21 May Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Champagne Billecart-Salmon’s Nicolas François 2012

After spending 10 days in Italy, I landed back home in the afternoon. Normally after a long day of travel, the plan would be to unpack, rest, and head to bed early. But when invited to a Champagne release party that same evening, I knew I could not miss it. So, despite the exhaustion, I headed to the event celebrating the launch of Champagne Billecart-Salmon’s cuvée Nicolas François 2012, the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Champagne Billecart-Salmon

Champagne Billecart-Salmon was established in 1818 after the marriage of Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. One of the last family-owned Champagne houses, it is run today by seventh generation Mathieu Roland-Billecart who is the CEO of Champagne Billecart-Salmon. Based in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in Champagne, France, Champagne Billecart-Salmon owns 100 hectares, manages 140 hectares, and purchases from 80 hectares, most of which are Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards.

I have enjoyed Champagne Billecart-Salmon on numerous occasions. I attended two exquisite dinners in 2018 celebrating the brand’s 200th anniversary, one in Los Angeles and one at Pebble Beach Food and Wine and I enjoyed lunch with Mathieu Roland-Billecart at La Fête in 2022. And over the years, I have enjoyed numerous bottles of Champagne Billecart-Salmon, including the Brut Sous Bois Champagne, the Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rosé 2008, the Brut Rosé, and more. I guess you can say that I am a fan of Champagne Billecart-Salmon. And the new release is no exception.

Tasting Notes

The Nicolas François Champagne is crafted from a meticulous selection of great Crus from the classified vineyards of Montagne de Reims (Pinot Noir) and Côte des Blancs (Chardonnay). The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The 2012 vintage was a good year, regarded by some as the greatest vintage of its decade. 2012 yielded perfectly ripened grapes, offering both richness and vibrant acidity. A portion of the grapes were vinified in oak and the wine was aged for 10 years on the lees.

The result is a wine of sheer elegance. The wine is a golden-yellow color with a rich and intense nose. Aromas of stone fruits, apple, pear, and citrus are combined with nutty and floral notes and minerality. On the palate, the wine is full bodied with a rich midpalate and an elegant finish. This is a wine of depth, complexity, grace, and fineness.

Food Pairing

A rich and elegant wine, it has the body to be enjoyed with lemon-buttered sole or a veal chop with chanterelle mushrooms. At the cocktail party, we enjoyed the wine with a variety of passed appetizers. But the standout was the creamy egg with caviar. The richness of the wine was a match with the creaminess of the egg but the acidity of the wine was able to cut through this richness. I took a sip of Champagne after each bite and wanted more when I finished.

Where To Purchase

Champagne Billecart-Salmon’s Nicolas François 2012 retails for between $195 – $250, depending on the wine retailer, and is available across the country. To find a wine retailer who has the wine, search at wine-searcher.com.