H. Billiot 'Cuvée Laetitia' Brut

92

2020-04-30

Disgorged in July 2018, the latest rendition of the NV Brut Cuvée Laetitia is based on the 2013 vintage blended with a perpetual reserve that dates back to 1983. Offering up aromas of burnished orchard fruit, toasted walnuts and citrus rind, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and sapid, with ripe but racy acids and a tangy, saline finish.

92

2011-11-30

Ripe flavors of candied cherry and currant, quince paste and honey are layered with subtle notes of blood orange, vanilla and almond in this exuberant Champagne, which shows good balance and an appealing juiciness that pushes through to the long, mouthwatering finish. Disgorged November 2010. Drink now through 2017. –AN

93

2013-08-29

Bright yellow. A wild, pungent bouquet evokes dried pear, beeswax, anise and iodine, with floral and spice notes gaining strength with air. Juicy, penetrating orchard fruit and orange marmalade flavors show impressive depth and power and are given spine by tangy minerality. Very rich and complex but lively Champagne with serious finishing thrust and lingering spiciness.

93

(disgorged in February, 2008; this contains 20 some-odd vintages from 1983 forward
and the predominant variety is chardonnay). This is remarkably fresh for it to have such a large proportion of aged
stock in it and while the nose is mature, there are absolutely no oxidative elements in it. In fact, I deliberately revisited this 24
hours after first opening it to see how the nose had evolved and I can report that there was very little discernable evolution. As
I say, while fully mature, the mildly yeasty nose displays notes of baked apple, roasted nut and a dried rose petal nuance that
also characterizes the rich, full and utterly delicious flavors that are also fresh and vibrant with plenty of energy and finishing
punch. Often Champagnes with high percentages of reserves in them lack the same effervescence but that is certainly not the
case here. This is a lovely effort that could be drunk now with pleasure or held for years to come. 93/now+

**(*)

2010-11-01

Although this was bottled in 2008, Serge Billiot says that the most recent vintage contained here is 2005, blended with about 19 or 20 different vintages dating back to 1983. It’s creamy and subtly complex, unfolding in an ample array of flavors ranging from red cherry and fresh apple to ginger and pink grapefruit. While there’s a lot of depth on the palate, this stays light on its feet, feeling vigorous and deftly poised, and the long, fragrant flavors show an expressive nuance and detail. This cuvée shows best when it complements its rich complexity with a lively energy, and this edition seems to strike an ideal balance of each. Last tasted: 3/10