The NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Nature is a Champagne blend from the renowned Billecart-Salmon producer in Champagne, France. This non-vintage Champagne is a blend of 40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, and 30% Pinot Noir. The base wine is from the 2015 vintage, with contributions from 10 different harvests, and it spent four years on lees before being disgorged in March 2020. The wine is bottled with a cork closure and has an alcohol content of 12.0%.
James Suckling awarded this wine an excellent score of 94, describing it as "a dense, layered Champagne with a full body and lots of creamy texture." He noted flavors of "lovely cooked apple and pie crust," highlighting its complexity and richness. Suckling also praised it as a "fantastic release," recommending it for immediate consumption or further aging.
Wine Enthusiast gave the wine a commendable score of 93, calling it "a sophisticated wine" that achieves a fine balance between dryness and fruit ripeness. They advised letting it age for a few months and suggested drinking it from 2021 to fully appreciate its "crisp, green-apple texture."
Wine Spectator rated it 91, appreciating its firm and minerally character. The reviewer noted "delicate notes of orchard blossom, Asian pear, toast point, and oyster shell" on the wine's finely detailed mousse, recommending it for current consumption.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave it a score of 90, describing the wine as having "aromas of fresh bread, crisp orchard fruit, almond paste, and ripe citrus fruit." The reviewer emphasized its medium-bodied, crisp, and bone-dry profile, yet noted it wasn't austere.
Jeb Dunnuck also rated the wine 90, highlighting the base wine's vintage composition and describing a "light golden and copper hue." The wine was noted for its "fragrant golden yellow fruits of pear, chamomile, and a touch of raw honey." Dunnuck mentioned its rounded feel upfront, despite its dryness, with flavors of "yellow apple, bruised Meyer lemon, and a chalky texture."
Overall, the NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Nature is a well-regarded Champagne blend with a balance of dryness and fruitiness, praised for its complexity and aging potential.