Champagne's first, finest and rarest Blanc de Blancs, Salon is the legacy of one man who devoted his life to creating the perfect pure-Chardonnay champagne. Produced from grapes grown on the deep chalk soils of Le Mesnil, still one of Champagne’s only Grand Cru villages, the apparent simplicity of this formula belies the challenges inherent in creating a wine of Salon’s complexity. Made on average only three times per decade, Salon Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs 2004 is only the thirty-ninth vintage of Salon in history. Just 42,000 bottles of Salon were produced in 2004.

Weather: The 2004 vintage saw an initial winter of mild temperatures with intermittent storms and hail. The spring and summer months were hot and sunny and the sugar levels late in September produced good quality fruits, especially for the Pinot Noir grapes. A rare decision was taken by the Salon team in 2004 to carry out a ‘vendage vert’ (green harvest) to thin the crop. A huge harvest in general for the region. Overall many experts believe that 2004 is one of the greatest vintages of the last two decades.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: 10 years on the lees
Dosage: 7 g/l
Drink: Now to 2035

Tasting Note: On the nose hints of jasmine and freshness, this continues on the palate with plenty of fruits and pear. Brioche combines with a creamy mousse leading to a lengthy finish. A vintage that is drinking well already but with a great capacity to age and improve.

Salon is a story of the singular. One champagne of one variety from one vintage sourced from one region (Côte des Blancs) and one village (Le Mesnil-sur-Oger): there is only one Salon. Founded in 1911, Champagne Salon is also the creation of just one man, Eugène-Aimé Salon. A Champagne connoisseur enchanted and then seduced by the terroir of Le Mesnil, he created Champagne's first Blanc de Blancs at the beginning of the 20th century: originally only for personal consumption! The first known vintage was 1905 and since then, just forty more have been released.

The grapes used in the Salon blend come from ten hectares and twenty plots and the concentratedly fruity style of the House derives from their super-concentrated yield of very old vines. Purchased by Laurent-Perrier in 1989, today they share a Cellar Master and vineyard with next-door neighbour and sister company, Champagne Delamotte. Salon is a true rarity, with a maximum annual production of 60,000 bottles that invariably disappear into the cellars of collectors. With only ten employees (six in the cellar and four in the office) and riddling performed by hand, attention to detail is the key to Salon's prowess.

Cellar Master: Dominique Demarville
Winery Location: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Côte des Blancs
Annual Production (bottles): 60,000