Wine Article

One of the most anticipated 1996 vintage Champagnes has arrived! Salon is one of the great names in Champagne for a very good reason. It is made only in great vintages (the decade of the eighties only produced '82,'83,'85 and '88) and only from grapes from one village, the grand cru of Mesnil. This village grows the most sought after Chardonnay in Champagne. Half of the vineyards that make the wine are owned by Salon outright, and the other half come from farmers that Salon has been working with for generations. The vines average 40 years of age. Salon suppresses malolactic fermentation for maximum freshness and longevity- an iconoclastic move for a Cote de Blanc producer. The production hovers around 8,000 six-bottle cases, so the wine is always hard to come by but very worth seeking out! (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne buyer)