WTN: 1996 Salon Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs

• 1996 Salon Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne (12/24/2007)
  Pale, golden yellow. Pours with thick mousse. Nose quite sharp at first, opens to reveal some smoke, white pepper, cream brulee. In the mouth, cream, lemon hard candy, and green apple. Ultimately some of the white pepper comes though on the palate, too. An amazingly complex wine that got better and better. Stunning.

Posted from CellarTracker

I have had this 2 or 3 times...and while I have liked it, it has never wowed me. Don't know why. Maybe my mind keeps remembering how much it cost!! Glad you did enjoy it. I've found that I get as much pleasure from, say, a Camille Saves Rose.

I have had this 2 or 3 times...and while I have liked it, it has never wowed me. Don't know why. Maybe my mind keeps remembering how much it cost!! Glad you did enjoy it. I've found that I get as much pleasure from, say, a Camille Saves Rose.

I agree about the Salon and would rather drink a Taittinger Comtes de Champagne any day. Of course one could almost have 2 bottles of the Comtes instead of the Salon and while I am sure there are vintages [probably the ripe ones] of Salon which present better than the ones I have had [96 is probably too early] I find it a much less generous champagne - never mind the cost.

Of course if you really want to test your ability to separate the cost from the taste, try a Krug Clos du Mesnil. I am delighted to say I found it [many years ago] as quirky as the Salon and at around 7 times the already expensive Comtes de Champagne that's a relief since, despite the chorus of superlatives, I have no desire to do it again.

Fortunately I was able to pick up these bottles at an insane discount, not even close to current retail. I have some more, which I will happily tuck away in the cellar for a long, long time.

The 1985, maybe four years ago, was one of the best Champagnes I've ever had. Thanks for the note, Michael.

Michael,

I stared at the '96 Salon again the other day, but could not bring myself to part with the $236 to bring it home. Can you compare it to the '96 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill? I have tasted that Champagne though not on my cost.

The problem with drinking the Salon now is that it is a very hard wine. In all senses of the word "hard." Buying one to drink now, you wouldn't feel it was a $200 well spent. Buying some to drink 10+ years from now is a different story.

I'm sorry; I haven't had the Churchill, so I can't compare.