If you enjoy exploring the World's best wines, we could not be more enthusiastic about our recommendation on this exceptional Champagne. H. Billiot Fils ia a tiny producer in Champagne making only 100 cases of Cuvee Laetitia. Like all Tetes de Cuvees (Cristal, Dom), Cuvee Laetitia is a blend of multiple vintages in an attempt to maintain consistency. However, the Billiot difference is a solera blending system that began in 1983. Young, new barrels of Champagne (2005 being the most recent) are stacked on top of older vintage barrels, and interconnected with tubes that enable the vintages to blend with the help of gravity. What they draw and bottle at the bottom of the solera is the surreal combination of 19 vintages dating back to 1983.
This is a wine you could literally get lost in as the aromatics meld seamlessly into a palate of rich fruit that carries through all the way to the finish. The large-scaled, expansive personality of Ambonnay comes through in spades. The solera method has naturally given this wine a measure of slightly oxidative nuances, but within the context of similar wines, NV Brut Cuvee Laetitia remains quite fresh and vibrant. This is a magnificent effort from Billiot.
|