Founded in 1818 by husband and wife Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon, the Billecart-Salmon House is rich with history. For nearly two hundred years, the Billecart family has been handing down the secrets to making exceptional champagne from generation to generation. The Champagne House is special for many reasons, but one notable reason is that it is one of very few to remain Family owned. The Billecart-Salmon House covers around 50 hectares, and gets its grapes from a total of 170 hectares of land. Frequently cited for the quality of its vintages, the House pays particular attention to selecting the best grapes.

A legacy since 1734, Champagne Taittinger is the largest eponymous family owned Champagne House and one of the top, independent champagne brands in the world. This family of growers cultivates the second largest vineyard in the Champagne region. The composition of the house’s cuvées is a result of an intuitive and complex process, one which the Taittinger family know how to create and sustain; a Champagne which is completely unique. The Taittinger Comtes Blanc de Blancs 2007 is a lively champagne with a light, abundant bubble. There is a bouquet on the nose of pears and fresh cut flowers and flavours of lemon zest and fresh pineapple. A delicate balance of finesse and aromatic intensity.

NV Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve, A satiny white mousse sits well over a straw pale gold tinged base that’s finely threaded by a steady stream of delicate bubbles. Strong yeasty baked bread characters intermingle with oily toast, cashew, citrusy honey and brioche notes. Rich yet tense and tightly knit on the finish the palate features mouthwatering flavours of baked bread, citrus, oily toast like characters and yeast lees with some roasted almonds on the dry crisp finish. Long precise aftertaste that has a lingering subtle dried nut element to it. A very dry and focused Champagne that requires some patience.