BILLECART-SALMON
CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE 2013
WHY BUY: This 2013 duo from Billecart-Salmon — a 97-point Cuvée Elisabeth Rosé and a 97-point Cuvée Louis Blanc de Blancs — stands as an extraordinary benchmark for the vintage. These are not wines chasing spectacle, but Champagnes of real substance and intent: cellar-aged, deeply expressive, and built on the bones of great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Think of the Elisabeth Rosé as a Pinot-first wine, shaped by chalk and time, with lift rather than sweetness. The Cuvee Louis Blanc de Blancs is pure Chardonnay in its most articulate form — tensile, mineral, and precise. Together, they fiirmly place among the elite Champagnes of the 2013 vintage and show exactly why Antonio Galloni has written that Billecart-Salmon has “never been better.”
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Galloni wrote last year: “The significant increase in quality at Billecart-Salmon is no longer news, but it's still worth mentioning. Quite simply, the Champagnes here have never been better.” Vinous backed that up with 97 points for both wines. The Elisabeth Rosé drew praise for being “much more exuberant than the 2012,” bursting with rose petal, blood orange, spice, and kirsch, and capped by an “ample, substantial finish” that Galloni called “striking.” The Louis brings “more tension, cut, and drive,” with notes of chalk, slate, crushed rocks, citrus confit, and hazelnut. In all, a wine that “sizzles with tension from start to finish.”
OUR TASTING NOTES: At our recent tasting, what struck us most was how the two wines balance power with precision. The Elisabeth Rosé announces itself immediately: exuberant, exotic, with rose petal and blood orange leading the charge before spice and kirsch join in. We loved its ample body, and particularly the way that it fills your mouth without ever overwhelming it. The decision to use slightly more new oak, more still red wine, and a touch higher dosage to soften the vintage's natural austerity turns out to have been a brilliant call. The Louis is stylistically opposite: all tension and drive, with pronounced (and wonderfully lingering) mineral notes. The chalkiness is strong and well-handled, and there are nuances that emerge as the experience unwinds, with a palate that seamlessly combines citrus and nuttiness. These aren't Champagnes that need any kind of coaxing. They're ready now, performing at full volume while possessing the structure to age beautifully for another decade.
THE STORY: How does a Champagne house that was founded in 1818 remain relevant in 2026? Most don't. They either calcify into museum pieces trading on former glory, or they chase trends and lose their identity entirely. Billecart-Salmon did something different. It doubled down on what made it special in the first place. But let’s back up for just a moment … When Nicolas François Billecart and Élisabeth Salmon launched their estate in the tiny village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, they established a house style built on finesse over brute strength. That approach won them respect, then devotion, then something approaching cult status among sommeliers who recognized what the wine writer Tom Hyland eventually articulated: these were Champagnes that leaned into elegance. Over the past decade, as many of their competitors opted for bigger and bolder, Billecart-Salmon went the opposite direction. They invested heavily in vineyards and cellars. Not to make more powerful wines, but to make more precise ones, more richly detailed ones. You can’t argue with the extraordinary results. The gamble has paid off spectacularly. How about that, huh? Two centuries on, and still learning new tricks.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: These Champagnes possess the kind of versatility that makes magic with just about everything. The Elisabeth Rosé shines alongside shellfish, sushi, or even roasted duck breast. The Louis pairs beautifully with oysters, risotto, charcuterie, and Eggs Benedict.
FUN FACT: In 1999, the Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart 1959 was chosen "Champagne of the Millennium" by a committee of experts at a blind tasting in Stockholm that included 150 vintages from the world's top producers. Second place? Billecart-Salmon’s 1961 vintage.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate to ensure pristine provenance. Order yours with confidence … and secure your bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2026. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer will expire on Sunday, February 1st, 2026.