The 2002 Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil is a celebrated Champagne blend hailing from the renowned Champagne region of France. Produced by Salon, this vintage displays the distinct characteristics of a top-tier Blanc de Blancs, made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes. With an alcohol content of 12.0%, this white wine is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
This 2002 vintage has garnered exceptional reviews from multiple respected wine critics, highlighting its impressive quality and aging potential. James Suckling from jamessuckling.com awards it an outstanding score of 99, describing it as “Otherworldly in its piercing intensity, focus and sense of potential that is still remarkably yet to come.” He praises its "superfine aromas of lemon and grapefruit" and the "scintillating" palate with “incredible velocity and lightning-like intensity.”
Wine Spectator’s A.N. echoes this high praise with a score of 97. The review notes the wine’s “vibrancy and a sense of finesse” along with its “racy acidity and a streak of chalky minerality.” The tasting notes also mention flavors of “glazed apricot, oyster shell, toasted almond, and spun honey,” accentuated by hints of “ground ginger, dried lemon peel, and marzipan.”
Vinous’ Antonio Galloni, also giving a score of 97, remarks on the wine’s “rich, sumptuous personality” and its well-balanced elements of “apricot, yellow flowers, tropical fruit, menthol, and spice.” He notes that the wine is currently in an ideal spot for drinking, having been disgorged in October 2023.
Decanter and Wine Enthusiast both award this wine a perfect score of 100. Decanter commends its “mineral-infused character” and praises its balance of “freshness and vivacity,” making it both enjoyable now and a prime candidate for aging. Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss highlights the wine’s “intense minerality, a crisp textured core, and the beginnings of maturity,” calling it “memorable and magnificent.”
Burghound’s review, with a score of 96, describes the wine as having a “cool and pure nose” with notes of “citrus, yeast, green apple, floral and iodine elements.” The review emphasizes the wine’s “ultra-fine mousse” and its “fantastically long and deep finish.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gives it a score of 95, noting that the wine has evolved over time with “subtle aromas of brioche, iodine, and walnuts” alongside ripe lemon and green apple. The review describes the wine as “full-bodied, broad and powerful,” with a “delicately chalky finish.”
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com provides a somewhat more critical perspective with a score of 93. He mentions that while the nose is appealing with “citrus and brioche,” the texture feels “harsh and too chalky,” which detracts from the overall experience.
In summary, the 2002 Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil is an exceptional and highly praised Champagne, recognized for its finesse, complexity, and aging potential.