History and prestige
Billecart-Salmon, one of the most esteemed Champagne houses, was founded in 1818 by Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. Located in the village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the heart of Champagne, this family-run estate has maintained its legacy of quality and precision for over 200 years. The Cuvée Nicolas François was created in 1964 as a tribute to the house’s founder, symbolizing Billecart-Salmon’s dedication to excellence and the timeless values of tradition.
The 2008 vintage of Cuvée Nicolas François is particularly prestigious, emerging from what many consider one of the greatest vintages in recent Champagne history. The cold, long growing season of 2008 allowed the grapes to develop exceptional acidity and flavor concentration, creating wines with remarkable aging potential. For Billecart-Salmon, the 2008 vintage represents a benchmark, showcasing the house’s refined blending and meticulous craftsmanship.
Cuvée Nicolas François is a vintage Champagne, meaning it is only produced in the best years, using grapes harvested from a single growing season. The blend is composed of 60% Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne and 40% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. This careful selection of Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards adds to the wine’s complexity, balance, and prestige.
What Makes Dom Pérignon Special?
Vintage Quality: The 2008 vintage is celebrated for its cool growing season, which resulted in Champagnes with exceptional structure, high acidity, and great aging potential. The long maturation process allows this wine to develop greater complexity and depth over time, making it a collector’s dream.
Pinot Noir Dominance: With 60% Pinot Noir in the blend, the wine offers power and intensity, with the Chardonnay contributing finesse and brightness. The balance between these two grapes is key to the wine’s elegance and longevity.
Extended Aging: Disgorged in 2022, the 2008 Cuvée Nicolas François spent over a decade on its lees, allowing the wine to develop rich, creamy textures and complex aromas that only come with extended aging. The dosage is kept low, enhancing the wine’s purity and focus.
Refinement Over Time: This wine is built for aging, and while it can be enjoyed now, it has the potential to evolve for many years. As it ages, the wine will continue to reveal more layers of complexity, including nutty, toasty notes alongside its vibrant fruit.
As wine blogger winesn*bs describes: “The 2008 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Nicolas François was quite fruity, with good intensity and length. Lots of acidity which is currently dominating a bit and making the wine feel somewhat tight. Definitely felt younger than 2008 initially. Later more complexity emerged with some almonds, a hint of caramel/coffee. Disgorged in 2022. Would wait a bit longer before opening and/or give it some air.”
This observation highlights one of the key characteristics of the 2008 vintage: its high acidity and youthful energy, even after over a decade of aging. The wine is still in its early stages of evolution, with plenty of room to grow. As the acidity integrates with the other elements, the wine will soften and become more complex, revealing layers of almond, caramel, and perhaps more savory tones like coffee or brioche.
The 2008 Cuvée Nicolas François opens with bright, fresh fruit aromas—citrus, green apple, and pear—typical of a youthful Champagne. The palate offers intense acidity, a hallmark of the 2008 vintage, providing great energy and lift. Over time, with air or further aging, more complex flavors of almond, caramel, and even hints of coffee begin to emerge, adding depth and richness to the wine. This evolution is a testament to the wine’s ability to age gracefully, transforming from a zesty, focused Champagne into a more opulent, nuanced experience.
