2012 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" NFB Brut Champagne
97JS
96RP
95DC
95VN
$199.99
Fulfillment times vary, for estimated turnaround times
97
James Suckling
Reviewed March 2025This complex Champagne has delicious aromas of waffle cones, vanilla beans, apricots and pastry with touches of white chocolate and salted caramel. It’s electric on the palate, which is creamy yet structured and focused, with a fine bead of bubbles and a zesty, tangy backbone of acidity. Long and tense finish. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay (all premier and grand cru), 10% of wines are vinified in oak casks. 10 years on lees. 3.8 g/L dosage. Disgorged in the second half of 2024. (CN)
Professional Reviews
96
Wine Advocate
Billecart-Salmon’s 2012 Nicolas François marks the first release since 2008 and stands as another success. The fundamentals remain unchanged: settling and fermentation at low temperatures, a small proportion vinified in oak barrels and partial malolactic fermentation (20% was blocked in 2012). This vintage was characterized by a prolonged flowering period, significant rainfall and mildew pressure, resulting in a small crop. The harvest of fruit, which contributed to this cuvée, took place between September 17 and 22. "It was crucial to select only the ripest fruit, as maturation varied significantly between plots," explains Billecart’s head winemaker, Florent Nys. But what of the wine itself? Disgorged in May 2023 with a dosage of 3.8 grams per liter, it exudes aromas of candied lemon, honeysuckle and ripe peach, mingling with nuances of beeswax and orange zest. On the palate, it is full-bodied, ample and enveloping, boasting a layered, concentrated core, a chalky structure and mouthwatering acidity, despite the warm vintage. It concludes with a persistent, saline finish, hinting at the savory complexity that has emerged with such notable bottle age. Compared to the 2008, which remains tightly coiled, the 2012 is broader-shouldered and more demonstrative. (KK)
95
Decanter
After the taut 2008 – a wine that leant heavily on the austerity of the year – the 2012 Nicolas François maintains an admirably frank and fat-free take on this intensely ripe, bright and concentrated vintage, further intensified by the recent move to lower dosage at the house. With its aromas of raspberry, pear and candied orange, the maturity of the year is certainly evident, although the wine carries a real squeeze of dried lemon-like maturing Chardonnay, feeling tight and racy right through to the close. Already showing some nutty maturity and brown pastry richness, it's a cuvée which has proven itself to age with aplomb over the last two decades. With a slightly finer natural balance and harmony than the 2008, the 2012 looks well set. (TH)
95
Vinous
The 2012 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart shows all the natural radiance of the year. There's gorgeous resonance and texture here. Apricot, spice, tangerine oil and lightly honeyed notes infuse the palate with notable depth and persistence. This rich, expansive Champage has a ton to offer. This release was disgorged nearly two years ago, which also adds to its complexity...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. (AG)
Staff Reviews
GW
Review Date: 03/2025
The most exciting release in 2025 from Champagne! This incredible 2012 is just now being released, while many producers have moved on to their 2016's or even 2019's. The patience that Florent Nys, the chef de cave, as well as the Billecart family have shown in ageing this wine has created a true treat in the glass, a wine that is both uniquely easy to drink, yet layered with complexity and intrigue. The explosive bouquet has the hazelnuts of Verzenay in abundance, framed by sourdough toast from 120 months of lees contact. In the mouth the freshness of the chardonnay shows through, with a perfect texture and precise bead. The best part of the wine is the finish- a true peacock's tail display- the whole flavor wheel... The length and profound chalk of the finale makes for an unforgettable wine. I hope that I will be having this again soon with food- I can imagine it being a spectacular partner to the best smoked salmon!
CM
Craig Morris
Review Date: 05/2025Craig Morris
A lovely Champagne of seeming contradictions...Rich yet elegant, structured yet easy drinking. This wine has a massive 10 years on the lees, so expect a lot of toasty sourdough. The bubbles are very fine, hence the aforementioned elegance, and there's a lively acidity and chalky minerality, as well. This Champagne has it all! The Billecart Salmon name speaks for itself, and 2012 is one of the top vintages of the 21st century. Between the tasting notes and the pedigree, there are just so many reasons to pick this bottle up!
SB
Scott Beckerley
Review Date: 05/2025Scott Beckerley
Mouthwatering! Mouthwatering! Mouthwatering! Those are the first three words that came into my head at 10:15 this morning while tasting this brand-new release from Billecart-Salmon. A beautiful nose with scents of lemon curd, vanilla cream, melted butter, fresh sea air, toasted nuts. On the palate, equally gorgeous with pear puree, lush peach, tart lemon, sea salt and almond. Lush and invigoratingly fresh and clean, at the same time. This is a truly wonderful release and a great bottling from Billecart-Salmon. Although it is so fine and beautiful now, you can also keep it for decades. My champagne tasting group opened a 2002 earlier this year and it was still not even into its middle school years. This is, by far, the best champagne that I have tasted so far this year. Enjoy it, dear Rozita!
Update: Three days later (with a secure Champagne stopper, of course!), this marvel is all about shortbread and melted butter. So good!
Notes
The biggest champagne release of the year! This incredible 2012 has been aged a full 10 years on the lees and is composed of a roll call of the best terroir in all of Champagne. The 60% Pinot Noir comes from Verzenay, Ay, and Billecart's home village of Mareuil, while the 40% of Chardonnay comes from Chouilly, Avize and Mesnil grand crus. The wine sees 10% oak fermentation and is dosed at 3.8 grams per liter. If you are looking for the best tête de cuvée in the store- look no further! This is concentrated and refreshing all at once- a trick that can only be done using the best fruit and the most time. -Gary Westby, K&L
Details
| Origin | Champagne, France |
|---|---|
| Type/Varietal | Other White Wines |
| Alcohol Content | 12.5% |
| SKU | 1854458 |