2004 Salon: The Market Can Accelerate When Volumes Are Limited

At RareWine Invest, we seek out all the Salon we can access. We do this because Salon is some of the most spectacular Champagne in the world. The quantities are also extremely limited, and even though Salon is the Champagne we have had the most investment tips on, it is not an option we offer very often.

Therefore, this is the first time in 2023 that we can offer more than a few bottles of Salon for investment - but even here, only very few investors can enjoy the iconic Champagne. 2004 Salon is available for investment, and below you can see how Salon has delivered strong returns and how Antonio Galloni from Vinous comments on the price trends in Champagne.

Salon is a unique hybrid between a strong Champagne brand and spectacular Champagne for connoisseurs in super limited production from a Champagne perspective - and there is potential in that.

Salon - One Of A Kind In Champagne

In 1905, Eugéne-Aime Salon presented his first Vintage Champagne made entirely from Chardonnay - the world's first Blanc-de-blancs. And the world's first Salon.

Champagne Salon is the story of how one man's vision resulted in a Champagne that is only released in vintages that fulfill the uncompromising requirements defined by its creator. Champagne Salon is made from a single grape variety harvested in a single village - a Vintage Champagne that will only be produced in the equivalent of 60,000 regular bottles per vintage it is released.

"Salon is not just the story of a man and a mission. Salon is the epitome of how to create a unique style and one of the most interesting Champagnes for geeks, romantics, and investors alike. Salon is also the example of how the right investors can take the geekiness and hype to new heights."

If you had to describe Salon in one word, 'sublime' would be appropriate. In reality, it deserves more credit, and the above quote comes from an article from our Academy archive that gives a detailed insight into the history of the Champagne house.

Read it here: Salon Champagne Is As Pure As Champagne Can Get

Salon - There Are No Bad Vintages

Because Salon is only produced in vintages where quality permits, there is no such thing as a bad vintage. Of course, some vintages stand out from the rest, but the six vintages released this millennium have averaged a score of 96.1 points across scores from Richard Juhlin, Vinous, and Wine Advocate.

2004 Salon gets 96 points from Champagne guru Richard Juhlin and 96 points from Wine Advocate. However, as the chart below shows, two different scores from Vinous are included.

Typically, we use the latest score from a critic when presenting them in investment tips. The latest Vinous score for 2004 Salon is from March 2023, and it is 90 points. The reason we choose to include the previous score for the 2004 Salon of 97+ points from Vinous from March 2016 is that it is unusual for a wine to vary so much in the rating. It is hardly the case that this new score can generally represent the level of the 2004 Salon. Therefore, the two different scores are represented in the chart below so you can make your own judgments.

NOTE: According to Wine Advocate, the 2004 Salon has a drinking window from 2020-2035, and according to Vinous, it has a drinking window from 2023-2030 - a long time ahead.

This Is How Salon Has Performed

Salon has it all, which is why it is also an investment favorite. Salon has brand power, quality, exclusivity and has delivered both double- and triple-digit returns on the campaigns we have previously prepared investment tips for. See the overview below and find previous investment tips here.

Furthermore: According to Liv-ex, the last 10 vintages^* of Salon that have been on the market for at least five years have returned an average of 143.4% over the last five years - giving an average annual return of 19.4%.

In this investment tip, it is also interesting to look at the performance of previous vintages with the same score. Richard Juhlin is the ultimate Champagne expert, and in addition to 96 points for the 2004 Salon vintage, the 1990, 1995, and 2002 Salon have also received 96 points from Juhlin^**. According to wine-searcher.com, the offer prices for these have developed as follows over the past 10 years:

• 1990: +276% (Equivalent to 14% average annual return)
• 1995: +416% (Equivalent to 18% average annual return)
• 2002: +358% (Equivalent to 16% average annual return)

In other words - Salon performs.

*1998, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007

**2012 Salon has also received 96 Juhlin points, but it is still so new in the market that its price history is not considered relevant for this case.

Vinous: Established Producers Can Bear The High Prices

There is no doubt that the price of a Salon is high - regardless of the vintage. This is due to the limited supply, the consistently high quality, and the global demand for the world's best wine.

“Prices for a number of wines [Champagnes] have become stratospheric, à la Burgundy, as more and more consumers discover the most coveted growers and wines. Some of these prices strike me as absurd, but the market can move very, very quickly when production is tiny. For growers and wines that are established, it is what it is.” – Antinio Galloni, Vinous May 2023.

If you look at Champagne's Burgundian counterparts, Salon is nowhere near a price match. And the anticipation of the growth of China's wine market is interesting.

"According to research and consulting firm GlobalData, the wine market in China will nearly double by 2026, growing from $42 billion in 2021 to $72.2 billion in 2026, representing an average annual growth rate of 11.5%. Growth is predicted to be led by still wine, while the sparkling wine category is estimated to grow at an average annual rate of 11.3% to 2026."

The above is an extract from the analysis: Analysis: The Prospects In Champagne - Will The Corks Pop In The Future?

Conclusion: The demand for sparkling wine is expected to increase. Salon is an established Champagne house that does not compromise on quality and therefore does not increase supply. Salon can bear the high price tag and does not yet match the prices of Burgundy's best.

Furthermore, according to wine-searcher.com, the cheapest offer for 2004 Salon right now is: €1,142^*. Your price is €1,100*.

*Price per bottle, ex duty, tax, and VAT, in full cases and perfect condition.

RareWine Invest's Opinion

It is tough to believe that having Salon in your portfolio is not favorable. And the data above clearly backs up that claim. The problem is that it is becoming more and more difficult to acquire. In Burgundy, a price ceiling does not yet seem to be visible, and if you believe in the best Champagne, you can quickly look at the price development in Burgundy.

This case is accompanied by strong historical returns, sparse supply (after all, 2004 Salon has been on the market for seven years, so ongoing consumption has reduced yields even further), and a brand with inbuilt demand.

Only five cases are available - sold on a first-come, first served basis.