Bright, Textured, Complex Chardonnay Champagne
Named after his wife and daughter, this new offering from Billion is further evidence of the excellence of his Champagnes.  Jean-Pol found that not all of the vintages normally declared in Champagne suit his method of aging 8-10 years, like Salon. So he decided that he would make a new bottling from specific vintages and other years that could fill the gap between his vintage Champagnes. The style of this bottling is very similar to his 1995 Millennium Champagne that had the serigraph-decorated bottle. The bulk of the wine is aged in tank, with a small percentage aged in his old oak barrels. The result is a Champagne that is more structured and bright than his non-vintage (which is aged in oak for 3 months before bottling), almost as complex as his vintage, but at a lower price that the vintage. To put this in perspective: it is toasty-yeasty with aromas of brioche, lemon curd, and flowers; on the palate, it shows the characteristic minerality of Mesnil combined with a lush, sensual custardy texture, as if it were liquid lemon meringue pie, with a well-toasted crust. It is very memorable, and will leave you with an incredibly long finish that you’ll still taste ten minutes later. Another triumph for Jean-Pol Billion.