Ming L

9.4

The nose opens with waves of ripe black cherry, cassis, plum liqueur, and dark chocolate Beneath the opulence lies impressive complexity with hints of espresso, violets, and peppery spice emerge gradually with air. The palate is dense and supple, showing warmth and generosity. Plenty of nuance beneath the lavish fruit.

Possibly the best value for a St-Emilion GCC. Will need to seek out more. — a month ago

Robert Ahlstrom

9.2

Deep ruby medium opacity, wonderfully balanced minerality, bright red fruits, lovely burgundy! — 10 months ago

Rufus King

8.9

Lovely Burgundy (Cabernet Franc) with mild tannin (Urban Grape) — 2 years ago

Jan A

9.2

Again a solid effort, easy drinking bordeaux, like it a lot — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2019 vintage. A little less body but more spice than the regular offering. No less delicious tho. Worth seeking out. — 4 years ago

Liz M

8.9

Very drinkable, nothing spectacular. Not oaky, not fruit forward. — 4 years ago

MM Contreras

8.9

Dense mineral and pineapple- very drinkable, wish I had kept the last third of the bottle chilled 😏 — 6 years ago

Ashraf Attal

9.1

Giza balcony with S — 3 months ago

Steve Ambrusko

9.0

Delicious berry with faintest hint of sweetness, but still gently robust. — 6 months 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).  — a year ago

with Deked1

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

1990 vintage. An under the radar Pomerol, bought in 1961 by the grandfather of current owner Nathalie Despagne. He also owned La Tour Figeac in Saint-Emilion and La Rose Figeac is just across the Saint-Emilion border. The 4,56 hectare vineyard consists of 9 parcels (all within 500 m of each other) on gravelly sandy soils and is planted with Merlot (90%) and Cabernet Franc. My bottle had a near-perfect level and as the smell was a bit musty upon opening, but there was still good fruit in the mouth and the colour looked very solid, I took the risk to decant it. It turned out to be a wise decision as the wine evolved positively, even if the tannins remained a bit rustic. On the other hand it still has lively fruit and freshness, it is a testimony to the ageing potential of Bordeaux wines and an attractive food wine. Abv. 12,8% . — 4 years ago

Teresa Chueca

9.3

Muy muy bueno — 6 years ago

Fabio Franchella

9.0

Still good. Bit too much aged probably — 6 years ago

with Kathrin

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. This is the winery’s “reserve.” Discounted from $52 a btl down to $39 a btl. Great Mouvèdre nose. Medium/medium heavy body. Both plushy and earth-toned. Great Bandol effort. 3.11.26. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2017 vintage. Tasted via Coravin. Last tasted 5.5.24 (9.4) and 11.16.23 (9.5). Still rambunctious af. Kids. 11.19.25. — 7 months ago

Patrick Loomis

9.0

Dry dry dry with raspberry, dried strawberries, straw and hay. — a year ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on November 8, 2022 at Home]

Wine is Cuvée des Deux Soeurs Red Chateauneuf-du-Pape. 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah. Black cherry, strawberry and red plum fruit, with red licorice, iron and black pepper. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2018 vintage. Second wine of Cru Classé Malescot Saint-Exupéry. Charming nose with ripe black cherries, raspberry jam and some floral hints. This medium-bodied, fruit-driven Margaux is drinking well already with silky tannin and good length. Not very complex, but a very charming wine indeed. Abv. 14%. Good value at less than half the price of the Grand Vin, even if I would rate the less expensive La Tour de Bessan (tasted alongside) higher. — 4 years ago

Carter White

9.5

Wow, flavor bomb 💥 intense and complex. Tobacco, mocha, cedar, graphite, and dirt around a nice core of sweet and charred dark fruit, cassis, plum, and blackberry. Soft, round, and long. Yum!

Drank really well after a splash decant, faded a tad after a few hours. — 4 years ago

Pekka Holma

9.3

Great potential. Too young and harsh for now. — 6 years ago