In 1988, Billecart-Salmon created "Cuvée Elizabeth Salmon" a vintage-dated tête de cuvée rose Champagne to honor the firm's legendary co-founder, Elisabeth Salmon. It is an assemblage of 55% Grand Cru Chardonnay (Chouilly, Avize, Mesnil, Cramant) and 45% Grand Cru and 1er Cru Pinot Noir (Aÿ, Ambonnay, Mareuil-sur- Aÿ. A little less than 10% of the Pinot Noir in the blend is red wine from 80-year-old vines from the maison's tiny Valofroy plot (situated next to the famed Clos des Goisses) which gives the rosé its color and haunting berry flavor signature. The unusually cool 2012 Champagne growing season produced a small harvest of classically configured high-quality Champagnes that built to go the distance. This rose is one of the stars of vintage and on that is just now beginning to hit its stride. Approximately 3% of the wine was vinified in oak casks to add richness and aromatics, and after blending and bottling it then was aged on the lees for nearly a decade, and finally disgorged early in 2023 with and an extra brut dosage of 3.8 grams per liter.
JAMES SUCKLING 97 POINTS - "This has a lovely copper color with aromas of cloves, spiced apples, raspberries, gingerbread and pastries. Delicious yeasty and spicy undertones. Excellent density and focus, with fine and firm bubbles, yet it’s light on its feet and so fresh. Long, chalky and salty at the end. Chardonnay and pinot noir. 3.8g/L dosage. Drink or hold."
VINOUS 96 POINTS - " The 2012 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elizabeth Salmon offers up hints of red berry fruit, ginger, spice, rosewater, mint and crushed flowers. There is a feeling of classic austerity that runs through the 2012. I would prefer to cellar this for at least a few years, as it is quite reticent at this stage. Chalk, mint, white pepper and bright saline accents linger on the pointed finish. Dosage is 3.8 grams per liter. Disgorged: first trimester 2023."
JAMES SUCKLING 97 POINTS - "This has a lovely copper color with aromas of cloves, spiced apples, raspberries, gingerbread and pastries. Delicious yeasty and spicy undertones. Excellent density and focus, with fine and firm bubbles, yet it’s light on its feet and so fresh. Long, chalky and salty at the end. Chardonnay and pinot noir. 3.8g/L dosage. Drink or hold."
VINOUS 96 POINTS - " The 2012 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elizabeth Salmon offers up hints of red berry fruit, ginger, spice, rosewater, mint and crushed flowers. There is a feeling of classic austerity that runs through the 2012. I would prefer to cellar this for at least a few years, as it is quite reticent at this stage. Chalk, mint, white pepper and bright saline accents linger on the pointed finish. Dosage is 3.8 grams per liter. Disgorged: first trimester 2023."
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