Incredibly fresh and vibrant, this stunning Champagne weaves a tightly knit skein of ripe pear and tangy yellow plum fruit flavors together, with accents of rich pastry cream, toasted brioche, elderflower, ground cardamom and coffee liqueur. Shows a beautiful texture. A thread of salinity winds through to the lasting finish. Disgorged fall 2013. Drink now through 2029. – AN

Really impressive nose – very broad, creamy, and flinty, with a little bit of reductiveness combining with a smoky flavour and a lovely dairy yoghurt character. Dry and savoury, fabulous length and intensity on the palate. The reputation of this cuvée is deserved in the sense of the sheer quality of flavours and the massive depth on display. It doesn’t seem clumsy in the way that some 2003s do – but it isn’t doesn't have the defining acidity of, say, Salon 2002. In fact it is quite soft. The real attraction, though, is the range and power of the nose. 18.5/20 (RH)