Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil 2007 (1.5L)

96 Points, Stephan Reinhardt, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "There are pure chalk and lemon juice notes intertwined with perfectly ripe, sunny white and yellow-fleshed fruit expressions (even hints of pineapples) on the bright, fresh, subtle but most of all highly elegant and nobly expressive nose. Altogether, that makes the 2007 Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut an outstanding Salon that already shows its class without any reservation but also without any compromises to its refined and terroir-driven style. Compared to the powerful and structured 2006 that, from my memories, showed wet chalk flavors but almost no fruit in its youth, the weightless and delicate 2007 is a coolish, elegant and smoky gentleman dressed in a white tie and silk hat-Max Raabe singing Berlin chansons from the 1920s! The performance on the palate is pure yet concentrated, fresh and linear, very elegant and perfectly balanced, but most of all, it is extremely fine and stimulating! There is a chalky-dusty texture in the aftertaste that makes this a great Salon with sublime finesse and elegance. Lovely lemon flavors are displayed on the pure, fresh and concentrated finish. The radiant 2007 Salon is one of the greatest Champagnes I have had from this vintage. 57,000 bottles produced. Tasted from lot L93 SQ 28218 U in November 2018." 11/18

96 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2007 Salon is gorgeous. Weightless, delicate and understated, the 2007 is all class. Today, the 2007 reminds me of the 2004 in its bright, citrus and floral-infused profile, but with a bit more creaminess, mid-palate depth and softer contours, all of which will make the 2007 easy to drink with minimal cellaring. Next to the 2006, the 2007 is quite a bit fresher and more delineated, with none of exuberance, power of tropically-leaning overtones found in its younger sibling. At this stage, the 2007 is a bit inward and closed in on itself. Then again, it is Salon. This is another terrific showing from Salon and the team headed by President Didier Depond. Dosage is 5 grams per liter." 07/18

96 Points, John Gilman, View from the Cellar: "I really love the 2007 vintage of Salon, which seems a tad more accessible out of the blocks than some recent vintages of Salon. The non-malo style of Salon usually makes this wine rather bound up behind its significant structural elements and in need of additional bottle age, even after the wine has spent a decade aging sur latte prior to disgorgement and release. However, the 2007 Salon was nicely giving out of the blocks, with perhaps not a completely unimpeded view to the magic that will be available at full maturity, but a clear line of sight to what lies ahead and already quite a bit of pleasure in the glass. The bouquet is deep, bright and complex, offering up scents of lemon, apple, complex limestone minerality, fresh-baked bread and a lovely topnote of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied, long and nicely accessible, with a rock solid core, lovely limestone mineral drive, elegant mousse and outstanding length and grip on the complex and beautifully balanced finish. The 2007 Salon seems likely to age long and gracefully, as is this marvelous Tête de Cuvée's calling card, but will not demand ten more years in the cellar prior to starting to drink with generosity. A beautiful bottle." 10/18