Vintage Billecart ‘Wines of Distinction’ Series: Taranaki

As part of our Vintage Billecart ‘Wines of Distinction’ Series, join us for a once in a lifetime lineup tasting experience of our rarest vintage Champagnes from Maison Billecart-Salmon, including their icon Rosé on arrival.

Prepare for an afternoon of culinary and vinous wonders as we present a phenomenal selection of vintage champagnes, including more recent vintages of the revered “Champagne of the Millennium” and their top cuvée, Le Clos Saint Hilaire.

Indulge in an exclusive tasting which will offer you a sensory thrill through the cellars of one of the top-rated Champagne Houses.

Tasting Journey:

On Arrival:
- NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé (RRP $160)

First Flight:
- 2013 Billecart-Salmon Vintage (RRP $210)
- 2009 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Louis Salmon Brut Blanc de Blancs (RRP $400)

Second Flight:
- NV Billecart Les Rendez-Vous No. 3 (RRP $175)
- 2009 Billecart Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rosé (RRP $415)

Third Flight:
- 2005 Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire (RRP $1,190)
- 2006 Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire (RRP $1,113)
- 2008 Billecart Cuvée Nicolas François Brut (RRP $400)

Maison Billecart-Salmon
Situated in the Champagne heartland of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, near Epernay, Billecart-Salmon has been under family ownership and management since its founding in 1818. It is a family-run winery with a majority share owned by the Billecart family and a minority holding is held by the Frey group, itself a family-owned business – they are owners of Château La Lagune in Bordeaux, Paul Jaboulet Ainé in the Rhône, and Château Corton C in Burgundy.

The Billecart family still lives on site and there remains a strong sense of long-visioned family continuity at play. Today there’s the seventh generation Mathieu Roland-Billecart overseeing everyday business as CEO, working closely with Antoine and François.

Champagne of the Millennium
On 12 June 1999, a jury of international experts came together to judge which champagne would be awarded the grand title of “Champagne of the Millennium” following a blind tasting.

Among the 150 champagnes in competition were the two Billecart-Salmon vintages, the Nicolas François Brut 1959 and the Nicolas François Brut 1961. When the results were announced, these two vintages took both first and second place

In his book The Great Tasting, Richard Juhlin wrote of the winner: “The perfect champagne, 1959 Billecart-Salmon, had everything one would expect of a luxury champagne, but in a seldom seen concentration and simultaneously with harmonious balance. A totally perfect champagne in its category, with a smoky, honey-smooth extremely long taste of walnut, orange blossom and chocolate. All who ever get to drink this fabulous wine just have to love the pleasure it grants. When you study the end results it is striking to see how obvious the victory was.”

Millennium Hotel & Resort
The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth, Waterfront is located in the heart of the Central Business District with panoramic views of the Tasman Sea. Overlooking the Len Lye Wind Wand and the Coastal Foreshore Walkway