And then this happened. Oh my days! Opened prior to dinner and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1990 pours a deep garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of powerful ripe and desiccated brambles, dried purple flowers, beef blood, leather and mushrooms and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry and structure is still going strong with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, to quote “Squints”, the finish goes on, FOR-EV-ER. A monument. Drink now through 2040. — 10 days ago
Just really starting to hit its perfect drink window. Really excellent Blanc de Blanc. Green apple, lime pulp with zest, amazing freshness & acidity. — 16 days ago
Had the 15 Salon two-weeks ago. After, I had this cuvée and their 2018 Delamotte. Not really a fair order. So tonight, thought I’d give it one. Been awhile since I enjoyed this cuvée.
In the rare case, Salon does not declare a vintage, this is where that fruit goes. So…when & if, buy this n/v.
Nice mousse, crispy, racy acidity. Lime pulp with zest, lemon pulp, green/golden apple, white stone fruit, some yellow peach, kiwi, tropicals, frothy, steamed whole milk, caramel, vanillin to vanillin, excellent white spice, palate penetrating volcanic minerals, limestone marl, brilliant chalky powder with bits, some yeastiness, baguette crust, brioche, toffee & butterscotch notes, almost a sweetish herbaceous quality, daffodils, white flowers set in greens with a nicely rounded, knitted, balanced, spot on tension and a 90 second, elegant finish that long sets on spice & volcanic. — a month ago
I generally don’t embrace this cuvée. Especially, at its price point. I’ll take Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, Billecart St. Nicolas and few others before Cristal. But this 13 out of magnum shows promise.
Excellent with the Prosciutto & Melon. — 4 days ago
Slightly over the apex with the bitter components emerging to the front. Last bottle so perfect timing drinking this last bottle. — 4 days ago
Pale lemon in color with a green hue.
Nose of citrus, gooseberries, minerals, earth and light spices.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with green apples, light limes, grapefruits and minerals.
Tangy finish with limes and light almonds.
Fruit forward with mild complexity. Spicy, easy drinking and entertaining.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$21. — 25 days ago
Dry white at Joe’s stone crab! Loved! — 19 hours ago
Adriana Fabbro
1985. 40 years young. Gave it an hour to open up before dinner (paired orange ginger glazed duck with pistachio apricot farro). Thankfully my partner is a master of the Durand. There’s very little for me to compare this too - most aged whites are preserved by acid; Chave relies on glycerol here. It gives the wine gravitas but also life and freshness. Pleasant wood veneer/wood shop notes, dried apricots at first (become fresher with time), yellow plum, truffled earth. Salty poached apricots and timelessness. In a perfect world, we’d be sharing this with my dad. Strange & sensational. — 9 days ago