Billecart-Salmon Rose Champagne Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon 2009

The 2009 Billecart-Salmon “Cuvée Elisabeth” Rosé Champagne is made mostly from Grand Cru vineyards, but it is the 1er Cru that goes into it that makes it so special. The red wine that gives this rosé its color comes from a small plot of 80-year-old Pinot Noir in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ called the Valofroy. This parcel, adjacent to the Clos des Goisses faces due south and directly down at the Marne. The production from this ancient site is the limiting factor for the production of this rare tête de cuvée. The wine is composed of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay and the red wine makes up just about 10% of the total. The richness of the 2009 vintage has been married perfectly to the racy power of the old vine Pinot that gives this wine its color. It is a knockout!