Billecart-Salmon : Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart 1998

This has intense notes of white cocoa, toffee, plums, figs, dates, mushrooms, violets and candied ginger. So pleasingly rich and caressing, full-bodied, retaining plenty of tension and energy. 56% pinot noir and 44% chardonnay. Disgorged November 2007. 5 g/L dosage. Drink now.

Light gold. Strong floral and spice notes complement ripe orange, pear and honeyed apple aromas, with a deep undercurrent of brown butter. Round, supple and nutty, showing an array of buttery orchard and pit fruit flavors and excellent depth and underlying power. Impressively long finish features an intriguing violet pastille note. There's lots going on here.