Billecart-Salmon Le Rosé Brut Rosé Champagne NV 375ml Half Bottle

Billecart-Salmon's Brut Rosé is one of the most recognizable bottles in Champagne, with its pale salmon color and that famous pink label, and it's widely regarded as the benchmark for the style. The house is a family-owned Champagne estate in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, today led by Mathieu Roland-Billecart, with Florent Nys as cellar master. Vinous's Antonio Galloni noted that this cuvée "points to the progress Mathieu Roland-Billecart has made here in recent years," and Decanter said it "appears to be on its finest form of recent years under cellar master Florent Nys."

The blend is based on Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir, with roughly 40 to 45% reserve wine. About 7% is still red Pinot Noir wine from old vines in Mareuil, added to give the rosé its color and its vinous structure. Recent bases have run around 43-45% Chardonnay, 24-33% Meunier, and the balance Pinot Noir. The house describes the wine as "fresh and elegant," with "a radiant color," "graceful effervescence," a "persistent mousse," and "an expressive red berry flavor with citrus zest," ending "light, balanced and precise."

Critics have scored recent releases consistently in the low 90s. James Suckling gave 93 Points, calling it "a succulent, delicious and precise brut rosé" with "notes of wild currants, peach skin and mild spices." Wine Enthusiast scored it 93, noting a nose that is "delicate and ripe, showing sweet raspberry, lemon-curd patisserie, and orange blossom." Wine Spectator scored it 92, praising a "mouthwatering rosé Champagne" with "lacy texture and precise balance" and "delicate" notes of "nectarine, white cherry, slivered almond and pickled ginger." Decanter and the Wine Advocate each gave 92, the latter finding "aromas of rose, peony, red berries and guava" and "a long, ethereal finish enhanced by menthol notes." Falstaff gave 92 and Vinous 91. One merchant calls the half bottles "more than just cute half bottles," saying "this is the benchmark in rosé Champagne, and it deserves every bit of its fame." A half bottle is the right size for two glasses, a quick celebration, or sampling a benchmark Champagne without opening a full bottle.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Billecart-Salmon Le Rosé Brut is produced by Champagne Billecart-Salmon, a family-owned house in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Champagne, France. It is a non-vintage blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir, with about 7% still red Pinot Noir wine from Mareuil and roughly 40 to 45% reserve wines, depending on the base vintage. It is made in the Brut style. This 375ml half bottle contains the same wine as the standard bottle.

Critics Reviews

Scores are for recent releases of this non-vintage cuvée; the 375ml contains the same wine.

James Suckling — 93 Points:
"A succulent, delicious and precise brut rosé, made of chardonnay, pinot meunier and pinot noir. It has notes of wild currants, peach skin and mild spices."

Wine Enthusiast — 93 Points:
"The nose is delicate and ripe, showing sweet raspberry, lemon-curd patisserie, and orange blossom."

Wine Spectator — 92 Points:
"This mouthwatering rosé Champagne shows lacy texture and precise balance, with the well-honed acidity deftly knit to the subtle, chalky minerality and delicate range of nectarine, white cherry, slivered almond and pickled ginger notes."

Tim Hewson, Decanter — 92 Points:
"Based on the 2020 vintage, Billecart-Salmon's signature rosé appears to be on its finest form of recent years under cellar master Florent Nys, full of fragrant, crunchy redcurrant, red cherry and orange fruit with an alluring hibiscus-like floral lift and subtle green peppercorn spicing."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate — 92 Points:
"Aromas of rose, peony, red berries and guava preface the NV Brut Rosé, a medium to full-bodied, elegant and vinous Champagne rosé that concludes with a long, ethereal finish enhanced by menthol notes."

Falstaff — 92 Points:
"Aromatically fresh and vibrant with bright, red berry, citrus peel and verbena blossom notes leading into a somewhat savory and lean, light to medium-bodied palate with lively acid coiling around oodles of citrus freshness and juicy raspberry notes before concluding with hints of marmalade and honey on the finish."

Antonio Galloni, Vinous — 91 Points:
"The NV Brut Rosé (base 2020) is another wine that points to the progress Mathieu Roland-Billecart has made here in recent years."

Billecart-Salmon (official winemaker's notes):
"The Brut Rosé is a fresh and elegant Rosé Champagne... Radiant color with graceful effervescence, a persistent mousse, and fine bubbles rising slowly in the glass. Subtle and fine aromas leading to an expressive red berry flavor with citrus zest. Creamy and smooth on the palate, evolving to strawberries notes and a raspberry finish. Light, balanced and precise."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Pale salmon pink with golden glints. Wild strawberry, raspberry, and red currant lead, with peach, rose petal, peony, and orange blossom, alongside citrus zest and chalk.

Palate
Creamy, fine, and precise, with strawberry and raspberry carrying the entry, bright citrus acidity, nectarine, white cherry, and a touch of almond.

Finish
Fresh and long, with a saline, chalky edge and a raspberry finish.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Sushi and salmon sashimi
• Wild salmon or langoustine carpaccio
• Fine charcuterie
• Red berry desserts

Serving Note

Serve well chilled as an aperitif; a half bottle is a good size for two glasses.