OFFICIAL SPONSORS OF THE WINE SECTION
THE WINE COLUMN
The Pink
Princess
Helena Nicklin tells how she fell in love with the captivating Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Champagne , toasting the birth of her daughter
A
little wine knowledge is a life skill . Just like a love of couture , cars or certain sports , a shared love of wine opens doors and connects people . I ’ ve seen it happen . After all , a little information about what you ’ re drinking can enhance the pleasure enormously and there ’ s nothing quite like sharing your new-found knowledge over a glass of bottled history , culture , romance and art , all blended together . In these features , I ’ d like to introduce to you some of the classics ; the famous names that wine lovers get excited about and how they first bewitched me . If these wines were clothing , they ’ d be bespoke Anderson & Sheppard suits ...
I fell in love with the most elegant pink champagne I ’ d ever tasted – Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon – toasting the birth of my first-born daughter with my husband .
Antoine Roland-Billecart , from the sixth generation of champagne makers
You could be excused for thinking that it may have been the euphoria of drinking again having abstained ( mostly ) for nine months , but every time I ’ ve sipped it since , I ’ ve been captivated . This is the champagne that women want to be and men want to be with . It ’ s that beautiful , shy girl in a lace dress at the drinks party that boys are afraid to talk to because they know she ’ s also extremely clever and well-connected . It ’ s the elegant ballerina in soft satin shoes making complex twists and turns looks effortless .
Made only in the best vintage years and always 50 % Pinot Noir , 50 % Chardonnay , Cuvée Elisabeth is pale and aptly salmon-pink with the most delicate , fine bubbles you ’ ll ever see . It has layers of wild , red berry fruit , subtle spiced brioche , minerals and fresh fig ; a wealth of intricate flavour but whispered , never shrieked .
This legendary wine came to be , back in 1818 , when grape-grower Nicolas François Billecart had visions of becoming a champagne winemaker of note , so teamed up with his friend Louis Salmon to combine their vineyards . Nicolas fell R
SAVILE ROW STYLE MAGAZINE 51