1996 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" Brut Champagne

FROM MIKE'S PRIVATE CELLAR

95 points, Burghound. "An absolutely sensational nose that is floral, spicy, yeasty and citrusy with exceptionally subtle hints of red berries that can also be found on the wonderfully fresh and still beautifully youthful flavors that are crisp, precise and layered. If there is a nit, the finish is perhaps not quite as long as one might hope for but as this ages and "relaxes", the length will come. A potentially great wine and all it needs is a bit more time in bottle."

95 points, Wine Advocate. "The 1996 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François is a brilliant example of the vintage and likely ranks as the finest rendition of this cuvée produced in the 1990s. Mingling notes of candied peel, citrus oil and dried white flowers with nuances of smoke, iodine and freshly baked bread, it's medium to full-bodied and ample but incisive, with a tensile and concentrated core, racy acids and a long, mineral finish." (WK)

95 points, International Wine Cellar. "Fabulous nose combines lemon, orange zest, quinine and steely minerality with suggestions of toffee and brown spices. Wonderfully precise and vivid on the palate, delivering an impression of outstanding concentration and grip with a light touch. Extremely fine-grained Champagne with strong but integrated acidity. As young as this is, it's harmonious from the outset. The building finish is pristine, chewy and extremely long. " (ST)

95 points, Wine Enthusiast. "A very dry style of Champagne that needs food. At this stage, this wine is young, with vibrant acidity and dense, green fruit. But it has a long future ahead of it, and shortly should show some toast and maturity. Serve this with fish, and appreciate its qualities even more. " (RV)

**Stored in an offsite, temperature and humidty controlled location. Please allow 1 week for fulfillment.**