Vinny Eng

9.5

Feeling indulgent - exquisite texture. — 3 months ago

Peter Nyvall

9.5

Stellar grenach blanc, perfect summer wine — a year ago

Shengli Hu

8.9

Since 2020 wild yeast fermentation with at least 20% whole cluster (layering in fermenter). They’ve been using whole cluster since 2010 hovering around 10-15% gradually increasing. 1992-1995 vintages not destemmed completely either. Sweet cola nut, cranberry, red juicy cherry, sweet baking spices. High acidity, medium soft tannins. 2018 meatier and weightier locking in at 13.6%. In 2020 they separated the native yeast vs non native yeast ferments. According to Tim, native yeast led to better alcohol conversion, richer wine at same alcohol compared to without.

Precious old vines and newly replanted vines. Completely dry farmed no drip lines at all! Some of which are suffering from Pierce’s disease and leafroll virus.

I was told back in 2016 Kelli White and her husband had a deal with John and Nancy to lease their vineyards but they backed off at the last minute… I for one memorized every little detail about School House from Kelli’s tome Napa Valley Then and Now
— 3 years ago

Vanessa

9.5

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).  — 5 months ago

with Deked1

Mollie Laidly

8.9

had this slightly chilled — 3 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.1

Un beau vin sur la finesse, la pureté et l’élégance, l’acidité est un peu en retrait mais elle est tout de même suffisante pour en faire un bel ensemble, meilleur au jour 2. 91-92

Very classy and elegant wine with a backward acidity but enough to support the whole thing, very pure and clean, precise. Better on day two. — 4 years ago

Yan Gagnon

9.0

Robe: Profonde et concentrée, reflétant la richesse du millésime. Nez: Superbe bouquet où dominent les fruits noirs intenses. Des notes de graphite et de crayon à mine apportent une élégance minérale caractéristique, signature d'un vin de grande classe. Bouche: Attaque riche et structurée. La matière est dense avec une belle longueur en bouche. Les tanins, légèrement râpeux, témoignent de la jeunesse du vin tout en promettant un beau potentiel de garde. L'ensemble est harmonieux et parfaitement équilibré. Finale: Persistante, avec un retour des arômes de fruits noirs et de minéralité. Remarque: Ce vin s'inscrit dans la lignée des grands vins bordelais, d'autant plus intéressant quand on sait que Jean-Claude Berrouet, ancien maître de chai de Pétrus, a apporté son savoir-faire à l'élaboration de ces cuvées. Son expérience dans l'un des domaines les plus prestigieux du monde viticole se ressent dans l'équilibre et la finesse de ce 2019. — 9 months ago

Ginny DeLacey

9.3

Excellent brutal. Drank during jazz fest weekend. — 3 years ago

with Joseph

Josh Dragseth

9.2

This is a nice, crisp and smooth Chardonnay. — 4 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.2

Nez de citron, coquillages entre autres et ce côté salin et assez stylé Droin, assez vif sans excès avec finesse et fraîcheur, juste assez de rondeur avec quelques années en bouteille pour en faire un vin plus équilibré, beaucoup de classe et d'élégance, très typé Vaudésir, toutefois, pas le Chablis GC avec la finale la plus longue mais un fort joli vin. 91-92

Gorgeous Droin GC with sea shells, salinity and lemon aromas and tastes, fresh, crisp, yet elegant and classy, nice balance with a medium length finish but a very nice bottle. — 4 years ago