2018 Billecart-Salmon 250 Anniversary Cuvee Vintage Extra Brut

The 2018 Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Cuvée was released to mark two milestones at once: the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States and the 200th anniversary of the House of Billecart-Salmon. The U.S. has long been one of Billecart’s most important export markets, so this bottling was created as a commemorative release for that relationship, and the fact that 2018 was an exceptional vintage made the project even more fitting. The wine is made from 100% Grand Cru and Premier Cru fruit, with a blend of 65% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and 35% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. Just 3% of the cuvée was vinified in oak, with the balance aged in stainless steel, then the wine spent 63 months sur latte before being finished as an Extra Brut with 4.9 g/L dosage. In plain terms, this is a commemorative Champagne with serious credentials behind it: strong vintage, top-level vineyard sourcing, long lees aging, and a winemaking approach that keeps the focus on precision rather than excess.