More Billecart-Salmon

On Saturday we were invited to dinner by some friends who are also champagne-lovers. Having seen how much I enjoyed the Billecart-Salmon's Vintage 2004 that I drank on Thursday, they very generously served two other Billecart-Salmon champagnes - the non-vintage extra-brut and the brut reserve. Both of these were wonderful. I preferred the extra-brut, which had the tart fruit and complete lack of sweetness that the Vinatge 2004 had, but none of the yeastiness. Everyone else seemed to prefer the brut reserve, though, which had the light sweetness that comes with orchard fruit flavours. Both wines had ample bubbles, too. The more I drink of the Billecart-Salmon range, the more I like!!

I had also brought a bottle of Domaine Ste Michelle's blanc de noirs to try - a Washington state sparkling wine that I had picked up on a recent trip to the US. It hadn't been sold to me as a rose wine, but it had a distinctly peachy colour. It was much sweeter than I was expecting it to be, with lots of berry flavours, but a short finish. It was pleasant enough, but probably a little unfair trying this wine after the other champagnes, because it's just not in the same league.