2015 has given a Salon of power and elegance, impeccably cut. The wine enchants from the very first pour, not least for being so distinctly, unmistakably, Salon, in its scent, stature and subtle sensuality. The nose is delicate, detailed with white flowers — jasmine, honeysuckle, linden flower — and that ever-present seam of chalk, the foil that tempers that evocative perfume. Dense, intense yet somehow weightless, the wine is luminous and long-line in the mouth, the mousse seamless and fine as silk. Taut and upright, yet already showing the beginnings of Salon’s characteristic breadth, the 2015 vintage will resonate with those familiar with the house’s distinctive style: power allied to freshness, the quiet intensity of true poise. Pure and enduring on the finish, the wine leaves a lingering chalky imprint that speaks so clearly of its origins, promising to evolve with haunting beauty over the coming decades. The 45th Salon to be released in 120 years, 2015 is a vintage that quietly reinforces the singular legacy of Salon: luminous yet cool, generous yet infinitely refined, and a fitting addition to Salon’s remarkable lineage.
