This has incredibly fine mousse and bracing acidity. This is easily in my top five champagnes I have tasted. Drinks like a grand cru white burgundy but with super fine bubbles. This wine has the structure to last easily another decade but I do not see it getting better than it is now so time to pop a cork.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: honey, brioche caramel, mature apple, fig, cream, pineapple, white flower Notes: some beautiful aroma upon opening, this wine is demonstrating the best possible from a blanc de blanc with excellent finesse and balance. This Salon started to show its best after 1 hour of opening and it is indeed quite ready for consumption. Showing great purity and preciseness this is probably as good a Blanc de Blanc can get. I don't think one should anticipate too much upside from cellaring this wine and in fact I think this might be a little more advanced than I originally imagined but there's also no rush to finish up right away, there should be another good 5-7 years to go in terms of optimal drinking time. Drink: now - 2031 Rating: 93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mom's 82 birthday at Joe Fortes, then home to Breka Breads London Fog Donuts
Clean, and clear, faint yellow in color. Lemon poppy seed cake, brioche, nice salinity. The nose is beautiful! Still tight and astringent. Bracing acidity. Still incredibly youthful. Needs more time. Lovely bottle. Is it worth the price???? I am not sure. (-1) point for price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I didn’t expect this to show this young, hardly any signs of age at all. Searing acid and bright fruit, lots of intensity and concentration framed with deft touches of creamy vanilla oak. There is no doubting the quality here. Legs to go for another decade where l think it’ll show even better than today.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
flawed cork, broke and crumbled but left a segment plugging it nonetheless I used a large knife to 'sabrage' it open but there was no rush of foam. it was not truly flat and the wine flavors were decent but it was not in great form.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stunningly good, after 26 years this wine still shows gorgeously intense yeast and brioche. Color is bright yellow gold. The opening bouquet is complex and bright, a mix of citrus, lime, pineapple, honey and white flowers. The mouthfeel is beautifully elegant and classy, expressing crisp, clean, rich, well-rounded with subtle tannins. Wonderfully refined and balanced. The depth and length is just incredible, it goes on for miles. Drinking gracefully and deliciously today, though it still has many years left ahead. Top top wine, just amazing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Crystalline and full-bodied without losing its purity with a hint of sweetness and nuttiness. Drinking perfectly now with some time left. What a treat! Quite reminiscent of a Selosse Les Carelles with age?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At Boston Wine & Poker: Tasted blind. Two of the poker players thought it was a little too sweet, and though I understood their point, I thought they were underrating an insanely delicious bottle of Champagne. This is definitely at the lean, elegant end of the Champagne spectrum -- no biscuity notes -- but is intense and balanced and complete. One of the best Champagnes I have ever had.
Many thanks to Karl for this treat.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind and never would have guessed Salon. Surprising amount of residual sugar. Very expressive with stone fruit and some flint on the finish. While very enjoyable it's frankly not worth the current pricing.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Michael's Wedding: L9719008, suspected second release in 2019. Best expression of Salon white fruit, so ethereal, lifted and pure. Lightly mineral with all the excitement. Easy WOTN for me. 95-96
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First bottle of Salon. Unique and transcendent. Like driving a Ferrari. Zippy and fresh. Turbo-charged citrus with minerality. Ready for drinking but no hurry. One of the reference wines I have drunk. Brilliant.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
[Magnum] Absolutely brilliant, easily could have been called ‘96 or a very fresh ‘90. Light pale color, high verve and freshness. Green apple, lemon citrus. Tight mousse. Full dense apple fruit. I wish I had more of these. Notes from memory about three weeks ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a stunning Champagne, at the peak of its powers. Breathtakingly good. Flawless composition, depth and richness without weight, perfectly balanced acidity, not a hair out of place. Incredibly long. A delight to drink. I can’t imagine a better Champagne on this tasting, nor have I had one.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red Burgundy GC 01 (London): Very strong showing for Salon (for a change), in Zalto Burg glass it showed how much is packed and stacked in here - intense concentrated lemon oil above all else, a very long, mineral and slightly chalky finale. Very good now and even better in ten years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light amber colour with very fine, persistent bubbles. A little reductive on opening, but later autolytic notes of toast and hay followed by vanilla, cocoa, smoke and bruised apples. Fresh and uplifting palate of green apples, grapefruit, hazelnuts, toast and a long finish reminiscent of cucumber. Acidity and intensity should be indicative of further aging potential. Great wine!
My first Salon. Very understated in its elegance. It is soft, round, and seems to whisper its complexities. I know it is not the best vintage but it definitely delivers a lot for an off vintage bottle. Not so sure on the QPR at current prices but an amazing experience notwithstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
not blind Drank it just before the 1996. This one is really good and close to his peak. Still lemon notes but also some exotic fruits and roasted aromas but not the length and concentration of the 1996. The acidity of the 1996 gives unbelievable length and freshness. 1997 should be drunk nowadays and the 96 is for the next 3 decades. 95
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful yet subtle nose of citrus and brioche. This is really crisp and clean, very fine and delicate. You could see why this was probably not interesting, even austere in its youth. However, now with age we have a very fin and subtle BdB Champagne for the Connoisseur. Ridiculous price and I don't think it is better than Taittinger's Comte de Champagne or Dubois-Vallois Fleur de Passion so it is pretty clear where my money goes. Thanks to the generous host for sharing this (especially since Singapore went into yet another lock-down after this dinner). Early drinking window. 96-97
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Epic Bordeaux for an Epic Birthday!; 9/1/2021-9/12/2021 (Paris & Bordeaux): It's been a bit of time since we've had any Salon but decided it was worth a check-in. Served single blind next to a Delamotte NV (so the two ends of the spectrum) and I was intrigued to see my first impressions. This is a weighty wine for a chardonnay for sure. It started more in what I'd usually think of with the hints of vanilla and very bright and light but almost seemed to darken in the glass and bring about a bit more deeper flavors. Was very enjoyable but I think the price has maybe gotten to the point where it's not worth it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This too is somewhat dull and tastes over mature. Some waxy dark yellow stone fruit is only mildly attractive and I am not tempted to take another sip.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of brioche, yeast, and rich lemon curd. Palate was rich and silky with fine mousse, baked brioche, baked apples, and toasty yeast with vibrant med-plus acid and a full and complex finish. Sublime experience with surf and turf, vinous yet refreshing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tastes like a nice old white burgundy with bubbles and a bit of caramel. Carbonation is very light, bubbles are soft and elegant. Lots of complexity here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed this 1st of 2 bottles this evening, the vintage represented the birth year of my eldest son. Carried into Valette Restaurant in Healdsburg, to celebrate our 25th anniv, and enjoyed this stunning bottle with a truly awesome meal. This 24 yr old vintage Salon showed a gorgeous medium golden color, with a light mousse after all these years. On the nose, aromas of lemon rind, confectioner's sugar, warm bread crust, almond paste, white pepper and citrus zing, and sea salt. The palate echoed notes from the nose, showing off pastries, lemon drop candy, lychee fruit, kiwi, creme brûlée, almond paste, and yeasty notes from years in the bottle. Super bright and energetic on the palate, showing off bright, tart acidity with years in the tank, alongside a puckering and lip-smacking, beautifully balanced and laser-like finish. Delicious in every way, loved this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
late release - this is incredibly fresh and still a little tight. We were debating if this should be decanted, even. Clean and focused. very long life ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
very fragrant and absolutely floral and really perfumed. Already beautiful right from the start even though it was served a little too cold. A little toasty. Nicely balanced on the palate, even though it was a little more ripe than expected. After an hour there was some coconut, also sugar cane and water chestnuts. Very lovely. degorgée en 2020
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Started out challenging with the cork being REALLY stuck and ended up snapping in half so had to pull out the stuck half with a corkscrew. Thankfully greeted by a fizzing sound so mousse was still present.
Very elegant with beginning maturity. Etheral with almond/almond flower, white clovers and canned mandarins with a stringent minerality. Did not evolve much over 8h apart from the almond part being more pronounced. Not in a Marzipan way but rather freshly ground almonds or mazarin cake with candied orange. Mousse held up nicely throughout. A velvety and elegant champagne that has plenty of life left in it.
Pair with lighter seafood (think caviar/oysters rather than lobster)
Glass: Riedel Veritas Champagne Wine
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This displayed a light golden yellow colour and very fine mousse that dissipated quickly upon pouring. The nose was toasted hazelnuts, caramel, honey, brioche and a hint of sandalwood, while the palate conveyed lemon curd, honeyed apricots, white flowers and almonds underscored by a mineral streak running through to a long taut finish.
Agree with a previous TN that this was perhaps just missing some heft in the mid palate, and remained quite tense throughout the better part of 4 hours. Paired exceptionally well with an aged gruyere and air-dried beef amuse bouche.
A lovely lady. Pale straw in color, very fine bubbles - not many to see, but they are on the palate. It's a rich, honeyed taste and there is a slight spice. A very subtle and elegant Champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Red House. Aired in bottle for about an hour+ and then drank in Gabriel Standart. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, yellow gold colour. Thin legs. Fine fading bubbles. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of deep lemon drops, Meyer lemon, limestone minerality, honey. Developing. On the palate, dry, very high acidity, medium- alcohol (12%), medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of honeyed Meyer lemon, deep citrus lemon drops and curd, wet stony minerality, flint, some hazelnuttiness. Very long finish. Blown away outstanding on the palate. Still upside as it feels like it can still develop over the next 10 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A gorgeous aged Champagne that has mellowed with time and shows less of the typical Salon's bracing acidity and more of the floral complexity of this great terroir. Mature flavors of yeasty bread and and limestone minerals give way to a very fine and elegant finish with less power but more subtle nutty notes. Mature but also ageless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 1997 Salon is drinking incredibly well today, expressive and elegant with precise purity. This has long been overshadowed by the 1996 Salon. Tasted blind - Toasted bead, Chardonnay purity, cristalline citrus and linear tree fruits. Due to the tight blind tasting socks and the unique bottle shape of Salon, I was able to deduce this was a Salon. Blanc de Blanc Salon 1997? (92/100)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From the special domaine release 2017. Mindblowing nose of peaches, minerals, lychees, brioche, honey, toast. Just like a Grand Cru white Burgundy. Velvet on the palate, smooth with the finest bubble one can imagine. A true masterpiece. Our guests where blown away and this put the Krug 2002 in a shadow. Wow.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific to toast our COVID-19ed college graduate! More savory than fruited, with a supple mouth. The yeast was wonderful with our meal, esp the prosciutto/boursin wrapped grilled asparagus. Wish it had been a 1.5!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking nicely at this stage, Modest toasty & brioche nose, orchard fruits, white flowers, on the palate, precise acidity & steely white fruits, lemon curd, apple, chalky minerality. Overall, it is richer than other vintages but I like it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
White Truffle Dinner: One of the more ready and accessible bottles of Salon that I've come across. Still electric with plenty of tension, but the fruit is ample and broad. In a peak window.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
3. Bottle tried by this one. A bit more reserved aromas on this bottle, but still has pretty fresh fruit with apples, lime peel, stiffened butter and citrus fruits. Lovely touch with real nerve on this full-bodied champagne. Really fresh fruits of citrus and green apples. Pretty biscuits. Lovely depth, here it is layer upon layer. Great salt with this perfect sea feeling. Perfect acidity. Long and lovely finish. Brilliant champagne. 96 points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted in two degorcements - I prefered the 2018; quite fresh, more so than the 1996, Chardonnay speaks here, texture is soft, almost feminin, fine minerality, some brioche here also. Ready to drink. #AOC
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Original disgorgement Butter cookies, candied almonds, caramelised apples, saltiness, minerals, lemon pie, fresh bread. Very creamy, full bodied, very well integrated acidity and sugar. It's a mature wine now but it will be even better in a couple of years. 95pt
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is much more ready and in the zone compared to the young sibling 2006. Every element is well integrated and in a great harmony. Cream, milk chocolate, sugar cane with highly complex fruits and floral element that are hard to dissect. It also has the best, effortless mouthfeel in the Champagne flight. The mousse is ultra fine, though dissipate rather quickly. Soft, elegant, good persistent. Lovely juicy sweetness at the back.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Un magnifique champagne vineux, très long et droit. Peu de bulles, l'équilibre est impressionnant, c'est complexe et très fin. Superbe palette aromatique, vraiment un grand vin. 96 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bu lors d’un dîner au Quartier Général. Superbe Champagne d’une finesse incroyable avec des bulles très fines mais pas trop serrées, long, frais et complexe, on est plus sur le côté vin que mousseux ici quand on le déguste. Plus on en boit plus on veut, superbe. Moi qui ne boit pas une tonne de Champagnes, un des meilleurs que j’ai bu.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought this at a restaurant. It is still holding strong. Bright, juicy, lively, creamy, apple peel, and a hint of citrus zest, with pretty mineral perceptions. This is wonderful Champagne!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A private lunch with friends (at home): Last tasted in November 2011 when it was still very youthful and full of promise. It is now fully mature, with a relaxed elegance, still fresh but with a creamy texture, and a convincing finish. A delightful drink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
We drank this with several courses at dinner with Didier Depond and it was simply stunning. Didier said it’s one of his favorite vintages and because its faster maturing it has now fully integrated and has just entered its drinking window. He believes it to be better than the ’96. Medium-bodied but lazor-like in its focus and complex intensity. The finish just rolls over the tongue with an incredible streak of really interesting mineral flavors and very fine bubbles. I couldn’t stop drinking it and it clearly proved Didier’s point regarding the time Salon needs as the younger vintages above showed nothing like this. Just entering its drinking window with at least 20 more years of development ahead. 96+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Acker BYO 2018 (Tribeca Grille): This is really lovely. Nice vanilla and nutty and some almond. The bubbles literally just melt in the mouth. It's beautiful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank at BYO Stangeby. Blind for the others. Gave off a very young and vibrant impression. Even 2008 was a put forth as a very viable alternative.
Fantastic wine that except for a slightly muted nose has few flaws. Very long and broad. Fantastic salinity and powerful acidity that is firm and mellow. Slightly too young for a perfect drinking window still for my tastes.
Will wait 5-10 years minimum for my last bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful champagne at the cusp of its maturity with notes of citrus, green apple, white pepper and just the tiniest hint of ginger on the nose.
The citrus has a bit more of a candied quality to it on the palate, but there's plenty of acidity and salinity to keep it fresh. Good length - I just wonder that it may not have quite the depth of the truly great years but that's a minor nit. Plenty in the tank here, a couple of decades of development, at least, to look forward to.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
In a perfect spot, deep fruits mineral finish the total package. Notes are short because bottle went quickly and that's the best "review" any wine can get.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perfection. The standard by which all other champagnes are measured. Deep golden color, full bodied. Smells fruity but tastes crisp. Not woody. Smooth. Buttery
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Such a solid, elegant wine. This bottle was more advanced than past few. Elegant and rich with subtle bubbles. Golden in color. Brioche, almond, Meyer lemon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
[Magnum] Off the pop this is extremely fresh. Young and sharp with brilliant effervescence. Rich and dense Chardonnay fruit, white apple, cut with vibrant chalky minerality. A walnut and pine nut development showing in a mild bit of toast.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First mature Salon I have ever tasted. The multiple layers and varieties of aroma intermingled, creating a new world of champagne I've never seen before.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Does exist that refreshing cream thing? Answer lies within this bottle. Wow! On the nose is really deep with aromas of spices, nuts, candied citrus or sandalwood. Awesome. Impressive champagne. You can be snorting this wonder stuff for hours. Literally. On the palate a ripe, very ripe champagne. Creamically aristocratic but at the same time with that acid final point that provokes a refreshing aftertaste. Multifaceted and with a soul. I take my hat off in front of such a bottle.
¿Puede ser una crema refrescante? La respuesta se encuentra dentro de esta botella. ¡Toma ya! En nariz es profundo con aromas a especias, frutos secos, cítricos confitados o sándalo. Impresionante. Puedes estar esnifando esta maravilla durante horas. De verdad. Al paladar un champán maduro, muy maduro. Cremosamente aristocrático pero a la vez con ese punto final ácido que provoca un refrescante postgusto. Multifacético y con alma. Me quitó la boina ante semejante botella. Botella que ha conseguido Carlos, con suerte y jugándosela en internet, por menos de un tercio de lo que algunas tiendas pretenden cobrar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Leiden at restaurant Vermeer Amsterdam: From Magnum. Wonderful champagne. Light yellow color, still looks young, beautiful mousse, citrus, creamy, very complex, creaminess lingers on endlessly in mouth. Also minerals and floral tones. This is a champagne to enjoy for hours at a stretch and forget all the fuss around you.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Denen ikon-Champagnen har en dyp intensitet som treffer nesen hardt og brer seg rundt. Heftige pirrende kryddertoner tar tet og drar med seg ytterste delikate sitrusfrukter, saftige grønne epler, og salter på en runddans før den avslutter daten med litt velbakt brødblings og nøtter. Dette er aromabilde det!
På paletten er Champagnen fyldig, brer seg rundt med en herlig mousse med store modne sitrusfrukter, syrlige grønne epler og den fantastiske sitte-ved-sjøen-og-nyte-livet følelsen. Dette er virkelig å kjenne sjølukten treffe de våte steinene. Litt jordsmonn og lett brioche-følelse på den lange og tørre utgangen. Syren er tydlig, men blir godt tatt i mot av den konsentrerte frukten. Champagnen er meget flott idag, men trenger masse tid til å harmonisere seg enda mer. Hvor er denne herligheten om 10 år? Jeg tipper høyt der oppe. 96 poeng. For nå.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A DC Wino hits Chi-town (RPM Steak): While quite good with real breed, was easily passed by the 2002 DP on this night. Just missing some mid palate zing. Quite bright and tense, yet far from being showy, yet very pretty tangy citrus finish. Wonder if this was an ever so lightly dinged bottle or just not singing tonight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
[Magnum] A particularly youthful bottle, crisp citrus nose with a nice toast and brioche. Fresh and lively. Fine mousse and creamy palate. Yellow orchard fruit, crisp apple. Developing a mild almond nuttiness. Brief note notwithstanding the large format. Excellent drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Champagne - 100 Vintage and NV Champagne; 12/15/2015-12/15/2020: Not a Champagen buff myself but I found this to be a great Champagne. Mineralic, floral, drinks like a Montrachet or Meursault, goes well with food not just as apero. The perlage is subtle and fine. Great freshness and mouth feel.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Impallidisce di fronte a Bollinger R.D. 1996. Sembra banale, sconslusionato e poco a fuoco. Buono, ma nulla di più, non vale lontanamente il prezzo ed è lontano anni luce dalla precisione, dall' esplosione aromatica e dalla persistenza del 1996
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still a bright, young color, and a nose that's showing a combination of classic yellow citrus and mineral tones accompanied by more mature earthy and apple flavors. The palate is still vibrant and fairly firm, though I wonder how much it will actually improve and think the more earthy and oxidative fruit flavors may render the wine less enjoyable in the somewhat near-term. Either way, it's in a good place and while not a great Salon, certainly a good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Served as a blind champagne. Based on a bit of mushroom on the nose, I was originally thinking that this was not a blanc de blancs, but after we concluded that this was in the 20-year-old range, it became more clear that that was the wrong conclusion (I got to that age range from some mushroom notes on the nose). The palate is definitely chardonnay heavy, at the very least, although the acidity doesn't show too prominently here. There's still some fresh apple notes on the palate (though it feels like they're turning brown), and the fruit here gives this wine a nice sweetness that balances out the acidity. This seems mature. I'd start drinking mine, if I had any.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Salon for me is the benchmark of champagnes, even in '97 which isn't always considered to be the best year. It's like cashmere in a glass. Lots of vanilla which I associate with the style. A bit of mid-ripe green apple. Lots of complexity and as it opens up it evolves more in the glass. A real treat to get to drink as always.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
After 4 Delamotte and a young Salon 06 I got goosebumps sticking my nose into this beaty. Vivaldi, Beethoven, French castles, renaissance, black grand piano, all the associations of class and sophistication flows over me in a symphony of great feelings. Immense complexity, so pure and clean, full of flavors but still razor sharp with a structure of steel. This beaty is still on its way up to the peak and will last for another 20-30 years at least. Heavenly!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
To celebrate someone's 21st birthday. This is a special champagne. One of my all time favorites. I like the bits of vanilla and citrus and apple that come through. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Q3 - 2017 Tasting - Champagne & Caviar - OH MY!! (New York, NY): Wine 8/17 tasted blind - This one is interesting, both bright and toasty, on the initial attack you get the acidity and lemon curd that then rounds out to the toast and creamy, brioche back palate. Very nice. 4 pennies voted by the group.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Champagne & Caviar: a lesson in decadence (The Apt): Wine #8: Another favorite of mine during the tasting. It's almost a bit clean after the Bollinger. I thought a touch bitter. Some green apple. Herbal qualities. I enjoyed it although did not recognize it as the Salon in the tasting. (4 pennies)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Much fresher and younger tasting than expected, with honeysuckle floral notes dominating. Ripe lemon, slight stone fruits and a touch of ginger. Becomes a touch richer with air, with a lovely pale gold colour, this needs another 5yrs to really shine - but doesn't have the stuffing of 96 Salon. A nice if not great champagne. 92-93pts. Drink from 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
DGs Birthday: Honey, spice, lime and apple. The palate has a honeyed element to it and there is some fruit sweetness throughout, while remaining quite fresh and precise with some nicely balanced acidity. In a good spot for drinking now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with a selection of 1997 wines coupled with a Michelin One Star Chef cooking for us all day at home. Life does not suck! Slightly dark, golden wine with barely noticeable bubbles as served in big bowl Chardonnay glasses. Only way to treat a lady! Almonds, caramel, vanilla, pears, peaches...wow, it is all going on. Brioche lathered with butter. We simply do not want to stop sniffing, but we must sip! Smooth, caramel-candy with soft vanilla finish. Very long finish. If champagne gets better, we are not sure our weak hearts could survive...
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
LaTâche Lunch with a Ramonet Starter (Binkley's - Phoenix AZ): Floral and elegant with great balance and finesse. The most easily accessible of the flight. Moderate concentration, I'd expect this to be at its peak and best enjoyed in the next 5 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful wine. Golden straw hue. Aromas of almonds, honey, and toasted brioche. Palate followed through on those savory aromas. Lovely mouthfeel and long finish. Salon is always as fine as you can do. Thanks to the university club in SF for Having it on the list. Highest recommendation.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Acker Auction - November (JK's birthday) (Zuma in NYC): Had a lot of champagnes through the beginning of the meal and this one stood head and shoulders ahead. Tended to make the other ones taste more one dimensional. Beautiful, vanilla, sage, smooth, and continues to change over and over. Really enjoyed.
Nice firm brisk profile with plenty of tension framed by pretty flavors of stony white fruits, comes across quite young and vibrant with nice upside. Classic Salon style. I felt this really outperformed expectations against a 9 vintage vertical of Salon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Zachys Wine Vault II (Le Bernadin Prive): Drank on the heels of the '99 which I loved and this was even better. It's so very elegant and crisp and together. Nice light toast. Vanilla bean poking through (esp on the finish). Melts in the mouth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Extremely fresh and lively. Ripe yellow apple with pleasant and approachable citrus. Some brioche developing and a little eggy. Rich, dense, and supremely flavourful on the palate. Subtle backbone of smoke too, but just barely. Like this even more with more air time, traces of reductive sulphur. Always a special bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very stubborn cork, had to break off top of cork and use a corkscrew. The bottom part of the cork had crystallized. Nose of minerals, bread dough, and a hint of citrus. Medium bodied. Very fine bubbles. Intense flavors of red apple and lemon. 45 second finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not so blown away or impressed by this, especially for the money. Pretty standard high class champagne on all accounts. Pastries, lemon meringue, ocean minerals, tootsie rolls, poultry fowl aroma never completely blew off, average finish, drank with a smorgasbord of amazing seafood. I wonder what this tastes like in a really transcendent vintage...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I like Salon. It's my favorite Champagne, but I do not get any sense of value in the 1997. Medium bodied, fresh, mineral driven, sweet citrus fruits, with an intriguing hint of raspberry, brioche and nuts, the wine is creamy and refined, but not exciting. It's not even close to the sublime 1996.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Champagne Salon e Delamotte (Milano c/o Pandolfini): Degorgèe 2012 Light, brilliant golden yellow, consistent. Rich, opulent at nose, with an evident Iodine note; butter and marzipan, but also withe flowers (haw), fennel, oxidized apple and a balsamic note Good acidity and nice fruit (grapefruit) at taste; perfectly centered, probably at its best. Good acidity and minerality, with a long persistence. Still young.
I was introduce to this wine by Antonio at his Masseto wine dinner a few years ago. I liked it enough to buy a case. I don't have a lot of experience with Champagne, so I am probably not the person to rely on for notes. To me, it was very good, crisp and clean, but seemed tight and not giving all of its potential quite yet.
A gift from Pepe R. This is a stunning champagne with tremendous depth and balance. Mineral, a hint of nuttiness, touch of butter then becomes vibrant on the palate with a long finish. Elegant and light bubbles. Drinks really well right now.
Kicking off a week of anniversary celebrations: Granny Smith apple, lemon curd, lively acidity, pleasant toast. We have noticed a little bottle variation; this particular bottle drank quite young and fresh.
This is really something out of the ordinary, ethereal, delicate and insanely good! And to the wine's credit it was tasted completely blind. It even pains me slightly, being a harsh critic of Champagne, that this is one of the best wines I've tasted and 97P being among the highest scores I've posted.
Nose is wide open with high complexity and great depth. Flint and tinder, whipped cream, red berries, roasted oak, mocha coffee, butter, ripe apples and lots of brioche yeast. Though there is a touch of ripe lemons on the nose there is none of the grapefruit or bitter orange zest aromas that are quite common, and often bother me in Champagnes.
The palate is as sublime as it is exquisite. High acidity, but with just enough tartness to give it structure and no harshness or bitterness. Perfectly balanced with vibrant fruit and a creamy, quite slender body. Incredibly pleasant mousse that disperse the wine to all crevices of the mouth without bothering the tactile sensations at all (Aggressive bubbles are often something that ruins the Champagne experience for me). High intensity and a long, perfectly composed finish. Can't really see what more I could wish for in a Champagne.
Compared to the 96' Salon that I tasted last autumn, this is a lot more approachable and drinks extremely well right now. A few others at the tasting had tasted this before, and hadn't be nearly as impressed then. Maybe we got lucky with a great bottle!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Some Champagnes: Surprisingly good considering the vintage. Gains complexity with air, fine combination between being fruit forward and linear at the same time. Emerging complexity.
very razorsharp acidity, fresh, citrus, a hint of green apple and pear, toast, butter, brioche are in the background, still young, no maturating signs, getting better and better with air, temperature and time, maybe 1 hour decantation will help next time, it ends as it starts with a razorsharp long clean finish, for me with Vilmart's Couer du Cuvee the best champagne in 1997, very drinkable at the moment but we will have fun in the next 15-20 years, 94-95points
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nydelig delikat nese, subtil med lekker sitrusfrukt, epler og mineraler. Intens som få, stålstruktur selv i 97. Den er ikke svær, men alikevel svært konsentrert. En vin som klarer å holde trøkket oppe fra start til finish. Lang, elegant og nydelig balanse. En Salon som drikker bra i ung alder. Fantastisk vin!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bit more evolved than last few. More toast and oxidized flavors. A dominance of sour apple/Granny Smith. Lovely, only a bit less of the freshness from the chardonnay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clean and fresh with a fine bead. Diamond sharp cut, with beautiful BdB character and enough acidity to give a citrus slant. Laser sharp focus. This is mouthwatering, pure and incredibly drinkable. 95
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific showing. Super-crisp and super-bright, but rich, luscious fruit just starting to hint at some of the more evolved confiture elements that will come out. A good reminder to lay off the '96s for another decade if this '97 is still so young and fresh.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Doft av äpple, bröd, blommig doft och citrus Smak: Först smak av äpple, grapefrukt och eftersmak av lime (vassa syror). Med värme i glaset så börjar vinet öppna upp sig och påvisar smak av röda äpplen, sötare grapefrukt, clementiner/mandariner och lätta honungstoner.
Första gången som jag dricker Salon och jag hade väldigt höga förväntningar och jag skall erkänna att första reaktionen var en lätt besvikelse. Insåg också samtidigt att vinet behövde öppnas upp något och lät därmed glaset stå cirka 10-15 minuter innan jag rörde det igen. Med lite värme i glaset så öppnade vinet upp sig och ett antal mer smaker börjar framträda där söta röda äpplen och söt citrus är mest påtagliga. Ett mycket bra vin som jag drack alledeles för tidigt. Vinet anser jag att man bör dekantera om man vill dricka det nu. Min taktik blir dock att glömma resterande flaskor och återkomma om 10 år. Just nu finns det en hel del viner som ligger i en bättre mognadsfas och som ger mig mer njutning.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Litt mer flesk på kroppen den her. Drikker flott, men mangler litt av disiplinen til 88 og 96. Viser til god konsentrasjon og bra friskhet. Bra lengde.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A great Italian evening in Belgium: Beautiful and a bit reductive bouquet. Soft mousse, some grapefruits, good minerals and bitterness. Still locked. In potential a beautiful wine, but give it some more years of ageing. 93+ for tonight.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needs air and warmer temp. Works with so much food. Keeps changing. Definitely readybto drink over a meal. Tahitian vanilla nose at one point. Okay with dishes thst have a bit of heat too.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Elite (Elite Chinese Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA): Beautiful stuff. With air, this developed a freshness and crispness that made this seemed a bit more focused than the other champagnes on display. Loved the minerality and citrus notes on the palate...great balance, drinking incredibly well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Soft and coy and sexy. Quiet soft bubbles. Lovely elegant streamlined yellow fruit. This numbed the front of my tongue in the best way. Long lingering midpalate and finish. Vinous juice. Personally at a great place for me, will add tertiary notes in time, not sure if remaining bottles will make it that long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Linear tight structure with white lemons and Chablis like acidity and citrus minerality. Powerful , monolithic pillar of firm stealthy racy nervous white stonefruits. Just a touch of fresh cream and fleeting notes of red apple sweetness before coming back strong with a lengthy mineral finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Champagne: Piccolo ed elegantissimo naso in divenire, tutto in sordina come l'incipit di un brano di musica classica. Mineralità bruciata, complessa, polvere da sparo, poi attaccano le spezie, i fiori, incredibile e piacevolmente complessa personalità. Grandissimo vino, scivola via e lascia una traccia precisa, di agrumi, di sale, di fiori, di tutto, come se avesse indelebilmente marcato il palato. Equilibrio commuovente.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not as "wow" as a prior bottle but might have been the circumstances and timing. Seemed a bit darker in color than the earlier bottle. Less bubbles. Need a glass but not a true burgundy glass to show best. More feminine. Very very food friendly but with lighter less full flavored foods.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank the night of finishing 50th 10k in 50th year. What a beauty! Elegant, could last years and years longer. Glad we served it early, as it is not a yeasty, fuller-bodied Champagne. Just terrific.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bready, biscuity, nutty nose. Essence like on palate, really thick, surprising weight. Laser like precision, beautiful bubbles but just a touch out of balance? Still very classy stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank side by side to a 04 Cristal. Salon was clear favorite for the group. Not close. While the Salon had 7 more years on it to,develop, it's layers of elegant fuit (pear with light citrus), florals (honey suckle) and hints of toast put it in a different class. Incredibly well integrated. The Cristal by contrast was dominated primarily by one dimensional, very sweet grapefruit notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
aroma - pear, apricot, bread; taste - sweet, honey notes, not too tart, smooth, creamy and buttery, walnut and almond oil, creamy, almost like brie; this is very very good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Show stopping looking bottle. This is the definition of a gout francaise type of champagne, the more aperitif and focussed style than the lusher fuller style say of Krug. Very elegant and fine, focussed and coudl appear linear as it lack that ripe full style. Even though we are lovers of full champagnes this felt super vibrant, energetic, and with a lovely elegance and balance. Mineral and focussed on the palate. We would echo the comment rich without weight. 93-94 from us. Lots of life ahead of this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely wine. Who doesn't like Salon? Totally different style than the 99 Gratien and 99 Goisses. Beautiful elegant, comples nose with just a touch of toast. Pear, apple, mineral notes. Creamy palate that is light, but with power. Long elegant comples finish. Loved this one!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blanc de Blancs smaking (Oslo): Klar, lett gyllen strågul. Mineralsk, intens nese med noe modning. Sitrus og voks mot kamfer, røykstikk, lett honningsødme og øvrige toner av klassisk moden chardonnay nese. Sylskarp, ren frukt. Intens og presis med en utrolig, spenst og vibrerende energi. Finkrornet, elegant mousse. Sirlig, presis syre. Vanvittig lengde med uttalt mineralitet. Ekstremt tight, presis og mineralsk champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Incredible. The Chardonnay is so sublime- sauve minerality with perfectly balanced fruit. Citrus flvors and rich without weight. Light bubbles adds a subtle, refreshing dimension. Reminds me a bit of Selosse Les Carelles. One of the tops in the world- no question. I immediately went out and bought more as it appears there is more than a decade of greatness left in the bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm pretty much blown away by my last bottle of the 1997. Much like the last bottle with brown mineral citrus, and stone fruit and a slight cherry skin perception. Full bodied and super delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Paired against a 2002 Dom Perignon. The Salon blew it out the the water. Much more complex, better mouth feel, mid palet, and longer finish. Very nice!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Alcohol :: 12% Elegant, focus and precise, this is Salon. Everything in good harmony so I can't really dissect the aromatic component here but it is fragrance and seductive. Medium bodied. This too grown on the palate when it flows. Very good intensity but light on its feet, so light and quiet that u have to really pay attention to seek more in it or else you will be missing the most seductive factor. And when u did, u got the best expression of the Mesnil's elegance. Lingering finish that has more than sufficient energy to keep herself going on and on. Brilliant. 92-93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Champagne Tasting: On the Nose you get what 10years on Lee's will give you Rich Nuts, Hazelnut, opening up with Coffee/Mocha/Toffee Nut On to the Palate, Creamy, Tangy, Nuts, Warm fruit with a nice backbone of bitterness Finish is Long and Delicate and Understated
Conc: This wine has aged notes which are awesome to smell on the palate I found it to be underwhelming then knowing who this is and what it costs I just dont see the value [At the end of the day how much of this is Marketing and Name, that being Said My type of Champagnes are Farmer Fizzez]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
on a fruit day; zesty and fruity, fresh and pure; not a complex blockbuster but an elegant beauty; cannot forget the vibrant acidity; drink beautifully now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
P&P over a long dinner (1st course) initially, this did not particularly impress me. Even in my burgundy stem, the nose was essentially hidden and the palate, though texturally quite impressive, offered very little besides a faint bread and chalk feeling. However after 30 min or so of air (and warmer temp) the stone fruit, lime, and chalk became more pronounced even as the texture smoothed to a point so far on the horizon most champagnes don't even know it exists. It was quite wonderful. My first Salon.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very fine persistent bubbles. Still quite young and taut, but opened up to aromas of brioche, lemon, white orchard fruit, fresh coffee beans, nuts and some baking spices all over a chalky minerality. Elegant, balanced and well-poised and exactly what you would expect from a grand marquee champagne. Very good acidity and wonderful length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium gold. Medium+ intensity nose, showing apples, stale? Acetaldehydes under static. After swirling: more fruit, cinnamon, hints of dough.
Medium body, fresh acidity, a lot of red, fresh apples. Hint of aniseed. Feels drier than 99, sharper. Mushrooms. Long lenght, mostly apples, apple crumble.
With time: more dough, white pepper. More time (after tasting all): caramel, baked apples, apple cake.
Tough, austere wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Looked very smart, much better than a bottle Anthony and I shared last year. It had some pure white peach and mineral notes and drank like a good white Burgundy. There was pleasant creaminess in the mouth with lime brulee flavours and a big whip of citrus on the finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
W/Stone Crabs & Strip Steraks for TW's birthday. Best compromise I could have thought of. This bottle was much better than the one before. Just a beautiful example of a fine champagne with a very fine mousse, citrus, brioche, a little meaty and mineral comes through to handle the steak with aplomb. I love this stuff!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very similar showing to the last time I had it. Very youthful; tightly wound at first but incredibly layered, intense and finessed at the same time. Layers of rich fruit, brioche, gingerbread dough and chalky minerality conveyed in each sip with tremendous polish and persistence.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted alongside a Selosse Substance, this comparatively was young and fresh...searing minerality and citrus notes...really improved with time. In a good place right now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
8.5/10 - No formal tasting. Celebratory drinks for birth of twins. Not an-in-your face champagne but a gentle subtle lovely drink. Great fruity zest and gentle acidity. Persistent light effervescence which lasted throughout the night. opened up even more as the night wore on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stunning Champagne. Waves of luscious ripe citrus and apple fruit, chalky minerality and fresh baked brioche and gingerbread notes, all conveyed with a sense of remarkable power and finesse. It's very youthful and primary now, giving the sense that there's a lot held in reserve but even then it's wonderful to drink now with tremendous freshness and energy to the flavours and remarkable length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 1997, served in magnum, was very impressive and approachable with excellent balance between fruit and acidity. See prior notes... This was the winemaker's first dedicated vintage that he produced... Remarked "celery" as one of the notes which i could not initially place myself.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very elegant, pure with distinctive butter-in-the-pan aroma. Served best in a simple white wine glass which allows the aromas to blossom and it takes off the acidic edge giving it a rounder, softer tone.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Northern Rhone Dinner (Chave, Jaboulet, Chapoutier, Rostaing, Tardieu Laurent) (Patrick's House): Popped and poured, followed for about two hours. Much lighter in colour compared to the Dom. On the nose, lemon peel, mineral, slate, yeast, biscuit and fresh cut apple. With more aeration, toast, caramelized sugar and lightly bruised apple. On the palate, this is incredibly refreshing and showing excellent balance and precision. So clean tasting, showing apple, lemon, and minerals on the palate. Great mouthfeel with an ultrafine mousse. Powerful acidity, but in balance, with a slip grip on the lengthy, slightly bitter finish. This was an excellent juxtaposition to the Dom. I'd like to revisit this with a few more years of age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Soft, refined, sweet and elegant, packed with fresh lemon, green apple, citrus, minerality and toast, this Champagne combines freshness with refined, soft textures and a lively, refreshing, citrus and apple filled finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
AWSEC French Connection (AWSEC, Hong Kong): Pale yellow, tiny bubble trace. Slight, bready smell from autolysis but note dense or very concentrated. Light citric nose. Elegant and floral with mineral and some smokiness on the palate. Good acidity - Med(+). Balanced with great length. After I left some in the glass for an hour it was clear that this is just like a great burgundy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 97 Cult cab/Meritage dinner at RIS in DC: Very much open for business, ripe, lightly toasted almonds, hazelnuts and ripe yellow fruits. The palate displays fine mousse and round overall impression due to integrated acidity. Apparently I rated this 94 earlier as well but with a slightly different take.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Anniversary lunch at The Fat Duck *** (Bray-on-Thames, United Kingdom): Subtle and steely, chalky minerality, touch of nuttiness, tightly knit, citrus fruit, oyster shell, hint of cream, energetic. An uncompromising expression of its terroir, intense, taut, very light mousse, great drive and length, a bit salty on the finish. Excellent if perhaps less complex than some but very focused and precise. Now - 2017 (at least).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seventh Annual White Truffle Dinner (Chez Weber - Chicago IL): Ripe apple and pear on nose. Same fruit on palate with just a hint of lemon. Very impressive minerality with good acidity. Drinking well now, but not at the level of long-term cellar-worthiness as the great 1996.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich sweet mackinsosh apple nose with appealing mineral quality. Very good ripe apple flavors in fatter more upfront style then I normally think of Salon. Solid pure quality. Comes accross as a fine whire Burgundy with light effervesence. A real treat and drinking surprisingly well. Very nice balance and good acid backbone. A touch more mature than I would have expected too. Good stuff!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Salon and Delamotte dinner at Dogwood Cafe (Baltimore, Maryland): This champagne reminded me of Chevalier Montrachet, delicate, luxurious fruit, inner energy and precision. It is drinking beautifully now and don’t see it shutting down. White fruits and flowers, wet limestone, pear and perfume. Very fine mousse, medium body and bright acidity. Not a wine to impress but coy and beguiling. If the 99 is a baritone this is a lyric tenor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2004 Vintage Burgundy Tasting and Oxidation Check (Part 1) (BLT Fish, New York City): Very fresh, herbal. Scents of freshly baked bread rather than brioche. With air, surprising red fruit character emerges, though this is blanc de blancs. Then the acid becomes more prominent and the palate impression harder, although nothing like the ’96. Moderately long and complex finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A truly great Champagne. Nose is bright clean with great aromatics of apple, nutmeg, sllate, and citrus. Rich and dense pure wall of light pear, apple, great minerality. Complex, fine bubbles, long clean finish. Drinking and showing wonderfully.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not as great as the outstanding, razor sharp 96, but a decent Champagne from a difficult year. There were some nice lemon fruits along with plenty of brioche and toast. It was rich and creamy with fine bead and good persistence.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
HK- drunk twice in the same day, tiny little energetic bubbles, light yellow color, minerally nose. This wine is starts with a touch of lemon crispness and acidity but seems like a very pleasant champagne, very different than the 96. It gains "purity and straightness" as it sits in the glass. Very nice drink and a good wine to drink before the '95 & '96
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
WOW. My first Salon. I chose the 1997 as the notes I have read indicate that it is drinking a bit better young than the 1996 and that the 1997 is a more classical Salon vintage. Based on recommendations I popped the cork and let the bottle sit for about 30 minutes before pouring the first glasses. We used regular wine glasses instead of champagne flutes to give the wine some more air. The nose smelled a soft floral smell. Tasting the wine revealed very fresh floral/mineral flavors along with strong acidity. Although the acidity was strong, I was blown away by how everything was in perfect balance and how delicate and precise it was. As it continued to open I started getting subtle notes of honey and flint. I can tell you that this wine more than lived up to my expectations and I am sad that I only have one more bottle.
I would say that people interested in trying a Salon should realize that this wine is very precise and delicate and is not a rich wine with overwhelming flavors. For those of you who want a deeper and richer experience, I would assume that you would like a bottle of vintage Krug better than this Salon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well these superdelicious and quite young champagnes aren't lasting very long in my cellar. Not much change from my last note... but I wish I had some more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
crikey! i can tell already i need to buy more of this. dang, it's full of zest and depth of complexity. this is developing into it's own personality and giving the 96 some strong competition. outstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clean, fresh oyster shell notes and yello citrus. Young flavors but very approachable and attractive. Mineral. Well balanced, fine but ample mousse. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): A bit hard to assess after cake and sweet wines, but it seemed very linear and precise, much like when I've tasted it before. Taste of apple and pear with a long sharp finish. Not quite as charming as when I tasted it last, but again, this came at a tough time of day that made it challenging to taste completely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
taken to a dinner party, served in flutes. this has really taken on weight and complexity since 6/09. a stealth and worthy rival of the 96. found some 750s and a mag at "reasonable" pricing. only got to spend about 40 minutes with my generous glass, but terrific performance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a class act! Almond, citrus, and stony minerals on the nose. This is probably too good for the common consumer. This wine does not give away lots of fruit, fulll body or other public attributes. This wine does not give anything of that... but its just so elegant, so pure , so amazing. The mousse integrates with the fruit and the acidity. If Salon was a woman I would marry this bottle. Salon was my first love...and it will be my last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An amazing wine, and this baby is young. To me when Mesnil is young it has a tight green/black core that can be wound as tight as any wine in the world. This wine is very typical for a young(14 years old) Mesnil. All the while it is absolutely delicious. For now the wine is tight, bordering on-but no there- lime and sweet lime peel oil. There is a deep cream, lime mousse(enter glib term here) component to this wine that is just amazing, and maybe add some warmed nuts like almonds or pistachios. It, for its age, finishes amazing!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Les Mesnil Masterclass (St-Regis Hotel): This is indeed showing much better than the 1996, more approachable but the overall sense of harmonious and refinement is slightly a bar below, not too obvious though. Complex, deep, focus aromas of green apple, yeasty, freshly baked butter cake and hint of earthy complexity that reflect the similar flavor profile onto the palate with really fine beads that caressing the palate with layers of fruits and mineral that underpinned by the firm acidity that form the very structure backbone. Powerful medium finish that seem drop a little. Very expressive and showy compared to the 1996, or, more friendly. Buy - Not for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
white flowers, subtle note of toast and lemon zest on the nose with minerals. fine mousse with great acidity, citrus, great minerality and wonderful persistence. intense, vibrant, and elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first bottle ever of this magnificent Champagne. Delicate is the perfect word to describe the Champagne: delicate floral nose, delicate effervescence, delicate pale yellow color. Not overly yeasty so. The fruit really shines. Magnificent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very consistent. Opened 30 minutes before arrival. Great nose, fresh yet good body and length. Got better over time. Many notes on this and jsut remains one of my favorite for current consumption.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light, crisp, clean but full of youthful power and elegance: butter cream, minerality, acacia, lemon meringue, key lime pie, Graham cracker crust and hints of hazelnut honey, pear, apple and ginger. Lovely, delicate mousse, nice balance and rich mouthfeel. Sophisticated, structured and sumptuous. The intense minerality and restraint combined with with powerful fruit from a warm year produces a wine with delicate structure, depth of flavor and a fantastic future. Drink 2012-2027.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent, especially as it warmed a bit. Elegant and deft with both acid/green apple and yeastiness, and a long long finish. Marginally less satisfying than the previous bottle, but still well worth the tariff for me. At Marche Moderne on Christmas Eve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
HDH auction tasting at Tru; 12/10/2010-12/11/2010 (Chicago, IL): Pale gold. Creamy nose, notes of toasted bread, coconut, citrus, and white Burgundian funk. Slightly musty, but in a very attractive sort of way. On the palate, this is subtle, and extremely concentrated. Lots of citrus, piercing acidity, and somehow at the same time a palate-coating texture. Not pushy, but shy, and I will guess that this needs much more time to develop; I'm waiting for that Burgundian funk to come out even stronger. Long. Served with three types of French fries (duck fat, truffle, and garlic herb).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just an amazing champagne. Perfect looking bubbles, pacing to the top. Small and delicate. The color shows concentration but not excessive. The rest is balanced, not attacking the palate, smooth with a nice minerality and fruit. Makes me think of apples, bit of honey and a tad of nuts. Strong finish that lasts for 30+ seconds. Very approachable now compared to 96 still too tight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was the wine I was most looking forward to trying. I remember when the 1995 Salon came out, it had all the character of a mature Salon that you ordinarily would need to wait much longer for. It didn't hold up, but if you enjoyed it on release you got a wonderful Salon experience. So I was hoping the 1997 would be in a similar mold. It actually isn't. Instead it is quite shockingly similar to the 1996: bracing lemony fruit with a powerful minerality, like its spine is made of gunmetal. It was probably my favorite wine there but I wouldn't consider it a drink-now Champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Thomas Keller dinner (Mandarin Grill): wonderfully expressive nose of smoke, flowers and sweet apples. long and complex. much more welcoming to drink now than the tight 1996. washed down well with Chef Keller's "oysters and pearls".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow. Just ridiculous. Amazingly complex, but entirely in balance. Marigold yellow in color, fine mousse. Lemon rind and yeast on the nose, not particularly strong bouquet at first, though. Crisp, fresh acidity. A burst of fruit followed by something more creamy, like creme brulee on the mid-palate. Finishes towards the mineral side and lasts for at least 30 seconds. We're hooked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tete de Cuvee Champagne Tasting - Oct 23rd ,2010 (Red Slate, Portland, Oregon): The nose immediately reminds me of vanilla ice cream with a light and gentle touch. This leans toward apple pie a la mode, but I'm not entirely there. The crust scents are faint and light, but the baked apple and nutmeg scents are there fully. The acidity on the palate is awesome, and the fruit is soft. The fruit evolves slowly and delivers spectacular flavor on the mid palate with impeccable balance showing throughout the experience. Some of the pie crust appears on the mid palate as well. Gentle fruit lingers on the finish as the full acidity cleans things out and makes you reach for another sip. This is complex, lengthy, and mouthwatering. A landmark champagne experience for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Zachys Robin Hood 2010 Wine Tasting (La venue, NYC): wonderful. green apple dominated palate, with some interesting musk notes on the nose that might turn off some. incredibly aromatic and this has put on some wight. nutty caramel popcorn. med(+) finish is delightful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Complimentary of Ophelia & Steve when we ran into them at Nanban-Kan. This is the most forward bottle we have had to date. It has beautiful aromas of green apple, yeast, lemon, with rich, round, fresh citrus, followed by a terrific, lengthy finish. I would have preferred a little more acidity but overall very delicous and ready to drink!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Burgundy Dinner with Friends (Bryn Mawr Country Club, IL): Yellow citrus and light stonefruit aromas. Crushed stone. Creamy fruits on the palate and a nice mineral backbone. Has picked up some weight since the last time I've had it. Drinking quite well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank two bottles of 97 Salon this past week. They were fine, others liked them a lot, but for my tastes, I like the 96 a lot more. Even adjusted for the current $100 price differential, I'm a fan of 96.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sensational. Acid is well under control without an malolactic-driven butteriness. Crisp and somehow warm at the same time. The fruit is perfectly displayed framed by a soft touch from the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Absolutely delicious. Extremely tiny bubbles that did not assault the palate but floated over it. Not yeasty or too acidic. Perfect balance and flavors. Outstanding. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. At Pescadou. 95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, big,very integrated and quite dark fruit on the nose. It's also creamy and holds lots of chocolate tones. The taste is of course big and long, but also round and fresh. After I had finished the wine I noticed that I hadn't been thinking of the mousse... I interpret this as it was totally integrated with the acidity. Good! The minerality is also there but not so clear yet. The finish is a bit bitter and the acidity too high. It will surely develop into an extraordinary wine. I would like to try this again after 10 years. 95-97 p.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12.0% alcohol. Positively stunning. An interesting comparison to the bold, focused, and massively concentrated 1996. This wine is light yellow, with somewhat subdued bubbles. Stunning, complex bouquet of apple, citrus, brioche, and minerals. In the mouth, elegant, concentrated, but the picture of balance. This is a lighter style of Salon, with a weightless potency about it. The fruit is pure and crisp, the apple, green apple, and citrus framed by bright minerality and acidity. Effervescent and light, but beautifully pure and concentrated. You really can't ask for much more from an elegant Champagne than this. Strong acidity that isn't overwhelming. A finish that sails on and on and only builds as it continues. A
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nose - apple mouth - crisp and very nice but not feeling the hype by any stretch of the imagination. From the Tasting Notes there is some suggestion that perhpas i'm hitting this too early. My first salon, and from a QPR standpoint perhaps my last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ripe yellow citrus fruits on the nose with wet stones. Fat on the palate with quite a bit of ripe/creamy yellow fruits. Good body with a moderate plus finish. Decent minerality, but not what I usually expect from Salon. Still quite nice and easy to drink now, but not a profound Salon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Salon 1997 was completely closed in the beginning, almost odorless and with a short aftertaste. After a few hours you could start to suspect something, but it was actually closed even after four hours. You can glimpse a clean and clear champagne with a lot of potential. That Salon 1997 would be a champagne to be drunk young, which some journalists writes is something I completly disagree with..
Salon var helt knuten från början, nästan doftlös och med en kort eftersmak. Efter några timmar kunde man börja ana något men den var faktiskt rätt sluten även efter fyra timmar. Vad man kan skymta är en ren och klar champagne och den kan säkert bli riktigt bra om ett antal år. Att Salon 1997 skulle vara en champagne att drickas ungt, som vissa journalister påstod vid släppet, håller jag inte med om. Intressant var resan den gjorde i glaset. Tyder på en stort underliggande vin. Det ska bli kul att om 10 år prova den jämsides med 99an som snart kommer ut. Om den är motsvarande andra 99or så kommer nog 97an bli mer långlivad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Champagne Tasting (Wide World of Wines - Washington, DC): My first taste of Salon. A little yeast and citrus. Clean bouquet. Pretty pale color with no bubbles. Very silky and tantalizing on the palate. 'Electric' comes to mind. Smooth and creamy with a nice balance of acidity. Completely opposite style and make compared to 1999 Dellemonte. I was hoping for more here. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Domaine Leflaive Dinner (Chicago, IL): Fat for young Salon, and not as aggressive as expected. Some yellow citrus fruits but plenty of weight and less minerallity than usual. Firm mousse. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
super young, and definitely not the buxom nellie the 96 was @ this stage. good complexity across the palate, reticent fruit, pale color. priced out of touch @ $400 on "special". i'd rather backfill the 96.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just had this tonight with some folks from the winery. Beautiful and expressive toasted caramel, lemon peel and black olive notes with high acidity and sodium. Long finish. This stuff is amazing wine held for 10 years on it's lees. Just beautiful.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Golden hue. Nutty, caramel nose. Tastes of apple, pear, pineapple and lemon. Excellent depth and complexity on the midpalate. Incredibly well balanced. Long elegant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wilson-Daniels Euro Tour '09 (Elway's at the Ritz-Carlton, Denver, CO): I too was surprised to see a '97 offering from Salon, but like the previous taster said, I now know why: this is divine. Having had the '90 in mag not too long ago, I knew where my bar would be, and this did not disappoint. Certainly this is too young to display some of the more esoteric components that only ageing can afford, but nonetheless, this showed tremendous promise. A nose of marzipan, warm cashews, cheese, green apples and pears gives way to a broad mid-palate with layers of perfectly ripe fruit. The acid structure is a thing of beauty, as is the creamy, rich persistence. Approx $349, drink thru 2022
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
surprised that salon released a 97, i now know why. excellent bubbles, opened up rapidly. tropical aromas, and ripe fruit not usual for so young of a Salon. while really really good, this will be a rapidly maturing wine for Salon. i'd say it will peak in about 5-7 years and drink well for no more than 10 before it begins to lose its shine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light straw in the glass. Great freshness and elegance on the nose with good spice, minerality and lemon cream aromas. Balanced and medium-bodied in the mouth. This wine is fruity with apple flavors coming out immediately, followed by nice citrus notes. Drink now through 2020 and then some.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is one of the most restrained Champagnes I have ever had in terms of fruit, like a mouthful of crushed stones and minerals; extremely aggressive acidity to the point that almost hurts your mouth with the first sip....however, in terms of structure, class and long term potential it is at least 95 points. Surely not delivering the instant pleasure of the '85 or '96, but it has the backbone to last for decades if you have the patience, the most unique Tete de Cuvee.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first taste of a Salon Champagne. Pale golden color, with a fine mousse that slowly dissipates. Notes of citrus fruit, apple, flowers and brioche. Persistent bead, with good acidity and flavors of toast, pear, almond butter and citrus peel. Crisp acidity and a nice finish. 94-96.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/25/2024 - UFGators wrote: 98 Points
This has incredibly fine mousse and bracing acidity. This is easily in my top five champagnes I have tasted. Drinks like a grand cru white burgundy but with super fine bubbles. This wine has the structure to last easily another decade but I do not see it getting better than it is now so time to pop a cork.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2024 - TWSA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose: honey, brioche caramel, mature apple, fig, cream, pineapple, white flower
Notes: some beautiful aroma upon opening, this wine is demonstrating the best possible from a blanc de blanc with excellent finesse and balance. This Salon started to show its best after 1 hour of opening and it is indeed quite ready for consumption. Showing great purity and preciseness this is probably as good a Blanc de Blanc can get. I don't think one should anticipate too much upside from cellaring this wine and in fact I think this might be a little more advanced than I originally imagined but there's also no rush to finish up right away, there should be another good 5-7 years to go in terms of optimal drinking time.
Drink: now - 2031
Rating: 93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2024 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very elegant and focused with an alluring nose. Not as nutty and expressive on the palate compared to a bottle I recently had. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2024 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mom's 82 birthday at Joe Fortes, then home to Breka Breads London Fog Donuts
Clean, and clear, faint yellow in color.
Lemon poppy seed cake, brioche, nice salinity. The nose is beautiful!
Still tight and astringent. Bracing acidity. Still incredibly youthful. Needs more time. Lovely bottle. Is it worth the price???? I am not sure. (-1) point for price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2024 - wineton.mee wrote: 94 Points
I didn’t expect this to show this young, hardly any signs of age at all. Searing acid and bright fruit, lots of intensity and concentration framed with deft touches of creamy vanilla oak. There is no doubting the quality here. Legs to go for another decade where l think it’ll show even better than today.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2024 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely bread crumb, brioche and nut fruit. A leaner vintage but very alluring.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2023 - Roger Foenander wrote:
Goldie 40th Anniversary
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2023 - aquacongas wrote: 94 Points
not blind, at the winery, disg. 2020
Not my favourite vintage, very round, no nuts, no waffles but missing length. At his peak. 94
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2023 - VoteferPedro wrote:
flawed cork, broke and crumbled but left a segment plugging it nonetheless
I used a large knife to 'sabrage' it open but there was no rush of foam. it was not truly flat and the wine flavors were decent but it was not in great form.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2023 - Winsip Likes this wine: 99 Points
Stunningly good, after 26 years this wine still shows gorgeously intense yeast and brioche. Color is bright yellow gold. The opening bouquet is complex and bright, a mix of citrus, lime, pineapple, honey and white flowers. The mouthfeel is beautifully elegant and classy, expressing crisp, clean, rich, well-rounded with subtle tannins. Wonderfully refined and balanced. The depth and length is just incredible, it goes on for miles. Drinking gracefully and deliciously today, though it still has many years left ahead. Top top wine, just amazing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2023 - Shum Likes this wine: 98 Points
Crystalline and full-bodied without losing its purity with a hint of sweetness and nuttiness. Drinking perfectly now with some time left. What a treat! Quite reminiscent of a Selosse Les Carelles with age?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2023 - talbot61 Likes this wine: 95 Points
At Boston Wine & Poker: Tasted blind. Two of the poker players thought it was a little too sweet, and though I understood their point, I thought they were underrating an insanely delicious bottle of Champagne. This is definitely at the lean, elegant end of the Champagne spectrum -- no biscuity notes -- but is intense and balanced and complete. One of the best Champagnes I have ever had.
Many thanks to Karl for this treat.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2023 - g-man wrote: 93 Points
Tasted blind and never would have guessed Salon. Surprising amount of residual sugar. Very expressive with stone fruit and some flint on the finish. While very enjoyable it's frankly not worth the current pricing.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2022 - hprphf Likes this wine: 95 Points
Michael's Wedding: L9719008, suspected second release in 2019. Best expression of Salon white fruit, so ethereal, lifted and pure. Lightly mineral with all the excitement. Easy WOTN for me. 95-96
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2022 - GEL Wines Likes this wine: 96 Points
First bottle of Salon. Unique and transcendent. Like driving a Ferrari. Zippy and fresh. Turbo-charged citrus with minerality. Ready for drinking but no hurry. One of the reference wines I have drunk. Brilliant.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2022 - steinersing wrote: 96 Points
Precise and somewhat open. More Aging still won’t hurt.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2022 - Gas Station Wine Guy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Clearly a stellar bottle. Complex, lots of depth while showing some age. Beautiful.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2022 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 95 Points
[Magnum] Absolutely brilliant, easily could have been called ‘96 or a very fresh ‘90. Light pale color, high verve and freshness. Green apple, lemon citrus. Tight mousse. Full dense apple fruit. I wish I had more of these. Notes from memory about three weeks ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2022 - Formerwinemaker Likes this wine: 100 Points
What a stunning Champagne, at the peak of its powers. Breathtakingly good. Flawless composition, depth and richness without weight, perfectly balanced acidity, not a hair out of place. Incredibly long. A delight to drink. I can’t imagine a better Champagne on this tasting, nor have I had one.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2022 - merlotsmile wrote:
Vertical
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2022 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 95 Points
Red Burgundy GC 01 (London): Very strong showing for Salon (for a change), in Zalto Burg glass it showed how much is packed and stacked in here - intense concentrated lemon oil above all else, a very long, mineral and slightly chalky finale. Very good now and even better in ten years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2021 - thefoxinthebox Likes this wine: 94 Points
Light amber colour with very fine, persistent bubbles. A little reductive on opening, but later autolytic notes of toast and hay followed by vanilla, cocoa, smoke and bruised apples. Fresh and uplifting palate of green apples, grapefruit, hazelnuts, toast and a long finish reminiscent of cucumber. Acidity and intensity should be indicative of further aging potential. Great wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/26/2021 - WaiCellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Christmas Eve 2021. Toasty, honey notes, very balanced. But for US$900-ish a bottle I still feel that it's overpriced. Is it just me?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2021 - steinersing wrote: 95 Points
This is attractively developed with hints of dried apples, exotic fruit, but also lemons. Quite broad in line with vintage. I would drink now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2021 - Dibbs Likes this wine: 95 Points
My first Salon. Very understated in its elegance. It is soft, round, and seems to whisper its complexities. I know it is not the best vintage but it definitely delivers a lot for an off vintage bottle. Not so sure on the QPR at current prices but an amazing experience notwithstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2021 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
not blind
Drank it just before the 1996. This one is really good and close to his peak. Still lemon notes but also some exotic fruits and roasted aromas but not the length and concentration of the 1996. The acidity of the 1996 gives unbelievable length and freshness. 1997 should be drunk nowadays and the 96 is for the next 3 decades. 95
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2021 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Beautiful yet subtle nose of citrus and brioche. This is really crisp and clean, very fine and delicate. You could see why this was probably not interesting, even austere in its youth. However, now with age we have a very fin and subtle BdB Champagne for the Connoisseur. Ridiculous price and I don't think it is better than Taittinger's Comte de Champagne or Dubois-Vallois Fleur de Passion so it is pretty clear where my money goes. Thanks to the generous host for sharing this (especially since Singapore went into yet another lock-down after this dinner). Early drinking window. 96-97
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Epic Bordeaux for an Epic Birthday!; 9/1/2021-9/12/2021 (Paris & Bordeaux): It's been a bit of time since we've had any Salon but decided it was worth a check-in. Served single blind next to a Delamotte NV (so the two ends of the spectrum) and I was intrigued to see my first impressions. This is a weighty wine for a chardonnay for sure. It started more in what I'd usually think of with the hints of vanilla and very bright and light but almost seemed to darken in the glass and bring about a bit more deeper flavors. Was very enjoyable but I think the price has maybe gotten to the point where it's not worth it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2021 - sdr wrote: 89 Points
This too is somewhat dull and tastes over mature. Some waxy dark yellow stone fruit is only mildly attractive and I am not tempted to take another sip.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2021 - Bozekt wrote: 97 Points
Nose of brioche, yeast, and rich lemon curd. Palate was rich and silky with fine mousse, baked brioche, baked apples, and toasty yeast with vibrant med-plus acid and a full and complex finish. Sublime experience with surf and turf, vinous yet refreshing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2021 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tastes like a nice old white burgundy with bubbles and a bit of caramel. Carbonation is very light, bubbles are soft and elegant. Lots of complexity here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2021 - drrobvino wrote: 96 Points
Consumed this 1st of 2 bottles this evening, the vintage represented the birth year of my eldest son. Carried into Valette Restaurant in Healdsburg, to celebrate our 25th anniv, and enjoyed this stunning bottle with a truly awesome meal.
This 24 yr old vintage Salon showed a gorgeous medium golden color, with a light mousse after all these years. On the nose, aromas of lemon rind, confectioner's sugar, warm bread crust, almond paste, white pepper and citrus zing, and sea salt.
The palate echoed notes from the nose, showing off pastries, lemon drop candy, lychee fruit, kiwi, creme brûlée, almond paste, and yeasty notes from years in the bottle. Super bright and energetic on the palate, showing off bright, tart acidity with years in the tank, alongside a puckering and lip-smacking, beautifully balanced and laser-like finish. Delicious in every way, loved this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2021 - steinersing wrote: 96 Points
late release - this is incredibly fresh and still a little tight. We were debating if this should be decanted, even. Clean and focused. very long life ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2021 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of almond, toast, bread, yeast. High acidity.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2021 - Peech Likes this wine: 96 Points
very fragrant and absolutely floral and really perfumed. Already beautiful right from the start even though it was served a little too cold. A little toasty. Nicely balanced on the palate, even though it was a little more ripe than expected. After an hour there was some coconut, also sugar cane and water chestnuts. Very lovely. degorgée en 2020
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2021 - matage Likes this wine: 93 Points
Started out challenging with the cork being REALLY stuck and ended up snapping in half so had to pull out the stuck half with a corkscrew. Thankfully greeted by a fizzing sound so mousse was still present.
Very elegant with beginning maturity. Etheral with almond/almond flower, white clovers and canned mandarins with a stringent minerality.
Did not evolve much over 8h apart from the almond part being more pronounced. Not in a Marzipan way but rather freshly ground almonds or mazarin cake with candied orange. Mousse held up nicely throughout. A velvety and elegant champagne that has plenty of life left in it.
Pair with lighter seafood (think caviar/oysters rather than lobster)
Glass: Riedel Veritas Champagne Wine
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2021 - Isaac L wrote: 93 Points
This displayed a light golden yellow colour and very fine mousse that dissipated quickly upon pouring. The nose was toasted hazelnuts, caramel, honey, brioche and a hint of sandalwood, while the palate conveyed lemon curd, honeyed apricots, white flowers and almonds underscored by a mineral streak running through to a long taut finish.
Agree with a previous TN that this was perhaps just missing some heft in the mid palate, and remained quite tense throughout the better part of 4 hours. Paired exceptionally well with an aged gruyere and air-dried beef amuse bouche.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/1/2021 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tried blind tasting between 1997 Salon, NV Selosse Exquise and 2005 Dom Perignon.
1997 Salon exhibit fresh, crisp, lemon, very acidity along 3, slight yeasty, pale lemon. After 20-30min in glass, more oaky notes appear.
NV Selosse Exquise had medium lemon, toast, yeasty, sweet palate.
2005 Dom Perignon had the best nose, most yeasty note, toasty, palate the best
WOTN went to 2005 Perignon.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/15/2020 - Alex Barbera Likes this wine: 96 Points
Champagne in Perfektion auf Basis meines aktuellen Trinkfokus: Chardonnay / Säure / Kreide
Bäm!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2020 - Ltim BE wrote: 99 Points
Disgorged 2017. Simply mindblowing champagne. Like drinking the best Montrachet. Breathtaking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2020 - cookiefiend Likes this wine:
A lovely lady. Pale straw in color, very fine bubbles - not many to see, but they are on the palate. It's a rich, honeyed taste and there is a slight spice. A very subtle and elegant Champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2020 - Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dinner at Red House. Aired in bottle for about an hour+ and then drank in Gabriel Standart.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, yellow gold colour. Thin legs. Fine fading bubbles.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of deep lemon drops, Meyer lemon, limestone minerality, honey. Developing.
On the palate, dry, very high acidity, medium- alcohol (12%), medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of honeyed Meyer lemon, deep citrus lemon drops and curd, wet stony minerality, flint, some hazelnuttiness. Very long finish.
Blown away outstanding on the palate. Still upside as it feels like it can still develop over the next 10 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2020 - robtaylor wrote:
April’s 50th
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2020 - jhngo Likes this wine: 95 Points
amazingly fresh and clean. delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2020 - VinVet Likes this wine: 95 Points
Subtle peach fruit and brioche nose. Complex palate of peach and stone fruit with surprisingly effervescent mousse and lengthy ever evolving finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2020 - dream Likes this wine: 95 Points
A gorgeous aged Champagne that has mellowed with time and shows less of the typical Salon's bracing acidity and more of the floral complexity of this great terroir. Mature flavors of yeasty bread and and limestone minerals give way to a very fine and elegant finish with less power but more subtle nutty notes. Mature but also ageless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2020 - LWI wrote: 96 Points
Deg. 2017. Tiny bubbles, mature yellow apples, other yellow stone fruit, lemon and a touch of honey; vinous, generous, and a lovely complex finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2020 - Jammy Wine wrote: 92 Points
The 1997 Salon is drinking incredibly well today, expressive and elegant with precise purity. This has long been overshadowed by the 1996 Salon. Tasted blind - Toasted bead, Chardonnay purity, cristalline citrus and linear tree fruits. Due to the tight blind tasting socks and the unique bottle shape of Salon, I was able to deduce this was a Salon. Blanc de Blanc Salon 1997? (92/100)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2020 - Ltim BE Likes this wine: 99 Points
From the special domaine release 2017. Mindblowing nose of peaches, minerals, lychees, brioche, honey, toast. Just like a Grand Cru white Burgundy. Velvet on the palate, smooth with the finest bubble one can imagine. A true masterpiece. Our guests where blown away and this put the Krug 2002 in a shadow. Wow.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2020 - VinHound Likes this wine: 96 Points
Terrific to toast our COVID-19ed college graduate!
More savory than fruited, with a supple mouth. The yeast was wonderful with our meal, esp the prosciutto/boursin wrapped grilled asparagus.
Wish it had been a 1.5!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2020 - Ltim BE Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely champagne, golden colour and very fine bubbles. Brioche and white peaches. Stunning mouthfeel and complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2020 - Ms. Bubblehead Likes this wine:
Drinking nicely at this stage, Modest toasty & brioche nose, orchard fruits, white flowers, on the palate, precise acidity & steely white fruits, lemon curd, apple, chalky minerality. Overall, it is richer than other vintages but I like it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2019 - steinersing wrote: 96 Points
From a recent disgorgement showing great freshness but as other Salon 1997 this feels well in its drinking window now. No tightness of the 2002 here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2019 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
White Truffle Dinner: One of the more ready and accessible bottles of Salon that I've come across. Still electric with plenty of tension, but the fruit is ample and broad. In a peak window.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2019 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 93 Points
White flowers, citrus, brioche, and peach. Expressive on the palate with the Salon class and regalness. Drinking well already. 93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2019 - steinersing wrote: 96 Points
Early drinking window - pure
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2019 - Andre Brattland wrote: 96 Points
3. Bottle tried by this one. A bit more reserved aromas on this bottle, but still has pretty fresh fruit with apples, lime peel, stiffened butter and citrus fruits. Lovely touch with real nerve on this full-bodied champagne. Really fresh fruits of citrus and green apples. Pretty biscuits. Lovely depth, here it is layer upon layer. Great salt with this perfect sea feeling. Perfect acidity. Long and lovely finish. Brilliant champagne. 96 points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2019 - beatles wrote: 94 Points
Tasted in two degorcements - I prefered the 2018; quite fresh, more so than the 1996, Chardonnay speaks here, texture is soft, almost feminin, fine minerality, some brioche here also. Ready to drink.
#AOC
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2019 - julen789 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Original disgorgement
Butter cookies, candied almonds, caramelised apples, saltiness, minerals, lemon pie, fresh bread.
Very creamy, full bodied, very well integrated acidity and sugar. It's a mature wine now but it will be even better in a couple of years.
95pt
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2019 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
This is much more ready and in the zone compared to the young sibling 2006. Every element is well integrated and in a great harmony.
Cream, milk chocolate, sugar cane with highly complex fruits and floral element that are hard to dissect. It also has the best, effortless mouthfeel in the Champagne flight.
The mousse is ultra fine, though dissipate rather quickly. Soft, elegant, good persistent. Lovely juicy sweetness at the back.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2019 - d'Artagnan wrote: 96 Points
Un magnifique champagne vineux, très long et droit. Peu de bulles, l'équilibre est impressionnant, c'est complexe et très fin. Superbe palette aromatique, vraiment un grand vin. 96 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2019 - Mario17 Likes this wine:
Bu lors d’un dîner au Quartier Général. Superbe Champagne d’une finesse incroyable avec des bulles très fines mais pas trop serrées, long, frais et complexe, on est plus sur le côté vin que mousseux ici quand on le déguste. Plus on en boit plus on veut, superbe. Moi qui ne boit pas une tonne de Champagnes, un des meilleurs que j’ai bu.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2019 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 94 Points
Terrific, like the last bottle!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2019 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bought this at a restaurant. It is still holding strong. Bright, juicy, lively, creamy, apple peel, and a hint of citrus zest, with pretty mineral perceptions. This is wonderful Champagne!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2019 - hprphf wrote: 94 Points
Liger Belair Dinner - La Paulee 2019 (Eleven Madison Park): 2019 release (~P2). Bright acidity with minerals and white flowers. Big palate and lovely precision. 94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2019 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 94 Points
A private lunch with friends (at home): Last tasted in November 2011 when it was still very youthful and full of promise. It is now fully mature, with a relaxed elegance, still fresh but with a creamy texture, and a convincing finish. A delightful drink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2019 - LWI wrote: 97 Points
Nervy, intense, citrussy, high acid, very long, wonderfully complex finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2018 - dream Likes this wine: 96 Points
We drank this with several courses at dinner with Didier Depond and it was simply stunning. Didier said it’s one of his favorite vintages and because its faster maturing it has now fully integrated and has just entered its drinking window. He believes it to be better than the ’96. Medium-bodied but lazor-like in its focus and complex intensity. The finish just rolls over the tongue with an incredible streak of really interesting mineral flavors and very fine bubbles. I couldn’t stop drinking it and it clearly proved Didier’s point regarding the time Salon needs as the younger vintages above showed nothing like this. Just entering its drinking window with at least 20 more years of development ahead. 96+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Acker BYO 2018 (Tribeca Grille): This is really lovely. Nice vanilla and nutty and some almond. The bubbles literally just melt in the mouth. It's beautiful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2018 - Jowh Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank at BYO Stangeby. Blind for the others.
Gave off a very young and vibrant impression. Even 2008 was a put forth as a very viable alternative.
Fantastic wine that except for a slightly muted nose has few flaws. Very long and broad. Fantastic salinity and powerful acidity that is firm and mellow. Slightly too young for a perfect drinking window still for my tastes.
Will wait 5-10 years minimum for my last bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2018 - PJRONeill wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful champagne at the cusp of its maturity with notes of citrus, green apple, white pepper and just the tiniest hint of ginger on the nose.
The citrus has a bit more of a candied quality to it on the palate, but there's plenty of acidity and salinity to keep it fresh. Good length - I just wonder that it may not have quite the depth of the truly great years but that's a minor nit. Plenty in the tank here, a couple of decades of development, at least, to look forward to.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2018 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ingo's Birthday Clash 20.10.2018; 10/21/2018-10/22/2018 (Jörg Müller Sylt): Late degorgement 2018
Distinctly fresher than the regular one. Citrus, green apple, greengage but as the "normal" one too short in the finish and a touch too broad in the late palate. 94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2018 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
In a perfect spot, deep fruits mineral finish the total package. Notes are short because bottle went quickly and that's the best "review" any wine can get.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2018 - sbjm Likes this wine: 100 Points
Perfection. The standard by which all other champagnes are measured. Deep golden color, full bodied. Smells fruity but tastes crisp. Not woody. Smooth. Buttery
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2018 - ledwards wrote: 95 Points
Such a solid, elegant wine. This bottle was more advanced than past few. Elegant and rich with subtle bubbles. Golden in color. Brioche, almond, Meyer lemon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2018 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 94 Points
[Magnum] Off the pop this is extremely fresh. Young and sharp with brilliant effervescence. Rich and dense Chardonnay fruit, white apple, cut with vibrant chalky minerality. A walnut and pine nut development showing in a mild bit of toast.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2018 - onboisduvin Likes this wine: 96 Points
First mature Salon I have ever tasted. The multiple layers and varieties of aroma intermingled, creating a new world of champagne I've never seen before.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2018 - Harley1199 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Does exist that refreshing cream thing? Answer lies within this bottle. Wow!
On the nose is really deep with aromas of spices, nuts, candied citrus or sandalwood. Awesome. Impressive champagne. You can be snorting this wonder stuff for hours. Literally.
On the palate a ripe, very ripe champagne. Creamically aristocratic but at the same time with that acid final point that provokes a refreshing aftertaste. Multifaceted and with a soul. I take my hat off in front of such a bottle.
¿Puede ser una crema refrescante? La respuesta se encuentra dentro de esta botella. ¡Toma ya!
En nariz es profundo con aromas a especias, frutos secos, cítricos confitados o sándalo. Impresionante. Puedes estar esnifando esta maravilla durante horas. De verdad.
Al paladar un champán maduro, muy maduro. Cremosamente aristocrático pero a la vez con ese punto final ácido que provoca un refrescante postgusto. Multifacético y con alma. Me quitó la boina ante semejante botella. Botella que ha conseguido Carlos, con suerte y jugándosela en internet, por menos de un tercio de lo que algunas tiendas pretenden cobrar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2018 - Burgaddict wrote:
Leiden at restaurant Vermeer Amsterdam: From Magnum. Wonderful champagne. Light yellow color, still looks young, beautiful mousse, citrus, creamy, very complex, creaminess lingers on endlessly in mouth. Also minerals and floral tones. This is a champagne to enjoy for hours at a stretch and forget all the fuss around you.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2018 - DAVIDMAC Likes this wine: 96 Points
sensational. Prime time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2018 - Andre Brattland wrote: 96 Points
Denen ikon-Champagnen har en dyp intensitet som treffer nesen hardt og brer seg rundt. Heftige pirrende kryddertoner tar tet og drar med seg ytterste delikate sitrusfrukter, saftige grønne epler, og salter på en runddans før den avslutter daten med litt velbakt brødblings og nøtter. Dette er aromabilde det!
På paletten er Champagnen fyldig, brer seg rundt med en herlig mousse med store modne sitrusfrukter, syrlige grønne epler og den fantastiske sitte-ved-sjøen-og-nyte-livet følelsen. Dette er virkelig å kjenne sjølukten treffe de våte steinene. Litt jordsmonn og lett brioche-følelse på den lange og tørre utgangen. Syren er tydlig, men blir godt tatt i mot av den konsentrerte frukten. Champagnen er meget flott idag, men trenger masse tid til å harmonisere seg enda mer. Hvor er denne herligheten om 10 år? Jeg tipper høyt der oppe. 96 poeng. For nå.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2018 - KenK Likes this wine: 92 Points
A DC Wino hits Chi-town (RPM Steak): While quite good with real breed, was easily passed by the 2002 DP on this night. Just missing some mid palate zing. Quite bright and tense, yet far from being showy, yet very pretty tangy citrus finish. Wonder if this was an ever so lightly dinged bottle or just not singing tonight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2018 - steinersing wrote: 96 Points
with Didier - side by side with 06 and 04 - this showed very well now. Deep, minerals, saline. very precise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2018 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 93 Points
[Magnum] A particularly youthful bottle, crisp citrus nose with a nice toast and brioche. Fresh and lively. Fine mousse and creamy palate. Yellow orchard fruit, crisp apple. Developing a mild almond nuttiness. Brief note notwithstanding the large format. Excellent drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2018 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Champagne - 100 Vintage and NV Champagne; 12/15/2015-12/15/2020: Not a Champagen buff myself but I found this to be a great Champagne. Mineralic, floral, drinks like a Montrachet or Meursault, goes well with food not just as apero. The perlage is subtle and fine. Great freshness and mouth feel.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2018 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Nearly a still wine. Racy and linear.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2017 - Miceri Likes this wine: 95 Points
Light hay yellow; very intense mousse, lots of acidity, pronounced lemon, highly fresh; very long aftertaste
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2017 - mr_swirl Likes this wine: 95 Points
Loving this. Elegant and rich champagne. Fine mousse, not too much complexity or richness, which I like. perfect balance. What elegance !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2017 - steinersing wrote: 95 Points
great acidity structure and precision - wonderful to drink now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2017 - galenico wrote: 91 Points
Impallidisce di fronte a Bollinger R.D. 1996. Sembra banale, sconslusionato e poco a fuoco.
Buono, ma nulla di più, non vale lontanamente il prezzo ed è lontano anni luce dalla precisione, dall' esplosione aromatica e dalla persistenza del 1996
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2017 - psmith wrote: 92 Points
Still a bright, young color, and a nose that's showing a combination of classic yellow citrus and mineral tones accompanied by more mature earthy and apple flavors. The palate is still vibrant and fairly firm, though I wonder how much it will actually improve and think the more earthy and oxidative fruit flavors may render the wine less enjoyable in the somewhat near-term. Either way, it's in a good place and while not a great Salon, certainly a good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2017 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Served as a blind champagne. Based on a bit of mushroom on the nose, I was originally thinking that this was not a blanc de blancs, but after we concluded that this was in the 20-year-old range, it became more clear that that was the wrong conclusion (I got to that age range from some mushroom notes on the nose). The palate is definitely chardonnay heavy, at the very least, although the acidity doesn't show too prominently here. There's still some fresh apple notes on the palate (though it feels like they're turning brown), and the fruit here gives this wine a nice sweetness that balances out the acidity. This seems mature. I'd start drinking mine, if I had any.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Salon for me is the benchmark of champagnes, even in '97 which isn't always considered to be the best year. It's like cashmere in a glass. Lots of vanilla which I associate with the style. A bit of mid-ripe green apple. Lots of complexity and as it opens up it evolves more in the glass. A real treat to get to drink as always.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Wine Dinner Extravaganza (Mirabelle - Washington, DC): Rich and concentrated, but reasonably more mature vs other recent bottles. Certainly good, but probably not a perfect bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2017 - Markus IWC wrote: 97 Points
After 4 Delamotte and a young Salon 06 I got goosebumps sticking my nose into this beaty. Vivaldi, Beethoven, French castles, renaissance, black grand piano, all the associations of class and sophistication flows over me in a symphony of great feelings. Immense complexity, so pure and clean, full of flavors but still razor sharp with a structure of steel. This beaty is still on its way up to the peak and will last for another 20-30 years at least. Heavenly!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
To celebrate someone's 21st birthday. This is a special champagne. One of my all time favorites. I like the bits of vanilla and citrus and apple that come through. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2017 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Q3 - 2017 Tasting - Champagne & Caviar - OH MY!! (New York, NY): Wine 8/17 tasted blind - This one is interesting, both bright and toasty, on the initial attack you get the acidity and lemon curd that then rounds out to the toast and creamy, brioche back palate. Very nice. 4 pennies voted by the group.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Champagne & Caviar: a lesson in decadence (The Apt): Wine #8: Another favorite of mine during the tasting. It's almost a bit clean after the Bollinger. I thought a touch bitter. Some green apple. Herbal qualities. I enjoyed it although did not recognize it as the Salon in the tasting. (4 pennies)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2017 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Poker night - Bordeaux single blind - 00 & 03 Pavie, 98 TR, 05 LD and etc. (My house - Northern Virginia): Very fresh and clean, mostly white fruit, fine mousse, a bit light on concentration, good energy and good but not great precision.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 92 Points
Chalky notes with unripe pear, but s somewhat flat profile in its current state. 92-93+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2017 - JulianSkeels wrote: 93 Points
Much fresher and younger tasting than expected, with honeysuckle floral notes dominating. Ripe lemon, slight stone fruits and a touch of ginger. Becomes a touch richer with air, with a lovely pale gold colour, this needs another 5yrs to really shine - but doesn't have the stuffing of 96 Salon. A nice if not great champagne. 92-93pts. Drink from 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2017 - wineordeath Likes this wine: 93 Points
White flowers and cream. Very savory and slightly salty with faint lees on the palate. Some sweetness. Still fresh. Long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2017 - BradE wrote:
This was very good. Surprised me a lot on the upside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2017 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
DGs Birthday: Honey, spice, lime and apple. The palate has a honeyed element to it and there is some fruit sweetness throughout, while remaining quite fresh and precise with some nicely balanced acidity. In a good spot for drinking now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2017 - BuzzzzOff Likes this wine: 97 Points
We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with a selection of 1997 wines coupled with a Michelin One Star Chef cooking for us all day at home. Life does not suck! Slightly dark, golden wine with barely noticeable bubbles as served in big bowl Chardonnay glasses. Only way to treat a lady! Almonds, caramel, vanilla, pears, peaches...wow, it is all going on. Brioche lathered with butter. We simply do not want to stop sniffing, but we must sip! Smooth, caramel-candy with soft vanilla finish. Very long finish. If champagne gets better, we are not sure our weak hearts could survive...
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2017 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Most balanced of the flight, approachable from the moment it was poured. Intense jasmine notes, this is special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
LaTâche Lunch with a Ramonet Starter (Binkley's - Phoenix AZ): Floral and elegant with great balance and finesse. The most easily accessible of the flight. Moderate concentration, I'd expect this to be at its peak and best enjoyed in the next 5 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2017 - eschaefer Likes this wine: 97 Points
Beautiful wine. Golden straw hue. Aromas of almonds, honey, and toasted brioche. Palate followed through on those savory aromas. Lovely mouthfeel and long finish. Salon is always as fine as you can do. Thanks to the university club in SF for Having it on the list. Highest recommendation.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Acker Auction - November (JK's birthday) (Zuma in NYC): Had a lot of champagnes through the beginning of the meal and this one stood head and shoulders ahead. Tended to make the other ones taste more one dimensional. Beautiful, vanilla, sage, smooth, and continues to change over and over. Really enjoyed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
11/12/2016 - AV2012 wrote: 89 Points
Big, agressive bubbles. Somewhat dirty, vegetable taste, feels hot and not that well balanced. It is not bad, but not that great as well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pretasting with a small Salon and VVF vertical Tasting (Elystan Street, London): Fantastically joyable at the moment, very fresh with minimal aging signs, perfectly balanced, comparable to the 1999 VVF, for me reached its peak, drink it over the next 3-4 years
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2016 - darren81 Likes this wine:
8.5/10 - No formal note. A big hit with the crowd.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2016 - KenK Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nice firm brisk profile with plenty of tension framed by pretty flavors of stony white fruits, comes across quite young and vibrant with nice upside. Classic Salon style. I felt this really outperformed expectations against a 9 vintage vertical of Salon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Twenty Years of Salon (The Bristol - Chicago IL): Served alongside the 99. Apple and lemon, moderately ripe. Good power, balance and length. Very good now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Zachys Wine Vault II (Le Bernadin Prive): Drank on the heels of the '99 which I loved and this was even better. It's so very elegant and crisp and together. Nice light toast. Vanilla bean poking through (esp on the finish). Melts in the mouth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2016 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 94 Points
Extremely fresh and lively. Ripe yellow apple with pleasant and approachable citrus. Some brioche developing and a little eggy. Rich, dense, and supremely flavourful on the palate. Subtle backbone of smoke too, but just barely. Like this even more with more air time, traces of reductive sulphur. Always a special bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2016 - fcxj wrote: 94 Points
Roumier Jasper Morris dinner. Good bottle. White fruit, quite linear. Persistent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2016 - ledwards wrote: 96 Points
Very subdued bubbles. Crisp and rich sour apple, pineapple and quince. Great length. Just a gorgeous wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2016 - pdemaio wrote: 95 Points
Super yeasty goodness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Lafon 1er Cru and Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée Aux Brulées Dinner (Les Nomades - Chicago IL): From magnum. Lots of lemon, lemon peel and apple with perfectly balancing acidity and minerality. Good length, very persistent. Classically Salon, drinking great now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2016 - BuzzzzOff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Stunning! Great way to celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2016 - fcxj wrote: 94 Points
Excellent, typical.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/1/2016 - rloy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very stubborn cork, had to break off top of cork and use a corkscrew. The bottom part of the cork had crystallized. Nose of minerals, bread dough, and a hint of citrus. Medium bodied. Very fine bubbles. Intense flavors of red apple and lemon. 45 second finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2015 - blisscompound Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not so blown away or impressed by this, especially for the money. Pretty standard high class champagne on all accounts. Pastries, lemon meringue, ocean minerals, tootsie rolls, poultry fowl aroma never completely blew off, average finish, drank with a smorgasbord of amazing seafood. I wonder what this tastes like in a really transcendent vintage...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
I like Salon. It's my favorite Champagne, but I do not get any sense of value in the 1997. Medium bodied, fresh, mineral driven, sweet citrus fruits, with an intriguing hint of raspberry, brioche and nuts, the wine is creamy and refined, but not exciting. It's not even close to the sublime 1996.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2015 - quaglia Likes this wine: 94 Points
Champagne Salon e Delamotte (Milano c/o Pandolfini): Degorgèe 2012
Light, brilliant golden yellow, consistent.
Rich, opulent at nose, with an evident Iodine note; butter and marzipan, but also withe flowers (haw), fennel, oxidized apple and a balsamic note
Good acidity and nice fruit (grapefruit) at taste; perfectly centered, probably at its best. Good acidity and minerality, with a long persistence. Still young.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/5/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Eleventh Annual White Truffle Dinner (Chez Weber - Chicago IL): From magnum. Apple and lemon aromas and flavors. Leaner styled with great energy, balance and length. I prefer this to the 1999, which I found slightly fatter and shorter.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/17/2015 - nikos wrote:
42 Grams (42 Grams): Again a BdB. Nice wine with more fruit than the Selosse. I would drink this anytime but overpriced IMO.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/17/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Champagne and Burgundy Dinner (42 Grams - Chicago IL): Lemon and apple on nose and palate. Vibrant, energetic. Moderate weight. Good now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/7/2015 - AtoZ wrote:
Firing on all cylinders. Almost too good for food. But caviar with blinis and creme freche. Like smooth small rocks in the mouth. Ethereal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2015 - Pavan wrote: 93 Points
Clear and pure with good length. Still in excellent condition
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/13/2015 - jclary Likes this wine: 93 Points
I was introduce to this wine by Antonio at his Masseto wine dinner a few years ago. I liked it enough to buy a case. I don't have a lot of experience with Champagne, so I am probably not the person to rely on for notes. To me, it was very good, crisp and clean, but seemed tight and not giving all of its potential quite yet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/28/2015 - french16 wrote:
A gift from Pepe R.
This is a stunning champagne with tremendous depth and balance. Mineral, a hint of nuttiness, touch of butter then becomes vibrant on the palate with a long finish. Elegant and light bubbles. Drinks really well right now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/25/2015 - S1 Likes this wine:
Kicking off a week of anniversary celebrations: Granny Smith apple, lemon curd, lively acidity, pleasant toast.
We have noticed a little bottle variation; this particular bottle drank quite young and fresh.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/4/2015 - Lilja Likes this wine: 97 Points
This is really something out of the ordinary, ethereal, delicate and insanely good! And to the wine's credit it was tasted completely blind. It even pains me slightly, being a harsh critic of Champagne, that this is one of the best wines I've tasted and 97P being among the highest scores I've posted.
Nose is wide open with high complexity and great depth. Flint and tinder, whipped cream, red berries, roasted oak, mocha coffee, butter, ripe apples and lots of brioche yeast. Though there is a touch of ripe lemons on the nose there is none of the grapefruit or bitter orange zest aromas that are quite common, and often bother me in Champagnes.
The palate is as sublime as it is exquisite. High acidity, but with just enough tartness to give it structure and no harshness or bitterness. Perfectly balanced with vibrant fruit and a creamy, quite slender body. Incredibly pleasant mousse that disperse the wine to all crevices of the mouth without bothering the tactile sensations at all (Aggressive bubbles are often something that ruins the Champagne experience for me). High intensity and a long, perfectly composed finish. Can't really see what more I could wish for in a Champagne.
Compared to the 96' Salon that I tasted last autumn, this is a lot more approachable and drinks extremely well right now. A few others at the tasting had tasted this before, and hadn't be nearly as impressed then. Maybe we got lucky with a great bottle!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2015 - LWI wrote: 94 Points
Some Champagnes: Surprisingly good considering the vintage. Gains complexity with air, fine combination between being fruit forward and linear at the same time. Emerging complexity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/18/2015 - christyler Likes this wine: 92 Points
Amazing texture! Fairly shy on the nose. Seems young. Nice length.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/18/2015 - AtoZ wrote:
Needed food. Not the strongest showing tonight. Way acidic and shorter in length than prior bottles.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/14/2015 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
very razorsharp acidity, fresh, citrus, a hint of green apple and pear, toast, butter, brioche are in the background, still young, no maturating signs, getting better and better with air, temperature and time, maybe 1 hour decantation will help next time, it ends as it starts with a razorsharp long clean finish, for me with Vilmart's Couer du Cuvee the best champagne in 1997, very drinkable at the moment but we will have fun in the next 15-20 years, 94-95points
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2015 - hajoha wrote: 94 Points
Nydelig delikat nese, subtil med lekker sitrusfrukt, epler og mineraler.
Intens som få, stålstruktur selv i 97.
Den er ikke svær, men alikevel svært konsentrert.
En vin som klarer å holde trøkket oppe fra start til finish.
Lang, elegant og nydelig balanse.
En Salon som drikker bra i ung alder.
Fantastisk vin!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2014 - arniec Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drinking well. Don't think saving the remainder will add a lot to the experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - ledwards wrote: 93 Points
A bit more evolved than last few. More toast and oxidized flavors. A dominance of sour apple/Granny Smith. Lovely, only a bit less of the freshness from the chardonnay.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2014 - cct wrote: 95 Points
Clean and fresh with a fine bead. Diamond sharp cut, with beautiful BdB character and enough acidity to give a citrus slant. Laser sharp focus. This is mouthwatering, pure and incredibly drinkable. 95
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2014 - Keith Levenberg wrote:
Terrific showing. Super-crisp and super-bright, but rich, luscious fruit just starting to hint at some of the more evolved confiture elements that will come out. A good reminder to lay off the '96s for another decade if this '97 is still so young and fresh.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2014 - mnor wrote:
Doft av äpple, bröd, blommig doft och citrus
Smak: Först smak av äpple, grapefrukt och eftersmak av lime (vassa syror). Med värme i glaset så börjar vinet öppna upp sig och påvisar smak av röda äpplen, sötare grapefrukt, clementiner/mandariner och lätta honungstoner.
Första gången som jag dricker Salon och jag hade väldigt höga förväntningar och jag skall erkänna att första reaktionen var en lätt besvikelse. Insåg också samtidigt att vinet behövde öppnas upp något och lät därmed glaset stå cirka 10-15 minuter innan jag rörde det igen. Med lite värme i glaset så öppnade vinet upp sig och ett antal mer smaker börjar framträda där söta röda äpplen och söt citrus är mest påtagliga. Ett mycket bra vin som jag drack alledeles för tidigt. Vinet anser jag att man bör dekantera om man vill dricka det nu. Min taktik blir dock att glömma resterande flaskor och återkomma om 10 år. Just nu finns det en hel del viner som ligger i en bättre mognadsfas och som ger mig mer njutning.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2014 - hajoha wrote: 92 Points
Litt mer flesk på kroppen den her.
Drikker flott, men mangler litt av disiplinen til 88 og 96.
Viser til god konsentrasjon og bra friskhet.
Bra lengde.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2014 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
A great Italian evening in Belgium: Beautiful and a bit reductive bouquet. Soft mousse, some grapefruits, good minerals and bitterness. Still locked. In potential a beautiful wine, but give it some more years of ageing. 93+ for tonight.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2014 - jkoenen wrote: 93 Points
Italian night @ Stappato (Enoteca Stappato, Leuven (Belgium)): Seems very nervous, young, bright, but kinda closed. Peachyoghurt, lemon-oil, hint of bread and yeast. Salivating stuff. Wonderful. From Magnum.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2014 - AtoZ wrote: 94 Points
Needs air and warmer temp. Works with so much food. Keeps changing. Definitely readybto drink over a meal. Tahitian vanilla nose at one point. Okay with dishes thst have a bit of heat too.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2014 - tooch wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Elite (Elite Chinese Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA): Beautiful stuff. With air, this developed a freshness and crispness that made this seemed a bit more focused than the other champagnes on display. Loved the minerality and citrus notes on the palate...great balance, drinking incredibly well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2014 - BurgAndy wrote:
Soft and coy and sexy. Quiet soft bubbles. Lovely elegant streamlined yellow fruit. This numbed the front of my tongue in the best way. Long lingering midpalate and finish. Vinous juice. Personally at a great place for me, will add tertiary notes in time, not sure if remaining bottles will make it that long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2014 - astroman Likes this wine:
Welcome back dinner (Imperial Treasure Great World City): Very dense and sharp with long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2014 - canan wrote: 95 Points
Bordeaux 1986 Horisontal Tasting: Razor-sharp and complex. Very intense and delicious. Great wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2014 - Alex H wrote: 92 Points
Linear tight structure with white lemons and Chablis like acidity and citrus minerality. Powerful , monolithic pillar of firm stealthy racy nervous white stonefruits. Just a touch of fresh cream and fleeting notes of red apple sweetness before coming back strong with a lengthy mineral finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2014 - paolonardi Likes this wine:
Champagne: Piccolo ed elegantissimo naso in divenire, tutto in sordina come l'incipit di un brano di musica classica. Mineralità bruciata, complessa, polvere da sparo, poi attaccano le spezie, i fiori, incredibile e piacevolmente complessa personalità. Grandissimo vino, scivola via e lascia una traccia precisa, di agrumi, di sale, di fiori, di tutto, come se avesse indelebilmente marcato il palato. Equilibrio commuovente.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2014 - AtoZ wrote: 93 Points
Not as "wow" as a prior bottle but might have been the circumstances and timing. Seemed a bit darker in color than the earlier bottle. Less bubbles. Need a glass but not a true burgundy glass to show best. More feminine. Very very food friendly but with lighter less full flavored foods.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
Light yellow. Fine mousse. Green apple and herbs. Light, dry, strongly mineral. Very elegant if not matching the concentration of the 1995.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2014 - AtoZ wrote: 95 Points
Very cold year. Shows more oak to me. Could be just young. More aromatic than 1995. Really came on strong. Love.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2014 - DRob Likes this wine:
Drank the night of finishing 50th 10k in 50th year. What a beauty! Elegant, could last years and years longer. Glad we served it early, as it is not a yeasty, fuller-bodied Champagne. Just terrific.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2014 - arniec Likes this wine: 95 Points
Less lush than the 1996 with a bit more minerality. Wonderful on its own, went well with our fish Italian dinner. Lots of citrus flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2014 - ob2 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bready, biscuity, nutty nose. Essence like on palate, really thick, surprising weight. Laser like precision, beautiful bubbles but just a touch out of balance? Still very classy stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2014 - aro Likes this wine: 94 Points
Served blind very late in the evening. Can't remember much about it, besides that it was delicious and smooth and very drinkable for young Salon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2014 - Lord Rayas wrote:
Lunch with Jon and Eric (The Principal): forward and expressive. lovely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2013 - ledwards wrote: 96 Points
Drank side by side to a 04 Cristal. Salon was clear favorite for the group. Not close. While the Salon had 7 more years on it to,develop, it's layers of elegant fuit (pear with light citrus), florals (honey suckle) and hints of toast put it in a different class. Incredibly well integrated. The Cristal by contrast was dominated primarily by one dimensional, very sweet grapefruit notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2013 - Brett and Megan Likes this wine: 99 Points
aroma - pear, apricot, bread; taste - sweet, honey notes, not too tart, smooth, creamy and buttery, walnut and almond oil, creamy, almost like brie; this is very very good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2013 - eschuldt wrote: 94 Points
Delicious. Round and a slight sweetness on the palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2013 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
Show stopping looking bottle. This is the definition of a gout francaise type of champagne, the more aperitif and focussed style than the lusher fuller style say of Krug. Very elegant and fine, focussed and coudl appear linear as it lack that ripe full style. Even though we are lovers of full champagnes this felt super vibrant, energetic, and with a lovely elegance and balance. Mineral and focussed on the palate. We would echo the comment rich without weight. 93-94 from us. Lots of life ahead of this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2013 - ledwards wrote: 94 Points
Chardonnay coming though in the mid palate. Toast and wheat present and a beautiful and subtle layer of sweetness is integrating into a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2013 - valjone Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very fine acidity, elegant, bright freshness, yeasty, brioche. Bit tight still and closed, give it a good 5 years. Nice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2013 - Fabio79 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Creamy, full bodied. Very high quality. Complex with long lingering aftertaste. Really great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2013 - ledwards wrote: 94 Points
Still very delicious and refined but perhaps a bit less developed than last bottle. Toast. Long, long finish. A long life ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2013 - rnellans wrote: 95 Points
Lovely wine. Who doesn't like Salon? Totally different style than the 99 Gratien and 99 Goisses. Beautiful elegant, comples nose with just a touch of toast. Pear, apple, mineral notes. Creamy palate that is light, but with power. Long elegant comples finish. Loved this one!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2013 - -E- wrote: 95 Points
Blanc de Blancs smaking (Oslo): Klar, lett gyllen strågul. Mineralsk, intens nese med noe modning. Sitrus og voks mot kamfer, røykstikk, lett honningsødme og øvrige toner av klassisk moden chardonnay nese. Sylskarp, ren frukt. Intens og presis med en utrolig, spenst og vibrerende energi. Finkrornet, elegant mousse. Sirlig, presis syre. Vanvittig lengde med uttalt mineralitet.
Ekstremt tight, presis og mineralsk champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2013 - ledwards wrote: 97 Points
Incredible. The Chardonnay is so sublime- sauve minerality with perfectly balanced fruit. Citrus flvors and rich without weight. Light bubbles adds a subtle, refreshing dimension. Reminds me a bit of Selosse Les Carelles. One of the tops in the world- no question. I immediately went out and bought more as it appears there is more than a decade of greatness left in the bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2013 - sphBacchus wrote: 90 Points
Tight and acidic . Sharp grapefruit .
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2013 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine:
I'm pretty much blown away by my last bottle of the 1997. Much like the last bottle with brown mineral citrus, and stone fruit and a slight cherry skin perception. Full bodied and super delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2013 - Padraig Likes this wine: 95 Points
Paired against a 2002 Dom Perignon. The Salon blew it out the the water. Much more complex, better mouth feel, mid palet, and longer finish. Very nice!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2013 - Sleepy Dave wrote: 92 Points
Alcohol :: 12%
Elegant, focus and precise, this is Salon. Everything in good harmony so I can't really dissect the aromatic component here but it is fragrance and seductive. Medium bodied. This too grown on the palate when it flows. Very good intensity but light on its feet, so light and quiet that u have to really pay attention to seek more in it or else you will be missing the most seductive factor. And when u did, u got the best expression of the Mesnil's elegance. Lingering finish that has more than sufficient energy to keep herself going on and on. Brilliant. 92-93+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2013 - Weston3220 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Champagne Tasting: On the Nose you get what 10years on Lee's will give you Rich Nuts, Hazelnut, opening up with Coffee/Mocha/Toffee Nut
On to the Palate, Creamy, Tangy, Nuts, Warm fruit with a nice backbone of bitterness
Finish is Long and Delicate and Understated
Conc: This wine has aged notes which are awesome to smell on the palate I found it to be underwhelming then knowing who this is and what it costs I just dont see the value [At the end of the day how much of this is Marketing and Name, that being Said My type of Champagnes are Farmer Fizzez]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2013 - burgburgburg Likes this wine: 93 Points
on a fruit day; zesty and fruity, fresh and pure; not a complex blockbuster but an elegant beauty; cannot forget the vibrant acidity; drink beautifully now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2013 - tarheel17 Likes this wine: 93 Points
P&P over a long dinner (1st course)
initially, this did not particularly impress me. Even in my burgundy stem, the nose was essentially hidden and the palate, though texturally quite impressive, offered very little besides a faint bread and chalk feeling. However after 30 min or so of air (and warmer temp) the stone fruit, lime, and chalk became more pronounced even as the texture smoothed to a point so far on the horizon most champagnes don't even know it exists. It was quite wonderful. My first Salon.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2013 - steinersing Likes this wine: 93 Points
w J and M at Sentosa. Lean, focused, steely. Open and ready.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2012 - wickedwax wrote:
Very fine persistent bubbles. Still quite young and taut, but opened up to aromas of brioche, lemon, white orchard fruit, fresh coffee beans, nuts and some baking spices all over a chalky minerality. Elegant, balanced and well-poised and exactly what you would expect from a grand marquee champagne. Very good acidity and wonderful length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2012 - bernardo wrote: 92 Points
Medium gold.
Medium+ intensity nose, showing apples, stale? Acetaldehydes under static. After swirling: more fruit, cinnamon, hints of dough.
Medium body, fresh acidity, a lot of red, fresh apples. Hint of aniseed. Feels drier than 99, sharper. Mushrooms. Long lenght, mostly apples, apple crumble.
With time: more dough, white pepper.
More time (after tasting all): caramel, baked apples, apple cake.
Tough, austere wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2012 - suesbrew Likes this wine: 92 Points
Disgorged Sept 2010. 7 g/l dosage. Toasty and noticeably more oxidative than the youthful 99. Leaner, particularly on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2012 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Looked very smart, much better than a bottle Anthony and I shared last year. It had some pure white peach and mineral notes and drank like a good white Burgundy. There was pleasant creaminess in the mouth with lime brulee flavours and a big whip of citrus on the finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2012 - drycab wrote:
W/Stone Crabs & Strip Steraks for TW's birthday. Best compromise I could have thought of. This bottle was much better than the one before. Just a beautiful example of a fine champagne with a very fine mousse, citrus, brioche, a little meaty and mineral comes through to handle the steak with aplomb. I love this stuff!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2012 - salil wrote: 94 Points
A very similar showing to the last time I had it. Very youthful; tightly wound at first but incredibly layered, intense and finessed at the same time. Layers of rich fruit, brioche, gingerbread dough and chalky minerality conveyed in each sip with tremendous polish and persistence.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2012 - VoteferPedro wrote:
Complete but restrained. Probably needs more time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2012 - drycab wrote:
Not as detailed as the 2006, but still great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2012 - Ki Punwar wrote: 95 Points
Tasted alongside a Selosse Substance, this comparatively was young and fresh...searing minerality and citrus notes...really improved with time. In a good place right now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2012 - darren81 wrote:
8.5/10 - No formal tasting. Celebratory drinks for birth of twins. Not an-in-your face champagne but a gentle subtle lovely drink. Great fruity zest and gentle acidity. Persistent light effervescence which lasted throughout the night. opened up even more as the night wore on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2012 - salil wrote: 94 Points
Stunning Champagne. Waves of luscious ripe citrus and apple fruit, chalky minerality and fresh baked brioche and gingerbread notes, all conveyed with a sense of remarkable power and finesse. It's very youthful and primary now, giving the sense that there's a lot held in reserve but even then it's wonderful to drink now with tremendous freshness and energy to the flavours and remarkable length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2012 - Corgi wrote:
The 1997, served in magnum, was very impressive and approachable with excellent balance between fruit and acidity. See prior notes... This was the winemaker's first dedicated vintage that he produced... Remarked "celery" as one of the notes which i could not initially place myself.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2012 - Corgi wrote: 94 Points
Very elegant, pure with distinctive butter-in-the-pan aroma. Served best in a simple white wine glass which allows the aromas to blossom and it takes off the acidic edge giving it a rounder, softer tone.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2012 - alittle wrote: 94 Points
The Northern Rhone Dinner (Chave, Jaboulet, Chapoutier, Rostaing, Tardieu Laurent) (Patrick's House): Popped and poured, followed for about two hours. Much lighter in colour compared to the Dom. On the nose, lemon peel, mineral, slate, yeast, biscuit and fresh cut apple. With more aeration, toast, caramelized sugar and lightly bruised apple. On the palate, this is incredibly refreshing and showing excellent balance and precision. So clean tasting, showing apple, lemon, and minerals on the palate. Great mouthfeel with an ultrafine mousse. Powerful acidity, but in balance, with a slip grip on the lengthy, slightly bitter finish. This was an excellent juxtaposition to the Dom. I'd like to revisit this with a few more years of age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Soft, refined, sweet and elegant, packed with fresh lemon, green apple, citrus, minerality and toast, this Champagne combines freshness with refined, soft textures and a lively, refreshing, citrus and apple filled finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2012 - Nedder_travels_the_world wrote: 96 Points
sweet nose, peach, apple, orange zest, lemon zest. it's got some great acidity and very youthful - this could go 20+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Legends Dinner at La Paulee de San Francisco (Napa Valley Reserve - St. Helena CA): Fresh aromas of mostly citrus. Palate is wonderfully tense, lean and linear supported with vibrant acidity. Approachable and enjoyable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2012 - DonalOB wrote: 95 Points
AWSEC French Connection (AWSEC, Hong Kong): Pale yellow, tiny bubble trace. Slight, bready smell from autolysis but note dense or very concentrated. Light citric nose.
Elegant and floral with mineral and some smokiness on the palate. Good acidity - Med(+). Balanced with great length.
After I left some in the glass for an hour it was clear that this is just like a great burgundy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2011 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
The 97 Cult cab/Meritage dinner at RIS in DC: Very much open for business, ripe, lightly toasted almonds, hazelnuts and ripe yellow fruits. The palate displays fine mousse and round overall impression due to integrated acidity. Apparently I rated this 94 earlier as well but with a slightly different take.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2011 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 95 Points
Anniversary lunch at The Fat Duck *** (Bray-on-Thames, United Kingdom): Subtle and steely, chalky minerality, touch of nuttiness, tightly knit, citrus fruit, oyster shell, hint of cream, energetic. An uncompromising expression of its terroir, intense, taut, very light mousse, great drive and length, a bit salty on the finish. Excellent if perhaps less complex than some but very focused and precise. Now - 2017 (at least).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Seventh Annual White Truffle Dinner (Chez Weber - Chicago IL): Ripe apple and pear on nose. Same fruit on palate with just a hint of lemon. Very impressive minerality with good acidity. Drinking well now, but not at the level of long-term cellar-worthiness as the great 1996.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2011 - KenK wrote: 94 Points
Rich sweet mackinsosh apple nose with appealing mineral quality.
Very good ripe apple flavors in fatter more upfront style then I normally think of Salon. Solid pure quality. Comes accross as a fine whire Burgundy with light effervesence. A real treat and drinking surprisingly well. Very nice balance and good acid backbone. A touch more mature than I would have expected too. Good stuff!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2011 - Nojomoschwa wrote: 90 Points
My first Salon. Was a little bit disappointed as didn't love it but appreciated the complexity and very long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2011 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Salon and Delamotte dinner at Dogwood Cafe (Baltimore, Maryland): This champagne reminded me of Chevalier Montrachet, delicate, luxurious fruit, inner energy and precision. It is drinking beautifully now and don’t see it shutting down. White fruits and flowers, wet limestone, pear and perfume. Very fine mousse, medium body and bright acidity. Not a wine to impress but coy and beguiling. If the 99 is a baritone this is a lyric tenor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2011 - darvid wrote:
2004 Vintage Burgundy Tasting and Oxidation Check (Part 1) (BLT Fish, New York City): Very fresh, herbal. Scents of freshly baked bread rather than brioche. With air, surprising red fruit character emerges, though this is blanc de blancs. Then the acid becomes more prominent and the palate impression harder, although nothing like the ’96. Moderately long and complex finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2011 - KenK wrote: 96 Points
A truly great Champagne. Nose is bright clean with great aromatics of apple, nutmeg, sllate, and citrus.
Rich and dense pure wall of light pear, apple, great minerality. Complex, fine bubbles, long clean finish. Drinking and showing wonderfully.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2011 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Not as great as the outstanding, razor sharp 96, but a decent Champagne from a difficult year. There were some nice lemon fruits along with plenty of brioche and toast. It was rich and creamy with fine bead and good persistence.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2011 - reichken wrote: 93 Points
HK- drunk twice in the same day, tiny little energetic bubbles, light yellow color, minerally nose. This wine is starts with a touch of lemon crispness and acidity but seems like a very pleasant champagne, very different than the 96. It gains "purity and straightness" as it sits in the glass. Very nice drink and a good wine to drink before the '95 & '96
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2011 - Krugman Likes this wine: 96 Points
WOW. My first Salon. I chose the 1997 as the notes I have read indicate that it is drinking a bit better young than the 1996 and that the 1997 is a more classical Salon vintage. Based on recommendations I popped the cork and let the bottle sit for about 30 minutes before pouring the first glasses. We used regular wine glasses instead of champagne flutes to give the wine some more air. The nose smelled a soft floral smell. Tasting the wine revealed very fresh floral/mineral flavors along with strong acidity. Although the acidity was strong, I was blown away by how everything was in perfect balance and how delicate and precise it was. As it continued to open I started getting subtle notes of honey and flint. I can tell you that this wine more than lived up to my expectations and I am sad that I only have one more bottle.
I would say that people interested in trying a Salon should realize that this wine is very precise and delicate and is not a rich wine with overwhelming flavors. For those of you who want a deeper and richer experience, I would assume that you would like a bottle of vintage Krug better than this Salon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2011 - Charlie Carnes wrote: 94 Points
Well these superdelicious and quite young champagnes aren't lasting very long in my cellar. Not much change from my last note... but I wish I had some more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2011 - jeff nowak wrote: 95 Points
crikey! i can tell already i need to buy more of this. dang, it's full of zest and depth of complexity. this is developing into it's own personality and giving the 96 some strong competition. outstanding.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2011 - psmith wrote:
Clean, fresh oyster shell notes and yello citrus. Young flavors but very approachable and attractive. Mineral. Well balanced, fine but ample mousse. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): A bit hard to assess after cake and sweet wines, but it seemed very linear and precise, much like when I've tasted it before. Taste of apple and pear with a long sharp finish. Not quite as charming as when I tasted it last, but again, this came at a tough time of day that made it challenging to taste completely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2011 - jeff nowak wrote: 94 Points
taken to a dinner party, served in flutes. this has really taken on weight and complexity since 6/09. a stealth and worthy rival of the 96. found some 750s and a mag at "reasonable" pricing. only got to spend about 40 minutes with my generous glass, but terrific performance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2011 - St Paul wrote: 95 Points
What a class act! Almond, citrus, and stony minerals on the nose. This is probably too good for the common consumer. This wine does not give away lots of fruit, fulll body or other public attributes. This wine does not give anything of that... but its just so elegant, so pure , so amazing. The mousse integrates with the fruit and the acidity. If Salon was a woman I would marry this bottle. Salon was my first love...and it will be my last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2011 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 95 Points
An amazing wine, and this baby is young. To me when Mesnil is young it has a tight green/black core that can be wound as tight as any wine in the world. This wine is very typical for a young(14 years old) Mesnil. All the while it is absolutely delicious. For now the wine is tight, bordering on-but no there- lime and sweet lime peel oil. There is a deep cream, lime mousse(enter glib term here) component to this wine that is just amazing, and maybe add some warmed nuts like almonds or pistachios. It, for its age, finishes amazing!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2011 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
Les Mesnil Masterclass (St-Regis Hotel): This is indeed showing much better than the 1996, more approachable but the overall sense of harmonious and refinement is slightly a bar below, not too obvious though. Complex, deep, focus aromas of green apple, yeasty, freshly baked butter cake and hint of earthy complexity that reflect the similar flavor profile onto the palate with really fine beads that caressing the palate with layers of fruits and mineral that underpinned by the firm acidity that form the very structure backbone. Powerful medium finish that seem drop a little. Very expressive and showy compared to the 1996, or, more friendly. Buy - Not for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2011 - kthornton78 wrote: 94 Points
white flowers, subtle note of toast and lemon zest on the nose with minerals. fine mousse with great acidity, citrus, great minerality and wonderful persistence. intense, vibrant, and elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2011 - Brewcreu Likes this wine: 95 Points
My first bottle ever of this magnificent Champagne. Delicate is the perfect word to describe the Champagne: delicate floral nose, delicate effervescence, delicate pale yellow color. Not overly yeasty so. The fruit really shines. Magnificent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2011 - Alexis A wrote: 95 Points
Very consistent. Opened 30 minutes before arrival. Great nose, fresh yet good body and length. Got better over time. Many notes on this and jsut remains one of my favorite for current consumption.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 96 Points
Absolutely delicious. Alive, sophisticated, fruit well integrated with the whole package. Asewome light lemon overtones and great acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2011 - St Paul wrote: 95 Points
So elegant and classy. This is the best 97 released. No competition.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2010 - sethmorgenlong wrote:
Light, crisp, clean but full of youthful power and elegance: butter cream, minerality, acacia, lemon meringue, key lime pie, Graham cracker crust and hints of hazelnut honey, pear, apple and ginger. Lovely, delicate mousse, nice balance and rich mouthfeel. Sophisticated, structured and sumptuous. The intense minerality and restraint combined with with powerful fruit from a warm year produces a wine with delicate structure, depth of flavor and a fantastic future. Drink 2012-2027.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2010 - Tavastgatan wrote: 95 Points
Merry New Year: Pure elegance and charm. Almost as good as the 96, perhaps a bit more evolved but still a young wine with a lovely future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2010 - Colima74 wrote: 93 Points
Excellent, especially as it warmed a bit. Elegant and deft with both acid/green apple and yeastiness, and a long long finish. Marginally less satisfying than the previous bottle, but still well worth the tariff for me. At Marche Moderne on Christmas Eve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2010 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
HDH auction tasting at Tru; 12/10/2010-12/11/2010 (Chicago, IL): Pale gold. Creamy nose, notes of toasted bread, coconut, citrus, and white Burgundian funk. Slightly musty, but in a very attractive sort of way. On the palate, this is subtle, and extremely concentrated. Lots of citrus, piercing acidity, and somehow at the same time a palate-coating texture. Not pushy, but shy, and I will guess that this needs much more time to develop; I'm waiting for that Burgundian funk to come out even stronger. Long. Served with three types of French fries (duck fat, truffle, and garlic herb).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2010 - Alexis A wrote: 95 Points
Just an amazing champagne. Perfect looking bubbles, pacing to the top. Small and delicate. The color shows concentration but not excessive. The rest is balanced, not attacking the palate, smooth with a nice minerality and fruit. Makes me think of apples, bit of honey and a tad of nuts. Strong finish that lasts for 30+ seconds. Very approachable now compared to 96 still too tight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2010 - Keith Levenberg wrote:
This was the wine I was most looking forward to trying. I remember when the 1995 Salon came out, it had all the character of a mature Salon that you ordinarily would need to wait much longer for. It didn't hold up, but if you enjoyed it on release you got a wonderful Salon experience. So I was hoping the 1997 would be in a similar mold. It actually isn't. Instead it is quite shockingly similar to the 1996: bracing lemony fruit with a powerful minerality, like its spine is made of gunmetal. It was probably my favorite wine there but I wouldn't consider it a drink-now Champagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2010 - amateurwino wrote: 94 Points
Perhaps the most complete wine of the night; very pretty, smooth, very tasty, everything in balance. Vying with the Krug 1998 for WOTN. 93-95
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2010 - Lord Rayas wrote: 96 Points
Thomas Keller dinner (Mandarin Grill): wonderfully expressive nose of smoke, flowers and sweet apples. long and complex. much more welcoming to drink now than the tight 1996. washed down well with Chef Keller's "oysters and pearls".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2010 - lowereastscott wrote: 95 Points
Wow. Just ridiculous. Amazingly complex, but entirely in balance. Marigold yellow in color, fine mousse. Lemon rind and yeast on the nose, not particularly strong bouquet at first, though. Crisp, fresh acidity. A burst of fruit followed by something more creamy, like creme brulee on the mid-palate. Finishes towards the mineral side and lasts for at least 30 seconds. We're hooked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2010 - subtlet Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tete de Cuvee Champagne Tasting - Oct 23rd ,2010 (Red Slate, Portland, Oregon): The nose immediately reminds me of vanilla ice cream with a light and gentle touch. This leans toward apple pie a la mode, but I'm not entirely there. The crust scents are faint and light, but the baked apple and nutmeg scents are there fully. The acidity on the palate is awesome, and the fruit is soft. The fruit evolves slowly and delivers spectacular flavor on the mid palate with impeccable balance showing throughout the experience. Some of the pie crust appears on the mid palate as well. Gentle fruit lingers on the finish as the full acidity cleans things out and makes you reach for another sip. This is complex, lengthy, and mouthwatering. A landmark champagne experience for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2010 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
Zachys Robin Hood 2010 Wine Tasting (La venue, NYC): wonderful. green apple dominated palate, with some interesting musk notes on the nose that might turn off some. incredibly aromatic and this has put on some wight. nutty caramel popcorn. med(+) finish is delightful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2010 - vumansky wrote: 92 Points
Light golden with tiny bubbles. Not as yeasty as I would have liked. Pleasant citrus with a bit of toast notes. Excellent, but definitely over priced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2010 - bonniewai@waiconnor.com wrote: 95 Points
Complimentary of Ophelia & Steve when we ran into them at Nanban-Kan. This is the most forward bottle we have had to date. It has beautiful aromas of green apple, yeast, lemon, with rich, round, fresh citrus, followed by a terrific, lengthy finish. I would have preferred a little more acidity but overall very delicous and ready to drink!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2010 - psmith wrote:
Musty, mineral driven chardonnay fruit. Oyster shell. Medium body. Fine mousse. Firmly acidic but showing lots of yellow fruits and leesy notes. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2010 - MatthewF wrote:
Burgundy Dinner with Friends (Bryn Mawr Country Club, IL): Yellow citrus and light stonefruit aromas. Crushed stone. Creamy fruits on the palate and a nice mineral backbone. Has picked up some weight since the last time I've had it. Drinking quite well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2010 - BradE wrote:
Drank two bottles of 97 Salon this past week. They were fine, others liked them a lot, but for my tastes, I like the 96 a lot more. Even adjusted for the current $100 price differential, I'm a fan of 96.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2010 - Pacalet wrote: 94 Points
Very good after opened for 2hours plus, very fine bubbles, yeasty, baked apples, still very young and can only get better with time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2010 - MySacha wrote: 100 Points
Drank w Carmine at coast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2010 - pc.jams wrote: 96 Points
Sensational. Acid is well under control without an malolactic-driven butteriness. Crisp and somehow warm at the same time. The fruit is perfectly displayed framed by a soft touch from the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2010 - Colima74 wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely delicious. Extremely tiny bubbles that did not assault the palate but floated over it. Not yeasty or too acidic. Perfect balance and flavors. Outstanding. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. At Pescadou. 95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2010 - Jona wrote: 96 Points
Still a baby but what a wine!
Deep, big,very integrated and quite dark fruit on the nose. It's also creamy and holds lots of chocolate tones.
The taste is of course big and long, but also round and fresh. After I had finished the wine I noticed that I hadn't been thinking of the mousse... I interpret this as it was totally integrated with the acidity. Good! The minerality is also there but not so clear yet.
The finish is a bit bitter and the acidity too high. It will surely develop into an extraordinary wine. I would like to try this again after 10 years. 95-97 p.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
12.0% alcohol. Positively stunning. An interesting comparison to the bold, focused, and massively concentrated 1996. This wine is light yellow, with somewhat subdued bubbles. Stunning, complex bouquet of apple, citrus, brioche, and minerals. In the mouth, elegant, concentrated, but the picture of balance. This is a lighter style of Salon, with a weightless potency about it. The fruit is pure and crisp, the apple, green apple, and citrus framed by bright minerality and acidity. Effervescent and light, but beautifully pure and concentrated. You really can't ask for much more from an elegant Champagne than this. Strong acidity that isn't overwhelming. A finish that sails on and on and only builds as it continues. A
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2010 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
nose - apple
mouth - crisp and very nice but not feeling the hype by any stretch of the imagination. From the Tasting Notes there is some suggestion that perhpas i'm hitting this too early. My first salon, and from a QPR standpoint perhaps my last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2009 - MatthewF wrote:
Ripe yellow citrus fruits on the nose with wet stones. Fat on the palate with quite a bit of ripe/creamy yellow fruits. Good body with a moderate plus finish. Decent minerality, but not what I usually expect from Salon. Still quite nice and easy to drink now, but not a profound Salon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2009 - PeteNJ75 wrote: 95 Points
Rich, complex, firm and crisp. Had a depth of flavor and elegance I haven't tasted in many champagnes. Wish I had more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2009 - dhammer53 wrote:
DRank this at a tasting at Zachy's. Nice color. Nice taste. Raisens? A little sweet, but in a reserved, graceful way. On sale $315.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2009 - Shorepower wrote:
Salon 1997 was completely closed in the beginning, almost odorless and with a short aftertaste. After a few hours you could start to suspect something, but it was actually closed even after four hours. You can glimpse a clean and clear champagne with a lot of potential. That Salon 1997 would be a champagne to be drunk young, which some journalists writes is something I completly disagree with..
Salon var helt knuten från början, nästan doftlös och med en kort eftersmak. Efter några timmar kunde man börja ana något men den var faktiskt rätt sluten även efter fyra timmar. Vad man kan skymta är en ren och klar champagne och den kan säkert bli riktigt bra om ett antal år. Att Salon 1997 skulle vara en champagne att drickas ungt, som vissa journalister påstod vid släppet, håller jag inte med om. Intressant var resan den gjorde i glaset. Tyder på en stort underliggande vin. Det ska bli kul att om 10 år prova den jämsides med 99an som snart kommer ut. Om den är motsvarande andra 99or så kommer nog 97an bli mer långlivad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2009 - Kevin_C wrote: 93 Points
Champagne Tasting (Wide World of Wines - Washington, DC): My first taste of Salon. A little yeast and citrus. Clean bouquet. Pretty pale color with no bubbles. Very silky and tantalizing on the palate. 'Electric' comes to mind. Smooth and creamy with a nice balance of acidity. Completely opposite style and make compared to 1999 Dellemonte. I was hoping for more here. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2009 - ews3 wrote: 95 Points
Zachys Fall 2009 Food & Wine Extravaganza (The Lighthouse at Pier Sixty (NYC)): phenomenal. layers and layers of complexity. pear, bright toast, green apple, raw almond. long, light finish is really incredible.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 94 Points
Honey on the nose, dewy. Nutty on the palate, with a long, tart finish. Nice acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2009 - peternelson wrote: 95 Points
Wally’s: Super aromatic, perfect nose, complex, balanced, delicate yet powerful, super long finish; Almost perfect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2009 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Domaine Leflaive Tasting and Dinner (Knightsbridge - Northbrook IL): Why not? Forward and lush for Salon, a sharp contrast to the 1996 laser-like and chiseled character. Very good energy and textures, but very pleasurable young.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2009 - psmith wrote:
Domaine Leflaive Dinner (Chicago, IL): Fat for young Salon, and not as aggressive as expected. Some yellow citrus fruits but plenty of weight and less minerallity than usual. Firm mousse. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2009 - jeff nowak wrote: 93 Points
super young, and definitely not the buxom nellie the 96 was @ this stage. good complexity across the palate, reticent fruit, pale color. priced out of touch @ $400 on "special". i'd rather backfill the 96.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2009 - GreatLibations wrote: 93 Points
Just had this tonight with some folks from the winery. Beautiful and expressive toasted caramel, lemon peel and black olive notes with high acidity and sodium. Long finish. This stuff is amazing wine held for 10 years on it's lees. Just beautiful.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 95 Points
Golden hue. Nutty, caramel nose. Tastes of apple, pear, pineapple and lemon. Excellent depth and complexity on the midpalate. Incredibly well balanced. Long elegant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2009 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Wilson-Daniels Euro Tour '09 (Elway's at the Ritz-Carlton, Denver, CO): I too was surprised to see a '97 offering from Salon, but like the previous taster said, I now know why: this is divine. Having had the '90 in mag not too long ago, I knew where my bar would be, and this did not disappoint. Certainly this is too young to display some of the more esoteric components that only ageing can afford, but nonetheless, this showed tremendous promise. A nose of marzipan, warm cashews, cheese, green apples and pears gives way to a broad mid-palate with layers of perfectly ripe fruit. The acid structure is a thing of beauty, as is the creamy, rich persistence. Approx $349, drink thru 2022
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2009 - christopher wish wrote: 94 Points
surprised that salon released a 97, i now know why. excellent bubbles, opened up rapidly. tropical aromas, and ripe fruit not usual for so young of a Salon. while really really good, this will be a rapidly maturing wine for Salon. i'd say it will peak in about 5-7 years and drink well for no more than 10 before it begins to lose its shine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2009 - thegrandcrew Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light straw in the glass. Great freshness and elegance on the nose with good spice, minerality and lemon cream aromas. Balanced and medium-bodied in the mouth. This wine is fruity with apple flavors coming out immediately, followed by nice citrus notes. Drink now through 2020 and then some.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2008 - Honey Badger wrote: 95 Points
This is one of the most restrained Champagnes I have ever had in terms of fruit, like a mouthful of crushed stones and minerals; extremely aggressive acidity to the point that almost hurts your mouth with the first sip....however, in terms of structure, class and long term potential it is at least 95 points. Surely not delivering the instant pleasure of the '85 or '96, but it has the backbone to last for decades if you have the patience, the most unique Tete de Cuvee.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2008 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
K&L: Brilliant, starbright, angular now, huge a’s, intense, but elegant; nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2008 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
My first taste of a Salon Champagne. Pale golden color, with a fine mousse that slowly dissipates. Notes of citrus fruit, apple, flowers and brioche. Persistent bead, with good acidity and flavors of toast, pear, almond butter and citrus peel. Crisp acidity and a nice finish. 94-96.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2008 - wino_tim wrote: 93 Points
Young, but delightful... already bursting with fruit, this shows outstanding depth and elegance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment