Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne Cuvée Louis 2006

96 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (les Coullemets and Chétillon), Avize (les Pierres Vaudon), Cramant and Chouilly (Mont Aigu); 5% vinified in oak barrels (Le Mesnil); partial malolactic fermentation; aged 10 years on lees; 4g/L dosage; cork). The quartet of Le Mesnil, Avize, Cramant and Chouilly unite their structure, endurance and stamina in the generous presence of 2006 in a Louis of power and determination. The vintage declares its richness in a core of spicy white peach, white nectarine, fig, honey, preserved lemon and apple, coasting with outstanding presence and unerring line. Its body is amplified by the elegant brioche, shortbread, vanilla, toasted coconut, hazelnut and mixed spice of a touch of barrel fermentation in concert with a decade of lees age. Malic acidity heightens tension on a long finish that glitters with a spectacular fanfare of pronounced, salty, grand cru minerality. It declares its true greatness in its spectacular finish, gliding unwavering, undeterred, uncompromising, on a mirror sea of crystalline minerality. This is a Billecart of main-course proportions, engineered with a rigid chassis that upholds focus and consummate control. (2020-2021)"

96 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2006 Brut Cuvée Louis Salmon is a fabulous Champagne that balances the natural richness of the year with tons of energy. In this very warm vintage the winemaking team opted to block most of the malolactic fermentation (70%) to preserve freshness, an approach that worked beautifully. The weight of the year is present, but it is balanced by the wine"s freshness and energy. Time in the glass brings out hints of chamomile, marzipan and lemon confit. At fifteen years of age, the 2006 is still a young Champagne that requires cellaring. In a word: dazzling. Drink: 2026-2046. (May 2021)"

96 points Decanter: "Formerly called the Prestige Blanc de Blancs, this wine was renamed after the winemaker brother of Elisabeth Salmon for the bicentenary. Both Elisabeth and her husband Nicolas François already have founder's cuvées named in their honour. From 100% grand cru fruit (5% vinified in old oak), this spends 11 years on its lees with partial malolactic fermentation, and has a 6g/l dosage. Mathieu Roland-Billecart describes it as 'Meursault with bubbles', and suggests decanting it into a carafe and enjoying it throughout a meal. It's very rich and full, yet with bright, balancing acidity and chalky minerality. It has gorgeous notes of apricot tart, popcorn, vanilla sugar and nougat, and is long, tight and rich. Drinking beautifully now, but still has many years ahead of it. Drinking Window: 2018-2027. (May 2018)"

96 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "With grapes coming from the Chardonnay heartland of the Côte des Blancs, this wine is the epitome of structured, textured fruit but with the essential addition of age. Still hinting at freshness and still textured, the wine is also rich with white-fruit flavors cut with limes. Drink from 2020. (Dec 2018)"

94-96 points Essi Avellan, MW: "(100% Chardonnay) Dominated by Le Mesnil Chardonnay, Cuvée Louis is at the same time cool and crisp yet creamy and fat. It has great complexity and power complemented by classy mineral notions. Burgundian in its expression, it is beautifully textured and persistent of the palate. Starting to drink very well. (Mar 2019)"

95 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Medium yellow, silver reflections; fine, well persistent mousse. Delicate meadow herbs, fresh white pear, a hint of hazelnut. Taut, yellow apple, delicate acidity, dominant mineral aspect from the Le Mesnil Jurassic soils, nuances of candied fruit à la fruit cake, orange zest, salty finish, very well balanced. Good ageing potential. Alcohol 12.5%. (11/21/19)"

94 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2006 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Louis Salmon derives from old vines holdings in the same villages that inform Billecart's non-vintage Blanc de Blanc, and it has seen 11 years sur lattes. Wafting from the glass with aromas of warm bread, blanched almonds, dried citrus and fresh pear, it's medium to full-bodied, gourmand and fleshy, with tangy acids and an enveloping core of fruit that lends it a vinous profile, underpinned by lively acids and concluding with a tangy, saline finish. This is a very fine rendition of this cuvée, formerly known as the Prestige Blanc de Blancs. Drink: 2019-2036. (8/8/19)"

94 points John Gilman (View From The Cellar): "The 2006 vintage was the first ever produced of Billecart-Salmon’s vintage-dated Blanc de Blancs bottling to wear the moniker of “Cuvée Louis”, as the wine was previously known as Prestige Blanc de Blancs. It is produced entirely from grand cru villages, with five percent of the vins clairs barrel-fermented in older casks. Only a portion goes through malo and the wine was aged for eleven years sur latte prior to disgorgement and a finishing dosage of seven grams per liter. The wine is very elegant in profile, offering up a complex nose of apple, lemon, bread dough, chalky minerality, a touch of citrus peel and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and very well-balanced, with a good core, fine soil undertow, very elegant mousse and a long, complex and vibrant finish. This is a first class example of Blanc de Blancs that is drinking beautifully today, but will easily carry another couple of decades in the cellar. 2021-2045. (Sep-Oct 2021)"

94 points James Suckling: "A brilliant edition with elegance cast against plenty of fruit and mouth-filling concentration. Aromas of fresh green apples and light pears and apple pastry, as well as hints of lemons and chalky minerals. The palate has plenty of fresh apples and nashi pears. Really crisp and flavorsome. Finishes on point. Drink or hold. (7/17/18)"

94 points (17/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "The 2006 vintage has arrived for the principal grand cuvées... A new grand cuvée of blanc de blancs, Louis, offers great refinement, an appealing creaminess and a supple, rounded mouthfeel. (2019)"