1996 Salon Cuvee 'S' Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut, Case of 6 btls

DR100 (Salon, Cuvée S, Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France, White) This is monumental. The aromas begin with bright citrus, mineral, and saline notes and gain in amplitude with time in the glass to reveal a more exotic, almost tropical side, a well-integrated note of brioche, and just a suggestion of fresh creamery butter. The texture is still almost laser-like, with racy lemony acidity and a powerful combination of extract and vigor that carry it to a long, vigorous finish. Nearly 25 years after the harvest, this has barely evolved despite being disgorged in January 2006. Dosage 5g/L. ( RP99 "This bottle of the 1996 Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut was drinking superbly and represents the apotheosis of Blanc de Blancs, unfurling over the course of three hours with a stunningly complex bouquet of citrus oil, confit lemon, dried white flowers and oyster shell, with hints of praline and pastry cream becoming more pronounced as the wine opens up in the glass. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, defined by the incisive spine so typical of the vintage that, here, is cloaked in layers of crisp fleshy and chalky extract. The finish is long, penetrating and saline." WK Aug 2019
Salon Cuvee 'S' Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut
Originally conceived as a private label for personal consumption by its founder, Eugene-Aime Salon, this Champagne house was revolutionary in its concept: produced from a single grape variety, a single village and a single vintage at a time when the region's wines were typically blends in every sense, Salon was a contradiction.