The 2005 is super pure and superbly balances classically ripe fruit aromas with terroir-driven chalkiness and subtle oxidative notes. The palate is decidedly dry and has great finesse. The finish is extraordinarily long and brilliantly complex.
Reviews:
- James Suckling: From a duo of Avize Grand Cru parcels, this has a stunning sense of purity about it and is truly driven by terroir with gentle complexity to the élevage. The lemon, grapefruit, and yellow-nectarine fruits are prevalent and pure on both the nose and palate, while other aromas come along in the chalky, lightly spicy zone. The palate has flawless build and drive and the acidity is assertive but wrapped in concentrated citrus flavors and underpinned with fine, smooth phenolics. Fruit flavors run super deep into the finish, which is wrapped in a smooth build of warm, toasted hazelnuts and super-pure chalky notes. This is brilliant now, but age it through to 2025 to enhance the savory richer side of this superb Champagne.
Producer Information
Jacques Selosse Estate is a highly regarded Champagne house. It is known for its Substance cuvée, and its use of a solera system dating back to 1986, a technique more commonly associated with Sherry. The Brut Initiale and Version Originale are both made from three vintages of Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Oger. Jacques Selosse’s Flagship cuvée Substance, also a blanc de blanc, is sourced from the Avize terroir. From 2010, the Lieux-Dits Collection of six single-vineyard wines was introduced showcasing specific Champagne villages. In the winery, Jacques Selosse uses oak barrels for fermentation rather than the usual stainless steel. The wines are left on their lees for extended periods, and dosage is kept to a minimum. The estate was set up in the 1950s by Jacques Selosse, who sold a large portion of his grapes to Champagne Lanson. However, the house gained the most fame from his son Anselme Selosse, who took over the running of the estate in 1980. Selosse improved quality, reducing yields and converting the vineyards to organic viticulture. He also began to carefully consider the terroir of the vineyard holdings, particularly in the grand cru villages Avize, Cramant and Oger. Today, he is known for being one of the first to champion terroir in Champagne.
