Champagne Salon - Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil 2013 (750ml)
Price: $1294.99
| Producer | Champagne Salon |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Varietal | Champagne |
| Vintage | 2013 |
| Sku | 7702 |
 |
In natural light Salon 2013 offers a radiant robe, while golden nuances dance with glints of green in the glass, a reliable indication of a superb Blanc de Blancs. White blossom, linden flowers, jasmine and bergamot zest form its bouquet, laced with the classic minerality of Le Mesnil. The magnitude of the terroir emerges, both subtle and profound. At once rich and long, the palate shows perfect balance, its power contained. The warm character of the vintage is tangible, boasting good structure with elegant rounded aromas of baked apple, toasted hazelnut and salted butter caramel. The chalky, mouth-watering finish buoyed by the evanescent bubbles carries the Salon signature. The wine’s origins have the final say: Le Mesnil is expressed in the forthright, consummate and finely honed character; Salon 2013 unveils an unexpected strength that springs forth.
Champagne Salon Description
Only the 44th release in its 120-year history, Salon 2013 has arrived like some Greek god, with a chiselled profile and lithe, perfectly sculpted long limbs, primed to conquer our hearts and palates. 2013 is distinctive for its extraordinary stature, which will forever set it apart. On approach, its fine features seem to crystallise; its line and curve coming into focus, drawing us in with its beauty. Ten years of cellaring were required for this Proteus to develop its impressive physique and insolent beauty.
Vinous: 99 Points
The 2013 Salon is a huge wine. Dense and explosive, the 2013 possesses almost shocking textural richness for a young Salon. It offers a perfect example of the vintage in the Cotes de Blancs, a year in which ripeness and acids were both elevated. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, mint and white pepper explode onto the palate. Bright saline notes pull it all back together on the finish. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter.
Burghound: 98 Points
The brilliant nose, at once fresh, bright and complex, is even more beguiling than that of the 2012, which is already reference standard for anyone who loves blanc de blancs Champagne. Moreover, it is more expressive than I anticipated with its array of green apple, baked bread, just sliced citrus, quinine and a hint of Chablis-like iodine. The racy yet delicate mouthfeel of the lilting middle weight flavors that is enhanced by the super-fine, if decidedly firm, mousse before terminating in an already complex, harmonious and very dry yet not especially austere finale that goes on and on. Among many attributes to choose from, perhaps my favorite is the underlying sense of poise the ’13 Salon exudes as it’s classy as hell but not inaccessible; otherwise expressed, this is seriously good but borderline gulpable. In short, I was knocked out by this monument in the making and it’s entirely possible that my rating will one day be found to be overly conservative. As longtime readers know, Burghound doesn’t hand out 98-point ratings like they’re candy so when I tell you that this is genuinely great, I’m not kidding. I would further note that despite the fact that this wine has years of evolution ahead of it, it’s already so good that I hesitate to advise waiting; that’s just how good this already is.
James Suckling: 97 Points
Impressive yet very subtle aromas of flint, chalk, stone and honeysuckle, as well as gun powder. Medium body with a solid core of fruit, yet very refined and silky, with a delicate and refined finish. Pure and terroir-driven. Disgorged in 2023. Dosage 5g/L. Really delicious to drink now, or hold.
Wine Advocate: 96 Points
The 2013 Brut Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil continues its ascent and, even with just a couple of extra years in bottle, is already revealing different facets, expressing itself from the glass with aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, fresh hazelnut and freshly baked bread, mingled with marine inflections and a faint hint of mango. On the palate, it is full-bodied, ample and concentrated, underpinned by ripe yet racy acidity, animated by a pinpoint mousse and concluding with a resonant, chalky finish. While not fundamentally different, it is slightly tauter and more incisive in the context of the 2015; yet it possesses no austerity and will hardly disappoint those who choose to open a bottle in the mid-term. That said, it is undeniable that it will continue to gain depth with further aging, with no risk of deterioration.
Wine Spectator: 95 Points
A graceful Champagne, with pleasing plushness to the finely detailed mousse, revealing a delicate honeyed overtone to the notes of apricot tart, lemon curd, white blossoms and smoked almond. Shows a rich, underlying streak of chalky minerality that emerges to drive the lacy finish.
