Tasted Sunday, April 12, 2015 by FYC with 722 views
What a treat in terms of both the wine and the company. Thanks to Ryan and Steve for the invite and for linking all the guests together.
The service team at Studio at the Montage Laguna Beach was on point. Special thanks to Steve and Thomas for supplying the Riservas.
A wonderful way to start the night.
Both the 96 and 90 were superb. Steve was spot on when he described them as brethren but one with more age.
The 02 was quite acidic which didn't bother me as much as the lack of fruit and depth when compared to the 96 and 90. I know it's highly rated but I'm not convinced from this tasting.
Very difficult to pick out.
The first wine stood out for me in terms of acidity, cut, and lift. It was quite precise compared to the other 3. My favorite and correctly guessed 08 PYCM Charmes based on the sulfur nose and acidity.
The next 3 were difficult. All seemed a so rich and fat almost to the point of being clunky. Lacking acidity for my tastes. Hard to pick them out and hard to tell them apart. Maybe a testament to the vintage character more than anything else.
What a wonderful flight. Call me crazy but I liked it better than the Charmes flight. While the Charmes were rich and fat, these were so balanced, bright, and with wonderful minerality and delicious fruit. My order of preference was in the order they were poured, 04, 07 then 09. 09 showed surprisingly well given the company.
This is what dreams are made of. Each wine was so perfumed and floral I could be content just smelling the wines. In fact, I was loathe to drink them for fear of diminishing their aroma. Every single wine was excellent. Each perfumed in a differently intoxicating manner.
2002 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
France, Champagne
Quite acidic. Lacking fruit and depth in comparison to the 96 and 90. Obviously needs more time. Tonight, a clear step down from 96 and 90.
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1996 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
France, Champagne
This was an outstanding bottle. Wonderful fruit and acidity. Very bright but the depth and length was accented when tasted alongside the 2002 and 1990.
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1990 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
France, Champagne
Outstanding. Like the 1996 but with more mature notes. A bit richer fruit, a touch more hazelnut and brioche. Maybe a glimpse of what the 96 will become.
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1983 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
France, Champagne
Very advanced profile. Some mushroom and oxidative notes . Fruit was still present along with some mild acidity. Lacking bubbles. Quite enjoyable but probably past peak.
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