Jacques Selosse
Encyclopedia
Jacques Selosse is a Champagne grower and producer based in the Avize
region of Champagne.
The current proprietor of this estate is Anselme Selosse who took over from his father Jacques in 1980. Anselme studied at the Lycée viticole de Beaune and was one of the first winemakers to apply the winemaking
techniques of white Burgundy
to Champagne. In 1994 Anselme was named best French Winemaker by Gault Millau
.
, which means the grapes used to produce the wines are grown in vineyards owned by the winery rather than being purchased from other growers, as is the case in most Champagne production. The entire production is grown according to biodynamic
principles and Anselme is considered a pioneer of biodynamics in Champagne. Selosse wines are fermented
using oak barrels, in contrast to the majority of Champagne producers who use stainless steel tanks.
Two of the wines in Selosse's range, the Substance and the Contraste, are produced using a solera
system, the same process used in Sherry production.
Selosse holds 37 acres (15 ha) of vines, predominantly Chardonnay
with the remainder Pinot Noir
. Around 55,000 bottles are produced each vintage, dependent on conditions.
. Rather than the traditional grapes used in Champagne, these wines are made with native Italian grapes such as Greco
, Falanghina
and Fiano
.
Avize
Avize is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.-Champagne:The village's vineyards are located in the Côte de Blancs subregion of Champagne, and are classified as Grand Cru in the Champagne vineyard classification.-See also:...
region of Champagne.
History
The estate was founded by Jacques Selosse and his family in the 1950s, with the first vintage being bottled in 1960.The current proprietor of this estate is Anselme Selosse who took over from his father Jacques in 1980. Anselme studied at the Lycée viticole de Beaune and was one of the first winemakers to apply the winemaking
Winemaking
Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of wine, starting with selection of the grapes or other produce and ending with bottling the finished wine. Although most wine is made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruit or non-toxic plant material...
techniques of white Burgundy
Burgundy wine
Burgundy wine is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here - those commonly referred to as "Burgundies" - are red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes or white wines made from...
to Champagne. In 1994 Anselme was named best French Winemaker by Gault Millau
Gault Millau
Gault et Millau is one of the most influential French restaurant guides founded by two restaurant critics, Henri Gault and Christian Millau in 1965. Gault Millau is most famous for its rating system, on a scale of 1 to 20. Restaurants below 10 points are almost never listed...
.
Production
Jacques Selosse is a Grower ChampagneGrower Champagne
Grower Champagnes are sparkling wines made in the Champagne region of France that are produced by the same estate that owns the vineyards from which the grapes come...
, which means the grapes used to produce the wines are grown in vineyards owned by the winery rather than being purchased from other growers, as is the case in most Champagne production. The entire production is grown according to biodynamic
Biodynamic wine
Biodynamic wines are wines made using the principles of biodynamic agriculture. Biodynamic refers to both the agricultural methods and the handling and processing of the fruit post-harvest.-Biodynamic viticulture:...
principles and Anselme is considered a pioneer of biodynamics in Champagne. Selosse wines are fermented
Fermentation (wine)
The process of fermentation in wine turns grape juice into an alcoholic beverage. During fermentation, yeast interact with sugars in the juice to create ethanol, commonly known as ethyl alcohol, and carbon dioxide...
using oak barrels, in contrast to the majority of Champagne producers who use stainless steel tanks.
Two of the wines in Selosse's range, the Substance and the Contraste, are produced using a solera
Solera
Solera is a process for aging liquids such as wine, beer, vinegar, and brandy, by fractional blending in such a way that the finished product is a mixture of ages, with the average age gradually increasing as the process continues over many years. A solera is literally the set of barrels or other...
system, the same process used in Sherry production.
Selosse holds 37 acres (15 ha) of vines, predominantly Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
with the remainder Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
. Around 55,000 bottles are produced each vintage, dependent on conditions.
Wines
- Initial is a blend of three vintages of Chardonnay grapes, aged for at least 2 years before disgorgement in a Brut style.
- Version Originale is also a blend of three vintages of Chardonnay, but it spends 42 months in bottle before disgorgment and has very little dosage resulting in an Extra Brut style.
- Millésime is a single vintage Blanc de blancs made from the grapes of two vineyards in Avize, Le Mont de Cramant and Les Chantereines.
- Substance is a Blanc de Blancs from a single vineyard in Avize. This Champagne is made in a solera system with the base grapes for this wine coming from the 1987 vintage, the blend is topped up with more recent vintages each year.
- Contraste is a Blanc de noirs, made from Pinot Noir grapes, coming from a single vineyard called La Côte Faron in the village of AÿAy, MarneAy is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.-Champagne:...
. Like the Substance cuvee, this is made in a soleraSoleraSolera is a process for aging liquids such as wine, beer, vinegar, and brandy, by fractional blending in such a way that the finished product is a mixture of ages, with the average age gradually increasing as the process continues over many years. A solera is literally the set of barrels or other...
style. The base grapes in this wine are from the 1994 vintage.
- Exquise is a Demi-Sec wine, with around 24g/l of dosage making this a semi-sweet style. Made entirely from Chardonnay grapes as a Blanc de blancs.
- Rosé is produced using Chardonnay grapes from Selosse and Pinot Noir grapes from Egly-Ouriet in AmbonnayAmbonnayAmbonnay is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France.-Champagne:The village's vineyards are located in the Montagne de Reims subregion of Champagne, and are classified as Grand Cru in the Champagne vineyard classification...
.
Partnerships
Anselme has partnered with winemaker Riccardo Cotarella on the sparkling wine production at Feudi di San Gregorio in the Southern Italian region of CampaniaCampania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
. Rather than the traditional grapes used in Champagne, these wines are made with native Italian grapes such as Greco
Greco (grape)
Greco is an Italian wine grape that may be of Greek origin. The name relates to both white and black wine grape varieties. While there is more land area dedicated to Greco nero, the Greco bianco is the grape most commonly referred to by the shorthand "Greco"...
, Falanghina
Falanghina
Falanghina, also called Falanghina Greco, is a variety of wine grape of Vitis vinifera, used for white wines. It is considered a characterful ancient grape variety which may have provided a basis for the classical Falernian wine...
and Fiano
Fiano (grape)
Fiano is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown primarily in the Campania region of southern Italy and on the island of Sicily. In Campania, this fairly strong flavored white wine grape is particularly noted around Avellino where the Denominazione di origine controllata e Garantita wine...
.