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Wine Description
The Story
This Champagne is produced from a one-hectare parcel owned by Salon: "Salon’s garden", and from 19 other smaller parcels in Mesnil-sur-Oger, chosen by Aimé Salon at the beginning of the century. The wines are cellared in the bottle for an average of 10 years, gaining in complexity and finesse.
The proof that memory and history are important is shown by the bottles in the cellars from nearly all the vintages that have ever been produced at Salon. Headed by Aimé Salon until his death in 1943, the house was then left to his nephew. In 1988, Champagne Laurent-Perrier, a family-owned company, became the majority shareholder of Champagne Salon.
Made from 100% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs grand cru vineyard, Le Mesnil-sur- Oger. The densely planted vines are located on the mid-slope in chalky soil, and the Cordon de Royat method of trellising is used, which allows access to the soil at the base of the vines.
The grapes are picked and sorted by hand. Only the first pressing, or cuvée, is used. This is the lightest, freshest juice, containing the highest percentage of acidity, which is essential to the evolution and vivacity of the Champagne. The first fermentation takes place in a stainless steel tank. The wine receives no oak exposure and does not undergo malolactic fermentation.
The wine is cellared in the bottle for an average of 10 years, gaining in complexity and finesse. Riddling is done by hand. All bottles are disgorged within 8 months of the first disgorgement, also by hand.
Wine Information
Dosage: 6,2 g/l
Disgorged: January 2019
2008 is the epitome of Salon, an extraordinary wine, aromatically, texturally, structurally, a paradox as it is so often described, defying definition. Didier Depond calls this the 'dream vintage'. Its classic white flower perfume moves knowingly between innocence and exoticism.
The palate is crystalline, fine as silk, with immense power building in the mouth, its incisive chalky acids commanding attention while infinite tiny bubbles smooth and titillate. Still young of course, it is less austere than it is grand, an exercise in grace through precision.
Vintage 2008
The whole production was bottled in Magnums first time ever. In total 8,000 was produced.
2008 was an exceptional year that led ultimately to exceptional decisions. It has garnered a reputation for being a stellar vintage, however the growing season was by no means a smooth ride for vignerons in the Côte des Blancs or indeed the wider Champagne region. The smallest harvest on record at Salon – less than 25% of the usual volume – it was also of extraordinary quality.
