At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Champagne, France
- Location
- Mareuil-sur-Aÿ
- House type
- Champagne house under family ownership
- Flagship cuvée
- Brut Rosé Non-Vintage
- Founder cuvée
- Cuvée Nicolas François
- Rosé grapes
- Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir
The Producer
Jean Roland-Billecart introduced Brut Rosé Non-Vintage in 1970, when rosé Champagne had long been considered second class. The blend combines Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir and shows subtle red berry notes. The cuvée became the house's flagship.
Billecart-Salmon began in 1818 through the marriage of Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. The house remains under family ownership, and Mathieu Roland-Billecart has been president since 2019. The house's philosophy is to prioritize quality and strive for excellence. Cuvée Nicolas François was created in 1964 to honor the founder.
Place
Mareuil-sur-Aÿ is the house's base in France's Champagne wine region. Champagne sparkling wine gets its bubbles from a second fermentation in bottle. Ageing on the lees, the spent yeast cells left after fermentation, can add creamy texture and bread or pastry notes.
Several of the house's labels use terms that carry technical meaning. Brut names a dry sparkling style, rosé a pink style, and vintage a wine tied to one harvest. Blanc de Blancs describes a white sparkling wine made from white grapes. In Champagne, Grand Cru and Premier Cru are village classifications, with Grand Cru the higher tier.
Wines
The range includes Brut Rosé Non-Vintage, Brut Réserve, Brut Nature and Sous Bois. Rendez-vous No.7 is a named bottling. Vintage 2016 is tied to one harvest. Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru and Clos Saint-Hilaire are separate cuvées.
Cuvée Nicolas François 2012 is composed of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from Grand Cru and Premier Cru areas. It is full bodied, with a rich midpalate. It combines stone fruits, apple, pear and citrus with nutty, floral notes and minerality. Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru has a 1.2 g/l dosage. Its creamy sensation has a chalky texture and a meringue feel, with fresh almonds and citrus zest. The low dosage leaves the acidity more exposed and brings slight astringency.
Final Word
Billecart-Salmon remains under family ownership across seven generations.
Sources
- www.champagne-billecart.fr/en/the-house/the-house
- www.champagne-billecart.fr/en/la-maison/histoire-en
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billecart-Salmon
- vinepair.com/articles/billecart-salmon-brut-rose-champagne-guide
- www.champagne-billecart.fr/en/millesime/cuvee-nicolas-francois-2012
- www.champagne-billecart.fr/en/collection/blanc-de-blancs-grand-cru
- pleasethepalate.com/please-the-palate-wine-of-the-week-champagne-billecart-salmons-nicolas-francois-2012
- wineanorak.com/2025/09/06/highlights-champagne-billecart-salmon-le-blanc-de-blancs-grand-cru