Founded in 1818 by husband and wife Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon, the Billecart-Salmon House is rich with history. For nearly two hundred years, the Billecart family has been handing down the secrets to making exceptional champagne from generation to generation. The Champagne House is special for many reasons, but one notable reason is that it is one of very few to remain Family owned. The Billecart-Salmon House covers around 50 hectares, and gets its grapes from a total of 170 hectares of land. Frequently cited for the quality of its vintages, the House pays particular attention to selecting the best grapes.

This exceptional cuvée was created in 1964 as a tribute to the House’s founder. It results from the blending of Grands Crus from the classified Côte des Blancs vineyards (Chardonnay) and the Montagne de Reims (Pinot Noir). Its vinification, partially in traditional oak casks, underpins the generous character of this fine, elegant and rich wine.

Alongside Clos du Mesnil, Nicolas-François Billecart 2008 is my most anticipated release of the year and indeed the decade. I believe this to be the very last cuvée to be released from 2008, the vintage of our lifetimes. Since anointing the 2000 vintage Champagne of the Year in the inaugural edition of The Champagne Guide, I have tasted every top vintage back to 1975, awarding an incredible rolling average score of more than 98 points, a feat achieved by just two other cuvées: Krug Clos du Mesnil and Krug Vintage. This ranks Nicolas-François Billecart in the top three in the world. Rating: 98 Points; Tyson Stelzer