Jacques Selosse : Initial Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Initial Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut by Jacques Selosse

Tasting notes

Appearance
The colour is a deep golden yellow with silvery highlights. A fine, steady bead animates the glass, forming a persistent mousse that bears witness to extended ageing on the lees.

Nose
The nose is rich and complex, combining ripe yellow fruit with candied citrus. Pastry notes of brioche and butter sit alongside hints of toasted hazelnuts and honey, while floral touches of white blossom and a pronounced chalky minerality complete the bouquet, subtly enhanced by delicate oxidative notes.

Palate
On the palate, this champagne is ample and vinous, driven by a dense texture reminiscent of a great still white wine. Taut, precise acidity balances this richness, while a mineral salinity brings freshness and tension to the whole. The long, persistent finish extends the sensations of ripe fruit and chalky stone.

Food and wine pairings

This champagne pairs beautifully with shellfish, crab and lobster, highlighting their delicate, briny flesh. Its generous texture also allows it to accompany white meats in creamy sauces or mushrooms. It is, finally, an excellent match for aged, firm cooked-pressed cheeses, such as a mature comté.

A grand cru champagne from the Côte des Blancs shaped by the oxidative method of Maison Jacques Selosse

The estate

Founded in Avize in 1949, Jacques Selosse has established itself as a benchmark in the Côte des Blancs, in Champagne. Recognised as a pioneer of biodynamics in the region, the estate today draws on approximately 8.9 hectares of vines, run by Anselme Selosse and his son Guillaume. The house, which has remained family-owned and independent, cultivates exclusively its own parcels, most of them classified as grand cru, following a demanding viticultural approach inspired by the great wines of Burgundy.

The vineyard

The Initial cuvée comes from parcels located in the grand cru of Avize, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs. The vines are planted on the chalky soils characteristic of Champagne, which offer natural drainage and a water reserve conducive to the slow ripening of Chardonnay. This setting gives the grapes a pronounced mineral identity, the foundation of the expression of terroir in the wine.

The blend

This Brut cuvée is built on a blend of several harvest years, complemented by reserve wines drawn from a perpetual reserve. This multi-vintage architecture ensures continuity of style from one bottling to the next, while incorporating the memory of older harvests into the cuvée.

Vinification and ageing

Initial Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut is vinified and aged in oak barrels, following the oxidative method characteristic of Maison Jacques Selosse. This choice of ageing brings the wine particular complexity and aromatic depth, while establishing the texture and body that define the estate's style.

Grape variety

This champagne is made from Chardonnay, sourced from the estate's grand cru parcels.