Château Les Bois Noirs
Gloria Ferrer
Méthode Champenoise Carneros Sparkling Blanc de Noirs
Blanc de Noirs Rosé with 92% PN and 8% Chard. Nice mix of strawberry, raspberry, light citrus, and touch of yeast. Soft generous palate with mellow mousses. Hint of cream soda which makes a bit too sweet for me.
Easy drinking and a crowd-pleaser. Remarkable price for the quality. — 3 months ago
Bollinger
Vieilles Vignes Françaises Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne Pinot Noir 2008
Stunning, bready with hints of lemon, great weight through the middle, incredible length. — 3 months ago
Billecart-Salmon
Brut Sous Bois Champagne Blend
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois NV
Champagne, France 🇫🇷
Overview
This distinguished cuvée from the esteemed family-run house (est. 1818) earns its name “Sous Bois” (“under wood”) by being fully vinified and aged in oak barrels. The blend features ~34% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 33% Pinot Meunier—a balanced trio that brings both richness and finesse. The oak elevates its texture, resulting in a strikingly layered and structured Champagne that’s a step above the usual non-vintage Brut. 
Aromas & Flavors
Lively orchard fruit like pear, green apple, and citrus mingle with decadent notes of brioche, roasted nuts, vanilla, and a tertiary spice layer from the oak. A mineral undertone provides brightness underneath the creamy, toasty character.  
Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet refined, with a fine and lingering mousse. The palate feels velvety and textured, balanced by bright acidity and a satisfying, mineral-driven finish.  
Winemaking Notes
Fermentation and aging are conducted entirely in oak barrels at cool temperatures. A portion of the wine includes reserve wines, which contribute depth and consistency. Lees aging ranges from 6 to 7 years. No malolactic fermentation in most lots, preserving freshness and clarity.   
Food Pairing
A versatile and luxurious Champagne—ideal with roasted poultry, creamy shellfish dishes (think lobster or scallops), and earthy mushroom preparations. Works elegantly as both an aperitif and a gastronomic accompaniment.
Verdict
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois NV is a masterclass in barrel-fermented Champagne. It blends textural richness with precision and finesse—bold yet balanced, complex yet harmonious. A standout choice when you want something unforgettable and elegant. — a month ago
Billecart-Salmon
Le Clos Saint-Hilaire Brut Blanc de Noirs 2005
Prior notes continue to apply…
When we visited Billecart-Salmon in October of 2021, we received a tour of the stunning estate. Along the way, our guide, Jerome, paused near a traditional “Clos” (a single vineyard, enclosed by a wall) on the property.
We could see a beautiful stone wall, surrounding a tiny 1 hectare parcel of “Clos Saint-Hilaire,” named after the Patron Saint & local church in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, where Billecart-Salmon is located.
Although we didn’t go into the Clos, we learned about how special this parcel is to the family; how it’s exclusively planted to Pinot Noir with vines dating back to 1964; how work in the vineyard is performed by hand and horse-drawn plows; how this parcel is farmed according to an age-old savoir-faire, adhering to principles of sustainable viticulture.
The wine is pale gold with a prominent bouquet of yellow apple, Anjou pear, raspberry, lemon curd, white peach, white blossom, desiccated white rose, wet stones, biscuit, brioche, almond paste, marzipan, crusty croissant, pie crust, toast, creamy texture and persistent, fine-beaded mousse and long elegant finish.
This is a 2005 “Blanc de Noirs” Champagne, comprised of 100% Pinot Noir, all coming from Le Clos Saint Hilaire, vinified entirely in oak casks to lend texture and body, and aged over 13 years sur lie prior to its recent release. Due to the vineyard’s small size, production is very limited, and wine only produced in the best vintages.
Cheers to beautiful wines expressing a singularity of time and place!
Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire (2005). — 3 months ago
"Odedi"
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim, and medium plus intensity.
Pretty nose of raspberries, strawberries, light cedar, earth, herbs and chocolates.
Medium bodied with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with raspberries, currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, light oak, chocolates and peppercorn.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This young Grenache based blend from Châteauneuf-du-Pape needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, but already enjoyable, even by itself.
This great 2022 vintage is starting to drink nicely now. Well structured and nicely balanced, with a great mouthfeel.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.
Elegant and robust. Rich and fruit forward. Tannic and tangy. Interesting stuff.
A blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah and 5% of other local grapes. Aged in used French oak barrels.
15% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$100. — a month ago