Jean-Marc Sélèque makes some of our favourite grower Champagne. His wines have an emphasis on purity and drinkability, and they are offered at affordable price points. An estate described by William Kelley and Kristaps Karklins as one of Champagne's most dynamic producers, the young vigneron is going from strength to strength. There is a new winery - completed in 2015 - a more measured attitude to dosage, more precise fruit selection and a complete overhaul of viticulture which all play a part in the style and quality of the wines.
Today our focus is on two bottlings. Solessence Extra Brut is the flagship wine, containing 50% reserve wines dating back to 2004. This year's release is based on 2022 and is drinking beautifully already. This is a bottle to keep in the fridge door for any occasion; it has the fruit and freshness to drink on its own, but the depth and intensity to pair with a wide range of foods.
Solessence Brut Nature takes this foundation a step further - it sees an extra year in bottle before disgorgement and no dosage, the natural fruit and added savoury edge of longer ageing carrying the lip-smacking acidity. This year's release is from the outstanding 2019 vintage and is the best iteration of this wine we have ever tasted, offering lightly nutty brioche notes, crunchy stone fruit, a creamy mousse and grippy, steely acids. The texture and depth of flavour make it a real food wine.
These two cuvées show why Sélèque's name has a growing reputation. They are fabulous Champagnes to drink now and that you will keep coming back to. They are packed in sixes, in stock and ready to go.
