NV Henri Billiot Cuvee Laetitia
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Made from 60% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay, with 20% from 2017 and 80% perpetual reserve, the bright yellow/silver-colored NV Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Laetitia Extra Brut is appealing on opening, rounded with a pretty perfume of brioche, fresh flowers, quince, and red cherries. The mousse is refined and rounded as well, and the wine is medium to full-bodied and dry, without noticeable dosage despite having 8 grams. It’s a very elegant and well-detailed cuvée offering a nice balance of decadence while remaining refined and dry. Drink this over the next 15 years. 8 grams per liter dosage and disgorged September 2023.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Pinot Noir takes a slight edge over Chardonnay in the NV Champagne Cuvée Laetitia Brut (60% of the blend), and it has a softer approach aromatically, with a bit more refined sophistication. Here things come into focus with pristine clarity, with pure chalky texture, vibrant fruit, and refreshing energy. After the Essence, this is my next favorite wine in the lineup.
Disgorged in October 2019, the latest rendition of Billiot's NV Brut Cuvée Laetitia is showing nicely, offering up aromas of crisp orchard and stone fruit mingled with hints of walnuts, honeycomb, dried white flowers and orange oil. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's seamless and incisive, with a delicate mousse, tangy acids and a long, delicately nutty finish. As readers may remember, this bottling is drawn from a perpetual reserve dating back to 1983.
Very full and savoury. Bone dry. Not a hint of sweetness – nor much autolysis either. Instead, the overall impression is of sturdy, dense fruit. Impressive persistence. (JR)