Even in a region renowned for luxury and exclusivity, Salon Champagne stands out as something special. Made only in the best vintages and then in tiny numbers, this blanc de blancs is rare, elusive and, thanks to world-class quality, immensely desirable.
The Champagne expert Richard Juhlin sums up nicely what creates the mystique around Salon. For him “Salon is the most sought-after Champagne among connoisseurs. This magnificent wine is so rare that only a few people have had the chance to taste the quintessence of Le Mesnil.”
Salon is 100% Chardonnay from Champagne’s finest Chardonnay Cru, Mesnil. The average age of the vines is around 50 years old and some from a unique microclimate that means the grapes ripen beautifully.
There is no malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity, so Salon demands plenty of age to show at it’s best. It is more than worth the wait as mature Salon is a thing of beauty. Again to quote Richard Juhlin, “Salon expresses a gigantically broad aromatic spectrum, and has a Burgundy-like vinosity… it is unmatched in terms of class and purity”.
As mentioned, Salon is made only in the very best vintages. It was produced only 33 times between 1945 and 2012. A mere 60,000 bottles are all that is made in a typical vintage, minuscule in Champagne terms. This means there is never very much to go around. Unsurprisingly, it has developed a fanatical following and is a must for any complete cellar.
Therefore, if you own Salon you are instantly in a veery exclusive club. It is the mark of a truly complete cellar and, given the remarkable ability for Salon Champagne to age, the sort of wine you simply cannot own too much of.
