(SALON BdB Champagne) Salon Dear Friends, Our final offer of the year highlights the disparity of wine pricing across the United States with an exclamation mark. As a punctuation on 2009, this wine deserves a special mention. I considered yesterday's Penfolds offer our best deal of 2009 but I'm sure many of you will will vote for this. While in NY for the Blue Hill event a few weeks ago, I was fortunate to try the 1990 Krug, 1995 Krug, 1996 Krug, 1996 Salon and several examples from Jacques Selosse (reported on a few weeks ago) - I also sampled this wine and immediately set out to find a parcel for you. While the 1996 Salon is a magical wine, the 1997 left an indelible impression on my gustatory memory and it may actually be worth the price. I attempted to establish a tariff of $199 but this was as close as I could get (the cellar door price is nearly $350). There is a sense of whimsy and frivolity, even a dose of the flamboyant in the 1997 Salon but do not be fooled - under the obvious surface lie layers of mineral swathed, nearly perfect fruit that is suspended in a buoyant frame of the old and new. It is a gorgeous, lilting and festive example of Salon that combines a sense of the exotic with an Alice in Wonderland-like presence that is in direct opposition to the more compact and endless 1996. This wine is drinking beautifully now but it will also age for another decade with ease and probably longer. While the 1996 version may last longer, tasted side-by-side, the 1997 will undoubtedly be preferred at this stage by a wide range of astute palates. A glorious and fanciful experience that titillates the senses and reminds the jaded palate of how exciting wine can be. While readily available a few weeks ago, the 100pt score (albeit from The Wine News, but it's still 100pts) has caused an interesting rush on this wine (by contrast, they gave the fabulous 1996 Salon 95pts). I was going to wait to offer the 1997 until mid-January but time is now of the essence - especially at this price (less than half of what many NY merchants were charging when I tasted it a few weeks ago). I realize this is still quite costly so I will reprint a number of critical reviews below for a second, third and fourth opinion: It would have been delightful to have this in stock for this evening (it will be here in approximately one week) but there is certainly no rush to consume it. With that, we bid adieu to 2009 and look very forward to 2010... FIRST COME FIRST SERVED up to 96/person until we run out - we cannot ship this wine back to France This parcel has impeccable provenance - it is set to arrive in a week or so: 1997 Salon Champagne (Blanc de Blancs) Le Mesnil-sur-Oger 750ml(BH95)(WN100) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Champ8410
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By Pascaline Lepeltier MS
(Salon, Cuvée S, Edition 2020, Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Chardonnay, Champagne, France, White) Login and subscribe to see review text.Salon & Delamotte masterclass, DFWE NYC, 6/6/2026, (See more on Decanter...)