Named after Élisabeth Salmon, who married Nicolas-François Billecart in 1818, this iconic prestige rosé is among the most revered in all of Champagne. The 2009 incorporates 10% still red wine and was vinified entirely in stainless steel, preserving the vintage’s natural richness and vibrant fruit character without interference from oak.

Copper-orange in the glass with aromas of grapefruit pith, cherry stone, dried roses, white pepper, and oyster shells, the 2009 Elisabeth Salmon is fleshy, seamless, and pillowy, with layers of red fruit, citrus, and subtle spice carried by bright acidity and a long, saline finish. Despite its evident generosity, the wine remains remarkably youthful more than a decade after harvest.

Rated 98 points by James Suckling and 96 points by both Wine Advocate (William Kelley) and Falstaff, this is one of the great vintage rosé Champagnes, drinking beautifully now with considerable development still ahead.