Billecart-Salmon, Champagne "Le Reserve", NV [non-discountable]

Billecart-Salmon is one of the most respected, and most consistent, houses in Champagne, and Le Reserve is its calling card. This is the wine we love pouring for people who think they know Champagne, because the finesse and precision here reset expectations. Meunier leads the blend, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay filling in, and more than half the wine is drawn from reserves stretching back many years, giving it real depth and complexity. Long, cool fermentation is the Billecart hallmark, and it shows in the delicacy of the bubbles and the clarity of the fruit. Recently the house has dialed the dosage down, so it drinks fresher and more precise than ever.