Salon 'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay 2004

98 points - rare release                   Extremely limited opportunity on one of the most sought-after Champagnes in the world. 98 Points James Suckling:  "2004 Salon weaves together immense complexity with stunning purity and makes instant impact on the nose with fresh-baked pastry and brioche, chalky minerals, fresh white mushroom, cucumber, lemon curd and striking lemon and lime citrus fruits. The palate has an almost smoky mineral thread, toasty autolytic flavors build and expand through the mid-palate, opening to grapefruit and ripe white peach flavours, lemon sorbet and very lightly grilled hazelnuts to close. This is an impressively layered Blanc de Blancs in which bright acidity supports the flavorsome, concentrated and fleshy texture in seamless balance. A great Salon, very composed and complex in every respect, a classically styled vintage in which this legendary Champagne has excelled. It will be a fascinatingly complex Champagne with further age. Drink now and for 10+ years." 97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous):  "The 2004 Salon has been superb each time I have tasted it over the last year or so. Bright, tense and crystalline, with all of the energy that is typical of both Salon and the vintage in the Côte des Blancs, the 2004 bristles with superb precision and cool, pulsating minerality. The 2004 spent a dozen years on its lees. Over the last six months or so, it has gradually begun to open up, but it is very much a wine for the cellar. Two thousand four is remembered as a vintage with record high yields. Salon (and Delamotte) did a terrific job in keeping the vines well balanced. Production was just 46,000 bottles, as opposed to the 60,000 or so that is more typical. Chef de Caves Michel Fauconnet opted for a low dosage of just 4 grams per liter. This is a tremendous showing." Only 62,000 bottles of this, the 40th vintage of Salon's Blanc de Blancs were made. This exceptional vintage bottling comes from a one-hectare parcel owned by Salon called "Salon's garden," along with 19 other smaller parcels in Mesnil-sur-Oger that were chosen by Aimé Salon back at the beginning of the 20th century. It was cellared in bottle for at least 10 years.

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