Brut Réserve is a blend of around 30% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 35% Pinot Meunier. The nose is elegant and fresh and the ageing is apparent from the richness of the palate. The Brut Rosé uses the same proportion of grape varieties but introduces a very small quantity of the red juice from the Pinot Noir. It is arguably this cuvée for which the house is best known. The Cuvée Nicholas François Billecart is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir and, if you have the will power, can be kept for upwards of fifteen years.