Champagne & Burgundy

Online-Only Auction, 18 - 25 July 2022

Burgundy and Champagne

Sold for

ZAR 8 794
Lot 84
  • Billecart-Salmon; Grande Cuvée; 1996; 2 (1 x 2); 750ml


Lot Estimate
ZAR 8 000 - 10 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 8 794

About this Item

1996 Grande Cuvée
2 (1 x 2) 750ml

The champagnes of Maison Billecart-Salmon are above all created thanks to the knowledge of the men who rigorously cultivate an estate of 100 hectares, obtaining grapes from an area totalling 300 hectares across 40 crus of the Champagne region. The majority of the grapes used for vinification come from a radius of 20km around Epernay, where the Grand Crus of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay co-exist, in the ethereal vineyards of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs.

Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

'Billecart's 1996 Brut Grande Cuvée is showing beautifully, offering up aromas of fresh and confit citrus mingled with crisp orchard fruit, freshly baked bread, oystershell and honeycomb. It's medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with racy acids and a concentrated core of fruit, complemented by a pinpoint mousse. This is one of the most fully realized 1996 Champagnes I've tasted recently: if only this vaunted vintage had more uniformly attained such heights.'-  William Kelley, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Jan 2020)

'Yet another dramatic example of bottle variation! The first bottle of this retired cuvée (see Assorted posh champagnes) was absolutely stunning with both throat-warming impact and precise refreshment value but the second bottle was more austere with less fruit and more acidity. The score splits the difference.' - Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Jul 2017)

View all Billecart-Salmon lots for sale in this auction