FIRST TASTE WITH CHAMPAGNE BILLECART-SALMON | THURSDAY 26 MAY

Join Decanter and Champagne Billecart-Salmon for a first taste of the new vintage of the exceptional Cuvée Louis Salmon 2008.

This intimate and exclusive reader-only event will take place at Decanter’s own Tasting Suite in Paddington, London for the very first time.

Hosted by Decanter and Chris Crosby, UK Managing Director at Champagne Billecart-Salmon, guests will be treated to a comparative blanc de blancs tasting featuring the renowned Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV followed by a first taste of the Cuvée Louis Salmon Blanc de Blancs 2008 - which has just been released by the esteemed House.

On arrival at the Decanter Tasting Suite, guests will be welcomed with a glass of Brut Rosé paired with a selection of canapés. 

This exclusive first taste of Billecart-Salmon's iconic cuvée will be an unmissable guided tasting for all Champagne lovers, especially fans of sublime blanc de blancs styles.

 

Date:
Thursday 26 May 2022

Location:
Decanter Tasting Suite, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington, W2 6JR 

Timings:
18:30 - arrive for aperitif and canapés
19:00 - sit down for guided tasting

Price:
£175 per person

 

Cuvée Louis Salmon Blanc de Blancs 2008

Passionate about oenology and blessed with an instinctive intelligence, Louis Salmon, Elisabeth’s brother, was involved in the creation of the wines from the moment the House was founded.

Distinguished elegance of a mineral and exceptionally precise Chardonnay with a natural balance that is a harmonious representation of the best parcels of grand crus of Côte des Blancs: Cramant, Chouilly for finesse, Avize for power and Mesnil-sur-Oger for structure and longevity. 

100% Chardonnay grands crus from the Côtes des Blancs: 40% Chouilly, 33% Cramant, 20% Mesnil-sur-Oger, 7% Avize. 

33% of the wines are vinified at low temperature in oak casks that are 15 years old on average
Maturation on lees/in the cellar: 11 years

Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV

This 100% Chardonnay cuvée has been produced from the five grand cru vineyards of the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger. It is a blend of two different years revealing the special quality of the Chardonnay.

100% Chardonnay grands crus of the Côtes des Blancs: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Vinification in stainless steel tanks
33% - 40% reserve wines.
Maturation on lees: 4-5 years

Brut Rosé NV

The production secrets and the vinification method of this cuvée go back to the origins of the House of Billecart-Salmon and have been handed down for seven generations. The Brut Rosé is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir vinified as red wine.

40% Chardonnay sourced from the best crus in the region
30% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne
30% Pinot Meunier from the Vallée de la Marne and the southern slopes of Epernay

Vinification in stainless steel
Maturation on lees: 36 months

Chris Crosby - UK Managing Director, Billecart-Salmon

Chris Crosby joined Billecart-Salmon UK in January 2019 and became UK Managing Director in July 2021.

With close to 10 years’ experience, Crosby has a diverse background in the on-trade, with a strong emphasis on luxury.  His career began at Hakkasan as part of the team that relaunched the Ling Ling brand.  Crosby then went on to join The Arts Club, where he was instrumental in the opening of this renowned private members club.

Most recently, Crosby was Global Sales and Marketing Director for COYA, a group of Peruvian restaurants with eateries in London, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. 

The Decanter Tasting Suite was opened in January 2022 and was meticulously designed to hold Decanter magazine Panel Tastings and Expert's Choice tastings. 

It features floor-to-ceiling windows which showcase views of leafy Westbourne Terrace in Paddington and floods the suite 
with natural light - providing the perfect wine tasting conditions.