The wines of Champagne Delamotte/Salon

Champagne Delamotte/Salon

Delamotte is sister house to the legendary Salon, the latter a super-premium Blanc de Blancs made from a single 1 hectare vineyard in Le Mesnil, plus grapes sourced from 20 other Grand Cru vineyards in the area. Typical production is 8000 cases.

Located in the middle of the Côtes des Blancs in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Delamotte is a small house making only high-quality Champagnes, with a total production of around 50 000 cases annually. Four wines are made: a non-vintage blend, a non-vintage Blanc de Blancs, a Rosé and a vintage Blanc de Blancs. Salon, of course, makes just one wine, a Blanc de Blancs, and only in the best years. Both houses are part of the Laurent-Perrier group.

Chardonnay is the focus here, with the Pinots being used in the non-vintage blend because Chardonnay is thought to be too austere and boring when it is young, and the NV is a relatively young wine (2004 base).

They’re special Champagnes. Delamotte is thought to be an insider’s Champagne, because people who aren’t in the know never seem to have heard of this house, even though it is one of the very best in the region. Personally, I really like the style.

Delamotte Brut NV
50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier, 2004 base. Quite rich, bold and toasty, although still refined. Lovely warm toast and vanilla notes on the palate which is rounded and delicious. 89/100 (03/09)

Delamotte Brut NV
Tight and toasty with some citrus notes on the nose. Beautiful lively palate with nice acidity and freshness. Really lovely. 91/100 (09/08)

Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV
The difference between the vintage and NV Blanc de Blancs is simply more time on lees. They’re effectively the same wines. This is from 2002 base. Refined, toasty, lemony nose is very stylish. The palate shows great concentration and refinement with fresh, tight, lemony fruit and toasty, herby notes. Tight knit. Lovely. 92/100 (03/09)

Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV
Lovely freshness on the nose: crisp and tight with some nutty notes and also some citrus. Taut, herby palate is fresh and crisp with great acidity and broad flavours. 92/100 (09/08)

Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 1999
This was disgorged at the end of 2007. All 2008 it was stony and mineral with no aromatics to match the width on the palate; then in 2009 it began to open up. Aromatic and warm with an appley herby nose and complex citrussy notes. The palate is bright and fresh with lovely purity of lemony fruit. Nice acidity. 92/100 (03/09)

Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 1999
Complex, dense, tight herby nose with good citrussy freshness. The palate is concentrated and taut with nice acidity and some broader, savoury nutty notes. Lovely. 93/100 (09/08)

Delamotte Rosé Brut NV
80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay. Co-fermented. Light onion peel colour. Complex, taut herby palate with nice freshness and a hint of red fruits. Lovely stuff. 92/100 (09/08)

Salon 1997
Very toasty, complex, intense nose is bready, toasty and broad. The palate is intense, taut and savoury with some herby notes and tannic grip. Really dense and complex with great ageing potential. 93/100 (09/08)

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