2007 Champagne Salon & 2008 Delamotte

I was privileged to be amongst the very first people in Singapore to taste the new releases of Delamotte and Champagne Salon at the biennale of the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne at the Four Seasons, Singapore, on 24 May 2018. As readers may know, Delamotte is the sister estate of Salon, producing some 320,000 bottles annually while Salon only produces about 60,000. The 2008 vintage for champagne, just beginning to be released by a number of producers, has long been heralded as the greatest ever of the new millennium, so much so that Salon itself will only be released solely in magnum bottling. That certainly says a lot!

But, before that, as an overture we have the 2008 Delamotte Blanc de Blancs, poured from magnum this evening and served in a chardonnay glass. Exuding a soft glow of yeasty tones and earthiness with a lovely depth, this wine is gentle on the palate, rounded with traces walnut and almonds, striking an excellent balance with remarkable depth and layering as more of its glorious citrus emerged to the fore over time with great acidity and persistence. In spite of the fabulous intensity of fruit, this wine was never out of proportion, staying superbly balanced throughout its length. Really excellent.

And while we await the 2008, the first bottle of 2007 Champagne Salon in Singapore was popped, poured from magnum and served in chardonnay glass as well.  Immediately effusive on the nose with delicate notes of green apples and green melons tinged with some earthiness, it shut down a little like a shy debutante before gradually opening up with broad crystalline tones and lighter textures conferred by its fine gentle bubbles and understated minerals laced with traces of sweet amidst sublime acidity, very lithe on the palate, striking a wonderful balance. This is truly a distinctly feminine expression that is most apt for champagne and Salon has, once again, aced it perfectly.

Looking ahead, I can tell you as well that Champagne Salon will not be declared for 2009, 2010 and 2011. With all the anticipation building up to its 2008 release in a year’s time, after which we will all be starved, I’m afraid we will have to brace ourselves for the stratospheric prices to come. I must really thank all the guys at Vintage Club for this wonderful opportunity. Merci !