Not to be Mr. Pedantic, but the Billiot is 75/25 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (and not labeled as BdN) - unless something has changed in the past month. It’s still a very classy introduction into how good a Pinot Noir-heavy from a great grower in a great site can be.
K John’s list is a good, and I would add Roger Coulon’s vintage BdN to what’s already been mentioned as well.
Thanks Jim, I think I just assumed full pinot due to the style. Well then, scratch that and choose from one of those suggested above! I do think the Peters is classic BdB to me. I prefer BdB personally so drink a lot more in that style.
Per Decanter on the 2012 vintage: “A brilliant August and warm September made for an outstanding but small crop of Pinot Noir, best since 1952. Chardonnays big & foursquare are not in same league…”
It’s really amazing how much more there is to know about Champagne than one is led to believe. It’s one of the regions Lauren and I have been most interested in lately, and one which I think very quickly rewards tasting broadly and deliberately. Beyond just grape differences, there’s differences in terroir between growing regions, and differences in how each producer’s style makes each wine taste. There’s some that make quite oxidative almost sherried wines, some that make crystalline wines of pure chalky minerality, there’s some that make toasty, bready wines, and some that make wines that have an almost unctuous character. Some are bracingly acidic, some are powerful, and some are pure fruit.
Once you kind of step away from the big champagne houses’ basic offerings, it’s amazing how varied the wines can be. Moet, Veuve, etc.s basic bottlings are made for consistency and are usually pretty samey so one would think champagne is only one thing, but straying outward is immediately rewarding and quite surprising. Also, some of the big ticket champagnes might be made in a style you’re not into, so it’s nice to find out what you like so you can maybe stop lusting after white whales that may ultimately disappoint (or who knows maybe you find out you REALLY love Salon, and then god help you!).
Lauren and I like somewhat different things in champagne, I really like BdN, she’s super into BdB, I think we both prefer yeastier producers.
Welcome to the wide world of Champagne!