Brad Baker, The Champagne Warrior, July 2010
The richest, most complex, and flat-out best Laetitia ever made. This wine explodes on the palate with peach, apricot, and
spicy citrus. I have born witness: one sip has the capacity to result in an involuntary "Hallelujah"... this wine ranks with
the best Billiot has ever made. Do yourself a favor and go find a bottle of this.
(Majority Chardonnay with the rest Pinot Noir; Ambonnay; 2005 base wine from a solera dating back to 1983 that is
tilting more and more towards Chardonnay over time; Oak aging; Disgorged late 2009; 900 - 1800 bottles produced;
$85-115 US)
91-94 points
Allen Meadows, Burghound, October 2009
(SRP $112) 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 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 2009
The oak-raised NV Brut Cuvee Laetitia is another explosive, kaleidoscopic Champagne from Billiot. This is the only wine in the lineup made principally from Chardonnay and is a solera-style Champagne containing 20 vintages beginning with the most recent, 2005, and dating back to 1983. This is a wine you could literally get lost in as the aromatics meld seamlessly into a palate of rich fruit that carries through all the way to the finish. The large-scaled, expansive personality of Ambonnay comes through in spades. The solera method has naturally given this wine a measure of slightly oxidative nuances, but within the context of similar wines, NV Brut Cuvee Laetitia remains quite fresh and vibrant. This is a magnificent effort from Billiot. Disgorged: June 10, 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2019.
93 points |
