Salon Le Mesnil 2004 1.5L OWC

Salon Le Mesnil 2004 in magnum is a single-village, single-vintage Blanc de Blancs from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, here in its original wooden case. It is a taut, mineral Salon with a long life ahead in this format.

About This Champagne

2004 was the 39th Salon. The season started slowly in Le Mesnil, and the house later nicknamed it the quiet vintage. It spent around a dozen years on its lees before disgorgement. It is steely and linear, with green apple and lemon over crushed limestone, and in magnum it is a long-term wine. The house regards magnum as the ideal size for slow, even maturation, and this one comes in its original wooden case.

Tasting Profile

• Nose: Green apple, lemon and crushed chalk, with gunflint and a hint of smoked tea as it opens.
• Palate: Taut and pure, fine acidity and a slight bitterness keeping it in line, then more breadth with air.
• Finish: Very long and mineral, ending on citrus rind.

Serving & Food

Open about 30 minutes ahead, or decant gently, and serve at 12 to 14°C in large white-wine glasses; very cold hides it. Serve with lobster, turbot in beurre blanc or aged Comté. In magnum it has decades ahead, so there is no rush.

How to Enjoy

A cellar magnum for a large table of people who enjoy mature Blanc de Blancs.

Product Details

About the Maison

Salon is the work of Eugène-Aimé Salon, who decided early in the twentieth century that the Chardonnay of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger could make a complete Champagne on its own. The rules he set still apply: one village, one grape, one vintage, and nothing released in years that fall short. That discipline produced just 37 vintages across the whole twentieth century. Fruit comes from Le Mesnil growers plus the house's own small parcel, the Jardin de Salon. Salon belongs to the Laurent-Perrier group and is run with its sister house Delamotte by president Didier Depond, with Michel Fauconnet as cellar master.