627211 Fri Jun 12 00:49:58 -0700 2009 2 34 Wine 0 4765673 No formal notes were taken, but FYI: NV I actually preferred the NV to the vintage. Fantastic nose and mid-palate, a little disjointed on the finish. Gingersnaps and a hint of Macademia. Slight bread dough. Really nice NV and a steal for $35. 91.5 1999 Clearly more oaked and the more expensive wine (it had those qualities you associate with more expensive Champagnes) but... I didn't like this as much as the NV. This deffinitely tasted of 100% Chardonnay fruit. Not too special to me, however, and the finish, while long, seemed a bit watery. 90 Rose (from decanter) *Awesome*. Almost s good as the '97 Salon for drinking right now. Cream, orchids, hint of strawberries, a lttle yeasty and hazelnut-y. Maybe not going to improve with more bottle age. 93 1997 Salon Best wine there. Elegant but powerful. Honeysuckle, mineral, cream, lemon butter scone, citrus blossom, and chalk. . 94 (in a few years) 1996 Salon - better than the first time I had it, perhaps because ths time we decanted it for a few minutes first, but this just is too sweet, syrupy, and honeyed for me without good acid integration or complexity. Maybe it just needs 10 years, but this is clearly inferior to the '90, '95 and even '97 right now for me. That being said, I'm dissing it *because* it is Salon. If this were a $50 Champagne, I'd be telling people to back up the truck. 92.5 '01 Jayer Echezaux - Sort of the quintessence of Pinot fruit. Not what I hope for from Burgundy, actually, though I quite liked this. It didn't have the whole stem quality or earth notes that I love so much from other producers (DRC, Leroy, Dujac, etc). Quite a bit of oak, black cherry, rose, and black pepper. Probably at least 10 years from peak, but very enjoyable. 91.5 for drinking right now. Ultimately, probably 92... in at leas 10 years, if not 15+ '01 Comtes Vogue Chambolle Musigny 1'er Cru (this is really a second cutting of the Grand Cru Musigny) - Great aromatics here with lots of violet, black rasberry, and red florals. The palate was not quite as expressive, but I think this just needs another 5-10 years. Notes of mixed berries, mineral, and mocha. Great purity and structure. Long finish. 92+ pts. Fri Jun 12 00:49:58 -0700 2009 50041 whiner 1 4772994 not getting cheated on your wines, are you? Sun Jun 14 20:42:27 -0700 2009 4765673 31795 ibstatguy 2 4774277 I have mean friends who never open anything good for me. Grrrrr.... ;-) :-p Mon Jun 15 10:10:32 -0700 2009 4772994 50041 whiner