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$264.95
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W&S 97
WA 94
WS 94
France
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Champagne
In stock, 12+ available
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List $359.00
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97 points Wine & Spirits: "Essential Salon: A pure evocation of chardonnay in limestone, a powerful and profound Champagne. 'F*** yes,' said one visiting sommelier from Los Angeles. As for me, I love this wine. Its freshness is astonishing, tasting like fruit that was just picked, yet it somehow has the wisdom and harmony that comes with time. There’s a modulation to the flavors as they rise from limestone, dive into fresh cream and rise again in savory richness. Though other ’99s may not reach this level, the wine makes a stunning argument for its terroir. If you want to identify great Salon in the future, remember the scent of this glass. (Dec 2011)"
3 stars, Peter Liem (ChampagneGuide.net): "...this 1999 shows an undeniable refinement, driven by its archetypal Mesnil chalkiness as well as a surprisingly prominent acidity. It's a pleasing contradiction of characters: while its notes of Meyer lemon, grapefruit pith and nut oils are luscious and atypically forward for a young Salon, it also feels unusually youthful and tense for the vintage, and as compelling as it is to taste now, it clearly contains hidden facets waiting to be revealed in the future. On the mid-palate it acquires a concentrated ripeness of flavor that hints at red fruits, and it finishes with expansive, mouthfilling dimension, persisting with long, kinetic and subtly complex length. As with the superb 1997, this wine will likely be viewed with suspicion by those who believe that a young Salon must only be all about razor blades and laser beams, but in truth, all of the post-1988 releases have shown a great deal of richness, and the 1999 is highly successful in its blend of modern personality and classical style. There's no reason to believe that it won't continue to develop for the next decade at least, and it should turn out to be quite exciting, particularly if you give it sufficient time in the cellar. Last tasted: 4/11."
94+ points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 1999 Brut Blanc de Blancs is impenetrable. This is a massive, full-bodied Salon that totally saturates the palate with fruit. Neither as austere or pointed as the 1996, nor as open as the 1997, instead the 1999 comes across as big, rich and powerful. There is little in the way of flavor or aromatic development, and it may be some time before any real complexity develops in bottle. Today it looks like the wine's best days are well off into the future. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. (Nov 2011)"
94 points Wine Spectator: "[$359 list] There's a streak of minerality and a lacy texture to this floral Champagne, with finely tuned acidity to focus the candied lemon zest, poached pear, nutmeg and ginger hints. A more delicate style, but seamless in its balance and finesse, with a subtle finish. Drink now through 2024. 5,000 cases made. (12/31/11)"
19/20 points Gault & Millau: "From a noble origin Le Mesnil, a single grape variety Chardonnay and only during major vintages, this 1999 is a vintage that provides a lot of emotions. This is not the most powerful vintage of the decade and one may prefer the '96, for example. But the fragility of the balance and the ethereal touches us and delights us as a mantilla placed on a soft shoulder."
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