95 points,

Burghound, October 2009

An elegant and very fresh but distinctly yeasty nose of stupendous breadth leads to incredibly intense, pure, detailed and vibrant fl avors that possess superb depth and simply knockout length. 1997 is a powerful Salon and even though it doesn't have the solid acid spine of the very best vintages, this compensates by its approachability and terrifi c mouth feel.

Chuck Hayward, JJ Buckley, October 2010

100% chardonnay. From fruit grown in the grand cru village of Le Mesnil. Very subtle bead and light straw in color. The bouquet is gentle and refined. With some coaxing, aromas of citrus zest and sea shell appear, followed by fresh yeast and caramel. With more time, fresh scents of brioche emerge, along with a hint of pepper. Elegantly profiled and delicate on entry, the core of the wine is clean and bright with subtle flavors of citrus and spice. There's a bit of weight on the palate but this is more subtle than powerful. The integrated acids create tension and focus the palate presence into a tight and compact finish.

95 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 2008

The 1997 Brut Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil possesses striking detail and depth in a surprisingly generous style for this wine. An inner core of perfumed varietal fruit emerges from the glass, along with expressive aromas of smoke, minerals, mint, flowers and licorice, all of which are woven together with extraordinary elegance. The finish is long, sweet and sublime. Everything about this wine speaks to elegance, but in 1997 Salon is also a pleasure to drink young, unlike the 1996 which remains painfully backward. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2027.

93 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, December 2008

($450) Light yellow with a slow bead. Deeply perfumed nose displays waxy orchard and pit fruit scents, along with toasty lees, woodsmoke and wet stone. Weighty pear and yellow peach flavors are given a bitter edge by fruit skin and quinine qualities, picking up salty minerals on the back end. Finishes with firm grip and powerful echoes of minerals and pear skin. This is already beginning to show complexity.

100 points,

The Wine News, December 2010

Lightly burnished yellow-gold hue with a halo-like mousse. Lovely aged aromas of citrus, mineral and brioche. Citrus fl avors of grapefruit and lemon peel laced with char and chalk. Lively, youthful fi nish embodies a perfectly dry, acidic brut style. With every release, this quintessential Blanc de Blancs sets the standard for chardonnay-based Champagne.

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