Champagne Salon - Le Mesnil Grand Cru Brut "S" Blanc de Blancs Champagne 2015 (750ml)
Price: $1469.99
| Producer | Champagne Salon |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Sku | 204774 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Champagne Salon Description
Salon is a unique Champagne. All of the emphasis in the production of this exceptional wine is on the singular. It was originally the product of one single man, Aimé Salon; from one single region, the Côte de Blancs; from one single cru, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger; from one single grape variety, Chardonnay; and from one single vintage, with no blending whatsoever.
Created in 1911 with its first vintage in 1905, Champagne Salon is the creation of Aimé Salon, a champagne connoisseur enchanted, then seduced by the terroir of Le Mesnil. After World War I, he was encouraged by his numerous friends to profit more fully from his wine and the house of Salon was created to cater to his new clientele. In 1988, Champagne Laurent-Perrier, a family-owned company, became the majority shareholder of Champagne Salon. Today, the house of Salon, along with its ancient neighbor and sister, Champagne Delamotte (the 5th oldest Champagne house, founded in 1760) are directed by one man, Didier Depond.
Tasting Note: Shimmering golden hue glints with green and silver. A graceful stream of fine bubbles releases precise, delicate bouquet: white flowers, hints of linden and honeysuckle, all underpinned by a persistent chalky quality that threads through every aroma. The palate is generous and vibrant, balancing saline freshness with brilliance, a pure expression of its terroir. Intense and finely structured, it delivers a tasting experience where depth and refinement meet, each sip telling a story of place and time.
Wine Pairing: Profoundly complex. The wine is in its element with foods that share its nobility, such as a succulent Kintoa ham from Basque country pigs, aged mountain parmesan, or No. 1 oysters flashed over binchotan charcoal, all revealing the subtle saline power and smoky iodine of Salon. Going further still, the chalk-driven character of Salon 2015 will magically lift umami-rich dishes.
Vinous: 97 Points
The 2015 Salon is exquisite. Bright and focused, the 2015 captures a gorgeous stylsitic middle ground between the riper and cooler years. The flavor profile leans towards the more citrus, floral and mineral-driven end of the spectrum typical of cooler years, and yet the wine is also wonderfully open-knit and accessible, with no hard edges and the textural balance that is more common in warmer years. It’s a duality that works extremely well. There is a savory undertone typical of the year, but it is a strand in the fabric rather than a dominant characteristic. I left a bottle open for more than a week, during which I observed virtually no oxidation. The 2015 might not be as overtly impressive as some recent years, rather it is a Champagne of cool sophistication and total polish.
Unusually, the 2015 is being released ahead of the 2014.
James Suckling: 96 Points
Fragrant aromas of chamomile, pineapple, beeswax, pie crust and some salted toffee from this generous vintage. Tasty sesame seed flavors on the palate, accompanied by a chalky, saline character. It’s creamy and concentrated with very soft bubbles. Engaging and open already, yet with good acidic structure. 100% chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.
6 g/L dosage. Disgorged end of 2024.
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