Charles le Bel Champagne ‘Inspiration 1818’ Brut NV by Billecart-Salmon (France)

Description

Dry, Nougat, Peach

"Tasted blind alongside a top English fizz (Digby) at the same price, and I must confess that France won on that occasion. It just seemed to have more finesse, an ethereal texture and a finer, creamier mouth-feel. Both were very impressive sparkling wines" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Sep 2023

''A Champagne from the Billecart-Salmon house – a blend of 37% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier, using 70% Reserve wine. A very fine mousse of tiny bubbles and a pale golden colour in the glass. Perfumed with pear, white peach, plum, citrus, nougat and fresh bread dough – a classic Champagne aroma. Light bodied with fresh, zesty acidity and a peppery mineral streak through the middle. Dry, with a refreshing energy and vitality that makes it a great aperitif but also takes you through to the dinner table" David Walker Bell, WineFolio, Sep 2023

Sparkling and crystalline with fine and plentiful bubbles. A blooming nose with harmonious notes of butter, white flesh fruits as well as Mirabelle plums and dried fruits. A well balanced mouth, structured thanks to the greatness of the Pinots Noirs, with flavours of white flesh fruits. The Chardonnays bring to this wine a refreshing finish with notes of citrus fruits and pepper.

The oldest continuously family-owned Champagne House, Billecart-Salmon was founded in 1818 by the marriage of Nicolas Francois Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. For over two hundred years, the House has developed a renowned expertise in crafting fine, elegant, and beautifully balanced Champagnes. From the beginning, their heirs have never stopped aiming for excellence in winemaking. Today led by seventh generation Mathieu Roland-Billecart, each family member has endeavoured to pursue the family tradition and stay faithful to the same motto: “give priority to quality, strive for excellence.”

Consequently, in Billecart-Salmon’s secondary label nothing is sacrificed. They oversee and handle everything in the vinification of Charles Le Bel champagne. The grapes come from a mix of vineyards with a portion from their younger vines. The entire operation, including the “dégorgement” and dosage take place in the cellars of this famous champagne house. This is an absolute guarantee of origin, quality, and character!

Every year, legendary Grande Marque Champagne Billecart-Salmon vinifies base wines from more parcels than it actually needs for the production of its main cuvées. Some of the wines are bottled to be part of their secondary wine, Charles Le Bel, often served in Parisian bistros and First Class airlines in France – it’s Billecart quality at a very approachable price.

This is a cuvee with a similar blend as the Brut Reserve, only main difference is some of the fruit is from younger vines, with 70% reserve wine in the blend, aged three years on lees before disgorgement like the Brut Reserve.