Jacques Selosse Substance Blanc de Blancs
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Tasting notes
One of the pinnacles of the tasting with Selosse, unsurprisingly, is the NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Substance, a wine with the most complex making, going through four stages of maturation: from barrels to the bottle. As always, it derives from a solera created in 1986. Originally, the wine was sourced from two parcels in Avize, but today the base wine (which eventually contributes only about 4.8% to the final blend in the bottle) is produced from a selection of plots in the village. Guillaume opted to include parcels that best fit the desired balance—sometimes these will be south-facing, other times east or even north-facing sites. Muscular and multidimensional, it jumps from the glass with a bouquet of kaleidoscopic complexity, featuring notes of orange zest, spices, beeswax, toasted hazelnuts and dried fig. On the palate, it is full-bodied, vinous and textural yet searingly chalky—even more mineral than Les Chantereines. Guillaume Selosse remarks that oxidation during maturation (and through multiple transfers between different vessels) frees the wine from fruit in a classic sense, leaving mostly chalky extract and enhancing its mineral aspect. Every time I taste at this great domaine, I vacillate between Substance and the lieux-dits as to which wine best defines this benchmark producer. The latest release was disgorged in July 2024 with 1.5 grams per liter dosage and promises a concentrated, unforgettable drinking experience.
Critic scores
Average Score
Kristaps Karklins, Wine Advocate
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The NV Champagne Grand Cru Blanc De Blancs Substance is the only wine in the range from Selosse that is produced in a true solera system, with criadera, and this release has the addition of the 2016 vintage going into the cuvée. The nose offers fantastic layered depth framed by a minty freshness lifting from the glass, along with notes of fresh apricot, marzipan, citrus oils, and wet stones. The palate is textural with a core of rich sapidity and buoyant acidity that creates a weightless and impeccably balanced feel throughout. The mousse is fine, but the wine’s savory texture takes the lead. It’s going to drink well now or over the coming 20 years. Disgorged in February 2024.
Distinctive and savory at first, with hints of wood smoke, roasted almond, oyster shell and grilled herbs, this opens on the palate to reveal flavors of glazed apple, crystallized honey, singed orange peel, lime blossoms and ground coffee. Shows a streak of salinity that works in conjunction with fine-cut acidity to keep this focused through the long, mouthwatering finish. Fascinating. 275 cases made.
A ‘solera’ cuvée featuring every vintage from 1987. From two Avize parcels, one south-facing and a down-slope east-facing site. New vins clairs are fermented in new oak before addition to the solera which is in big old oak and one steel vat. 22% is then bottled each year for the new edition. 5–6 years on lees. Dosage 4g/l. Deep gold. Really developed nose. Positively pungent! Rich and flatteringly broad. Dry finish but with sufficient weight and freshness to counterbalance the weight of fruit. Substance indeed! Only just sparkling but very good, and extremely persistent.
About the producer
Under the tenure of Anselme Selosse, Domaine Jacques Selosse became the leading light in the grower Champagne movement – producing unique, peerless Champagnes that are the most fiercely collected and expensive in the world.