Salon Blanc de Blancs Brut Cuvee Le Mesnil 1997 (750ML)

97 JS /  97 DE / 96 WE / 95 WA / 95 VM / 18 JR

This is phenomenal with mineral, sliced apple and honeysuckle aromas and flavors. It's full-bodied and so refined. Racy and intense. So youthful and long. Like a great and fresh Batard-Montrachet. Long life to go. - James Suckling 

Mild temperatures and extreme cold alternated throughout both winter and spring. A hot and dry summer led to a harvest that commenced on 22 September. Citrussy fruit, including pomelo and lemon, as well as spices and floral scents, suffuse the nose. Rich and dense mouthfeel on the attack giving way to a precise, crystalline texture. Purity, elegance and freshness characterise this magnificent Champagne now at full maturity. - Yohan Castaing

The fabled Salon's latest release is much riper and softer than the great steely 1996 vintage. This suggests it is likely to be ready to drink soon. In the meantime, the acidity is supremely fresh, with grapefruit edges and green apple flavors. And then there is minerality and a tight, structured aftertaste as a reminder that this great Champagne is always going to be more than its fruit. - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

A wine that just seems to go from strength to strength is Salon's 1997 Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut. The Maison kept back large stocks that they have gradually been disgorging over the last half-dozen years—it's still a commercial release and well worth seeking out. From a bottle disgorged in 2020, the wine wafts from the glass with scents of honeycomb, white flowers and orange rind, complemented by hints of burnt marmalade and exotic fruit. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's notably taut and chiseled for the vintage, with racy acids and a beautifully expressive mid-palate. This is really beginning to drink with real grace, and if it doesn't hit quite the same heights as the best bottles of 1996 Salon, I have found the 1997 notably more consistent. I suppose it was picked a touch early, given the botrytis pressure in 1997, but time is being very kind to this wine. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

One of the surprises in this vertical, the 1997 Salon is super-polished, delicate and refined. The 1997 offers lovely detail and nuance throughout. Hints of candied lemon peel, white flowers and white pepper add an element of brightness that complements the wine's natural richness. Although 1997 doesn't belong to the group of elite vintages at Salon, it does come close to that level. Perhaps even more importantly, the 1997 is aging gracefully and should continue to drink nicely for a number of years.-- Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Disgorged September 2018. Dosage 3 g/l. Didier Depond arrived just after the vintage in 1997.

Very expressive with attractive and not excessive chewiness. Herbs and flowers and almost like the biodynamic wild-flower effect. Great spread of aromas and quite a tight texture. Real concentration. Easy to love. Still some chew. - Jancis Robinson