2008 Billecart-Salmon Extra Brut Champagne 750 ml

Just about every Champagne-lover in the world reveres Billecart-Salmon as one of the very best, and at Wine Access, we all have a special Billecart story: One of us popped a bottle right after she got engaged. Another had one stashed in the hospital fridge when his first child was born. At HQ last week, we poured the iconic black-labeled bottle when our Head of Wine Vanessa Conlin became one of only 53 Masters of Wine in the U.S. 

The only thing that makes our mouths water even more than Billecart’s delectable Brut Réserve is their vintage bubbly, which is why we’re thrilled about the newly released 97-point 2008 Extra Brut. After a staggering nine years on the lees, it’s developed beautiful biscuit and toasted nut aromas to accompany Billecart’s telltale lemony zip, white flowers, and beautiful minerality. With a striking frame provided by majority Pinot Noir and lively chalky complexity courtesy of Chardonnay from five Côte des Blancs Grands Crus, this bubbly exudes youthful joy and serious Champagne depth, while finishing bone-dry.

This is a special bottle from a producer that Wine Access members adore to the tune of 4.9 out of 5 stars, and it would be criminal not to have one on hand for your next big day—although a bubbly as perfect and profound as Billecart-Salmon’s Extra Brut doesn’t take a celebration. It makes a celebration. We’ve got just 180 bottles of this beauty, so claim as much as your cellar, wine fridge, or closet can accommodate—vintage-dated masterpieces like this rarely come around, and almost never for under $100.

The nature of 200-year-old Billecart-Salmon is summed up in the story of New York wine legend Neal Rosenthal, who first obtained the Champagne in 1979 through a mercurial importer. It quickly became a sensation at Rosenthal’s shop. And when his relationship with the importer soured and it seemed like Billecart might slip away, Rosenthal flew to Mareuil-sur-Aÿ to plead with the proprietor face-to-face—that’s how essential he believed Billecart was to his survival. 

We don’t like thinking about life without Billecart either—especially the rare thrill of their vintage offerings. Produced only in exceptional years, Billecart’s vintage Champagnes can rival many houses’ tête de cuvée bottlings—at a fraction of the price. The 2008 Billecart Extra Brut consists of 65% Pinot Noir, which is sourced from the Montagne de Reims, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, and the Grand Cru village of Aÿ. The balance is Chardonnay that comes from six villages, five of which (Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, and Chouilly) are rated Grand Cru. 

The wine is vinified in stainless steel before spending a luxurious nine years on the lees, the spent yeast cells that imbue the wine with the brioche and toasted-nut complexity that only comes from super-patient work in a Champagne cellar. It can age for another decade in your cellar—but then again, it’ll be tough not to open this already-decade-aged beauty as soon as you get it chilled.

Whether you ask us or ask Wine Access members, the answer’s the same: Billecart is the best of the best, and their vintage bubbly delivers tête de cuvée-level quality and complexity for under $100. Unfortunately this rare treat is just plain rare, and our allocation is small. Don’t miss out on your bottle.