Certainly not as good as my last bottle. Similar characteristics like dark color, but not nearly as good as I remembered in our last bottle, but that’s wine…
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Nose: white flower, honey, steel Notes: 2.5g dosage, disgorged June 2023. Wonderfully oxidative like all other Jacques Selosse. This is like the mini version of the VO I had a couple of days ago - similar nose/feel/structure but probably less intense and precise. This is not quite ready today and needs a couple more years to gain its complexity and smoothness . Drink: 2028+ Rating: 90
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disg 08, 01 base. Brioche and lemony scents, followed by a tad too sweet mouthfeel (for my taste), good but notoutstanding depth of flavors, lacking a bit of energy in the end.
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disg 10, base 2003 Airy scents of citrus, flowers and herbs introduce a complex champagne, with good depth of flavors and excellent textures, ending chalky and long in a very refined manner.
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Jan 2017 disgorgement. Lovely nose with deep, rich flavors, very lightly oxidative notes, lemon, and a hint of smoke. Great acidity with more lemon on the palate, followed by minerals, toast, and bright fruit. Nice finish. This was excellent, probably one of the best Initials I've had. Complex, rich, well balanced, just a pleasure to drink!
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Very much similar to what I have heard about this wine, plenty of oxidized notese and bruised apple. Best apple cider you’ll have on PnP! While the nose shows more oxidative notes, wine is still holding crisp acid on the palate. Not bad, maybe slightly underwhelmed? Or maybe appropriately whelmed. Chris was not a fan initially!
With a hour (tasting later after both this and the P2 get some air), this has transformed from being apple cidery into more tertiary, getting better and more complex with time. A very intriguing wine. 92-93+
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(B2B aus Avize, Crament, Oger, degorigert 2021, 2g Dosage) Dunkles Gelb, wenig Perlage. Oxidative Nase, Apfelschale, Hefe, Quitte, Kräuter, Minze, nussige Noten. Im Gaumen opulent, gereift, milde Perlage, sehr weinig, druckvoll, vielleicht etwas behäbig, jedoch mit sehr langem, mineralischen Finale, endet auf salzige Mandeln. Hohe Qualität, jedoch ein Esswein, definitiv nicht zum Apéro geeignet.
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I just love Selosse. This was a 2014 disgorgement and therefore was dark in color. That being said, it didn’t miss a beat and was a wonderful example of this “entry level” Selosse if you can even say that! I’d love to buy more, but they now cost 3 to 4 times what they did 8 years ago.
Opened at Lung King Heen in Hong Kong. P&P and enjoyed immediately. Unsure of disgorgement date.
No extensive notes taken, but classic Initial, which means a wonderfully delightful and quaffable champagne. Consistent with the house style and a beautiful bottle to kick off the evening. Always a pleasure to drink and I know I will keep revisiting.
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A year ago I wrote that I preferred a fresher style of Champagne, but I'm not sure I guess I like everything now. This bottle, degorged in 2022, showed quite oxidative, with some ripe apple, nuts, very intense, mousse that dissipated quite quickly. Great stuff.
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BYOB dinner and then some; 2/1/2024-2/2/2024 (Avalon, Amsterdam): [Tasted blind] Just as great as my previous experience with this cuvee. Deep golden in color, with medium+ intensity with honey, nutty, brioche, dried yellow apple, oxidative, flint, fire stone. Medium+ acidity, long finish. 94-95+
Degorgement: 16/3/‘22. Dosage 2,5 g/l
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Disgorged August, 2016. Lively mousse. Dull yellow. Complex aromas of nuts, yeast, and citrus. Dry. Little of the Selosse oxidation but assertive bitter citrus, a pinch of herbs, and cleansing acidity. Dynamic, creamy, and changing through the last sip. Great bottle.
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What an absolutely wonderful champagne. Disgorged in 2019. Dark in color and as so often the case initially oxidative which softened after decanting and a 45-50min wait. Then it unfolds in all its complexity; notes of hazelnut, beurre noisette, porchini, ripe lemon, chalk and on and on. Incredibly length - magic wine and thats why we like champagne so much!
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A vinous nose of dried apricot, oxidative flavors of nuts and almonds, fresh brioche and white chocolate. This is all embedded into a crisp and salty mineral base. Expansive with aeration, adding more complexity and aromas such as yeast, sunflowers and gingerbread. the On the palate Sherry-like element and more nutty aromas. A vinous density, smooth and great perlage. Didn’t catch the disgorgement date, but was a recent release. A stunner from Sélosse.
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Disgorged 2022/01/07. Fresh bread, white peach, candied lemon and smoky minerals on the nose. Full and rich in the mouth, with plenty of grapey vinosity and light spice. Excellent volume and presence and some citrus and chalk cut to the long finish.
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Champagne and claret (John's place, Croton): Didn't catch the disgorgement info on this, but it was delicious. Brightly fruited with a vivid mineral base beneath, and really lively acids underneath giving it a vibrant and energetic palate presence. Delicious and very easy to drink.
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Deg13. Totally shut down and hard to even sense that this is Selosse. Was considering if it was a fake bottle, but the provenance is sound and with some air the typical selosse notes do start to appear. But overall a weak showing tonight.
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LD Farewell Gathering (Upper West Side): Team elected to decant as the bottle was shy / lean. Much darker in the decanter than one might expect for '21 disgorgement. Did no sing a particularly compelling song throughout the evening - a reminder that this particular cuvee often seems to benefit from material age.
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Disgorged November 2020. Rich and broad nose, gorgeous lemon and apple. Huge palate presence, rich tarte tatin with fresh lemon rind Gorgeous creamy finish, great drive and energy, warmth. wonderful.
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(Disgorged in October 25th 2022, base year 2016 with reserves from 2015 and 2014, 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Oger, dosage 2.5 gr/l) Lovely oxidative note showing ripe apples, minerals and some hints of ginger, and opens up with baked bread and hazelnut in a delightful way. Intense palate showing dried green apples with a lovely lime peel bitterness on the lengthy finish. (Best with 3-9 years extra cellaring)
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Wine Dinner: Mugneret Gibourg Vertical (Zazie's, San Francisco): Disgorged Dec 2013. High intensity aromatics, oxidative as expected with some apple, a bit of white flowers, complex aromatics, biscuity but not that yeasty; richly textured but wonderful freshness and balance, nice length, a bit fresher than the nose but showing its somewhat aged character; long finish. Very nice champagne and good representation of aged Selosse. 93-94 Every time I come back to this, it seems to grow in complexity and length. Lovely champagne, still growing. 94+ Returning to this at the end: a bit of brioche, wonderful complexity and length.
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My first Initial. Truly shocked at how unique this was. Had to check twice to make sure it was a BdB. Such a deep, red wine character to the nose and palate. Eventually landed on the primary tasting note, which is unquestionably whisky barrel. It’s so prevalent that I’d almost be shocked if there wasn’t an ex-whiskey barrel involved (I know there wasn’t but still.) Other than that it was very balanced and tight — some soft acidity, light toast notes, some strawberry on the nose. Creamy mousse. Really a lovely bottle.
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[Blind] Nose immediately reads Krug or Selosse with that obvious oxidative and open style. Warm and inviting. Crisp, tight, high tension. Green apple fruit. Awesome. Treat to try one of these again. First note on one of these since 2016.
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Middag med A+N och P+H i Sundbyberg (A+N, Sundbyberg): (Disgorged in December 2016, base year 2010 with reserves from 2009 and 2008, 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Oger) Pleasant maturing showing candied orange zest, brioche, butter and cream in a pleasant way. Opens up with some notes of juniper as well, in a very pleasant way. Citrus acidity on the palate with a nice and smooth mid before a distinct lime zest bitterness takes over on the finish. (Very youthful still with 7 extra years in the cellar)
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Opened at Octavium in HK. P&P and enjoyed before dinner. Unsure of disgorgement date.
This was very consistent with the bottle I had earlier this week. Fresh, fruity and very enjoyable. More bubbles than some previous bottles, and not very oxidative though still consistent with the Selosse house style. Good acidity but not razor-sharp. I thought I could sense very slight hints of peach, which added a nice little touch to the nose. Always a treat :)
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Opened at Izakaya Vin in Tokyo. P&P. '21 Disgorgement.
This was fantastic - not many bubbles and quite oxidative in style a la Selosse, but with a bit of air this opened up to be beautifully floral and fresh. Very enjoyable going down with a richness that was also elegantly light. Good acidity but not going for the razor-sharp linear route. Really fun and looking forward to trying again.
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2019 disgorgement. This wine is just amazing, and although it is more focused and less broad than the substance, I think it is its equal in terms of quality.
Complex nose with fresh ginger, cinnamon spice and sliced raw almond. Meyer lemon peel follows. Completely fresh and bright on the palate with great length and intensity. This is world class and I wish I could load up on it at the old prices.
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40th anniversary tasting (L'Esprit du Vin - Axelborg): My notes from this fantastic gigantic tasting are in general extremely short (because of the many wines) but with ratings. We spent a whole day tasting and tasting quality wines. This wine: Disgorged 2021. Very oxidative style as (almost) always with Selosse, nutty. 91+
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blind, disg. 2012 It is Selosse but with less pine nuts and oxidation as usually. Still fresh. Some thought it could be a younger Ulysse Collin. I love 5-10 years old Initial after disgorgement. 96
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When I first had this last year I couldn’t stop thinking about how good it was. The freshness, vibrancy and complexity in a muscular but still elegant build. While it showed a touch more oxidative with more of a brioche note that I don’t enjoy as much, it still showed brilliantly. Wouldn’t wait on these for long. 2019 DG
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July 2021 disgorgement. My first Selosse and did not dissapoint. Exceptionally concentrated sweet lemon confit, toffee, brioche, muscat grape, espelette pepper. I’m not a big fan of highly oxidative champagnes but this was within my limits and drank like an aged Batard Montrachet with bubbles. Exceptional. Too bad about the price. 96/100
Disgorged 2021. Golden colour. The balance and intensity are top drawer. Supremely sapid and saline on the finish. There is a handful ot growers providing the complete package of palate presence, flavour intensity, salinity. Selosse is one of them but that experience is available for less coin with the others. It is my 3rd experience of this cuvee and with the strong Selosse imprint (read masterfully managed oxidative notes) this strays a lot from a prototypical Blanc de Blancs
France Trip: Paris, Champagne, Burgundy; 9/3/2023-9/17/2023 (Paris, Champagne, Burgundy): Light medium gold color. Split bottle between the four of us at Maufoux in Beaune. Disgorged 11-8-22, BdB, 2.5g/l. 2016 base with 2014/2015. Oxidative style, liqueur and lacquer-like, orange peel, baked fruits, apple and apricot, toast; burnt barrels, deep and complex, creamy, orange zest, so long. 93+ to 94pts.
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The style of Selosse is something that can really split people due to the very oxidized characters that it brings, but I just have to say that no one masters this fine balance between oxidation, freshness, complexity, mouthfeel and minerality like Selosse does. The market prices also really show this.
Insane golden color and it fills up the room completely with aromas right from opening.
Candied apple, red apple and bruised apple together with fresh citrus fruits, pickled lemon and lemon zest. A touch of peach/apricot, roasted nuts, brioche, toffee, coffee, gunpowder, ginger and crushed rocks. As stated, the balance between acidity, freshness and minerality against the oxidation, creamy mouthfeel, power and richness creates the most insane complexity. Stunning champagne!!!
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Deg 14 november 2019. Tydlig ek, mjuk, rund och fyllig. Finstämd syra. Riktigt mogen persika och kanske lite tropiska frukter och kola. Inte särskilt oxiderad i stilen. Väldigt fina små bubblor som tittar fram. Lååång len eftersmak. Påminde mycket om en väldigt bra chardonnay åt Meursault-hållet. Helt klart vinös.
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Disgorged June 2 2010. Wow brilliant bottle. If you like old champagne, you will love this. This used to be poor man’s Krug but it’s now nearly twice the price. Pride aside this is a great place and lovely balance of mature notes and still has some freshness, acidity and bubbles. Certainly not a young wine in terms of energy but this is more than alive and probably right at peak drinking for my palate. No fear in this going off a cliff but will likely slowly fade/lose energy gracefully over the next 5 years or so. At 13 years past disgorgement, one of the best Initials I can remember having. Outstanding.
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Väldigt komplex, äppelmos, mogen frukt, grapefrukt, pommelo, anis, lite oxidation som inte stör. Lååång eftersmak med fantastisk beska, ceste och mogna äpplen. Deg 07/2019.
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Medium lemon - touch of bronze On the nose, cream and brioche, oxidated Side by side with Largillier (personally prefers that lol) On the palate, some raspberries and some plum, some bitterness Not nearly as chalky as Largillier Disgorged 5/21
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Disgorged 12 Mai 2021. Oxidative, fresh bouquet, white fruit, florals, sweet, very classically made, and this edition perhaps with a touch more older wines than usual, which I like. 93
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Avalon restaurant (and Oocker) (Amsterdam, NL): [Restaurant purchase] No detailed notes, tasted blind. Called champagne, but much older. Deep golden with notes of marmelade, nutty, nectarine, dried peach, yeast, bread, walnut, slight oxidative notes. My first Selosse and it did not disappoint! Just gorgeous! WOTN for me.
Disgorgement 14 May 2020
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Simply astounding. This bottle was disgorged in 2009 and represents one of the finest Initials I have tasted. We used Bordeaux glasses, and the color was an iridescent deep golden hue. On the nose, an intoxicating scent of apricots, honey, and mineral. On the palate, the classic maderized profile of Selosse wines, with an unctuous viscosity with notes of apricots and honey notes. This was drunk with an appetizer of raw oysters and tune poke, as well as mains of black cod and chilean sea bass. Looking forward to drinking this special wine again in the future.
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(Disg. 5/21) Initial is the most produced in quantity of the Selosse bottlings but it is not to be overlooked, and 2021 disgorgment is electric today with distinctive Selossien aromas of caramelized orchard fruit, roasted nuts, honeycomb and gun smoke. The palate is rich, powerful and deep with racy acids and a chalky mineral core. It has both freshness and oxidative complexity yielding a complete, balanced and utterly seamless Champagne. Always delicious and this is a killer disgorgement.
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Disgorged 13 Mai 2020. Young Initial is really somewhat un-Selosse, not quite oxidative, muted, river stone, minerality. Very high in acidity, needs aging. 92-93+
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04 April 2021 Disgorgement. Surprisingly a bit more evolved and oxidative ( nice noble oxidation) than expected given that this was not disgorged that long ago. Impressive as always and even though it’s been quite a bit of time since we last had his wines this took us back. Rich, toasty feel, bright and energetic and with an energy on the palate that is unique. Very solid 93
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Trait - d - Union Pricate dinner, by Pure Spirits (Linovatis Bistro): Slightly different than the one we had earlier this day, more oxidative, edgy, ripe fruit palate more balanced that the nose, nice acidity, full body, edgy, carbonation, ripe to overripe citrus and stone fruit, lemon
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Trait - d - Union tasting, by Pure Spirits (Warehouse assemblage): 40% 2016 , 35% 2015 , 25% 2014, this terroir gives warmer notes The wine shows a very different style than all the champagnes from the other producers. Tight, austere but broad in the same time, citrus, quince, some oxidative notes, impressive Palate shows the same profile as the nose, shows density, austere again, feels tight, fresh, med body, med to high acidity, long finish Elegant, finesse, rich, balanced, not the easiest style though
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Jason's birthday: Disgorged 2021. On another level to the disappointing Substance last month, I very much preferred this. Quite dark in colour so someone mentioned it was aged but I thought it was more a function of winemaking as it tasted very youthful. Rounded and creamy texture, some spice and hazelnut notes. Impressive how the fruit was so ripe but it still retained so much tension. Liked the depth and completeness of this.
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J's Birthday Dinner (Taste Paradise Ion): Blinded. Disgorged May 2021. Salmon in colour, rounded aroma, red apple, some pear, melon, mango, good body but would have like more tension in the palate.
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Magnifique Champagne sur des notés typiques à Selosse soit un coté rancio, oxydatif qu'on retrouve régulièrement dans les vins jaunes du Jura. La bulle est bien fine, le vin est très élégant et hyper savoureux. Grand Champagne qui se boit trop rapidement !
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blind, deg. 2019 nailed it. Typical nose to pinenuts and honey. Cracking acidity, not oxidative. Locely, some bottle aging helps. we Had 20 different BdB. this was by far the best. 96
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2022 disgorgement. Complex aromatics of spiced apple, chalk, salty lemon and grilled nuts. Good depth and power in the mouth. Sweet and vinous at its core, chalky and chewy down the back-end. Excellent ength.
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At Restaurant After Seven, Backstage Hotel, Zermatt, Switzerland.
Disgorged November 14, 2019.
I admittedly have a cozy little soft spot in my otherwise vapid heart for the Selosse Initial. Of course, I should have backed the truck up way before "The Insanity" happened, a couple-few years ago when the price of these wasn't through the roof (that was back when I could get Cedric Bouchard VV for like $65). I know, I know... Back when we walked uphill both ways to school in the snow and Harlan could be bought for a shiny 50-cent piece. Anyway, current sticker-shock aside, the Initial is always able to carve a nicely groomed corduroy (winter sporting in Zermatt clearly necessitated the use of a skiing term) between savory and shine.
Bruised lemon and ginger notes con you into thinking the Initial will veer into a more oxidative style, but saline and citrus zest flavors play pick-me-up on the palate and elevate the delivery into a fresher spectrum. Complexity comes with air, as yellow apple skin, unripe apricot, limestone, almond slivers, and sea spray seasonings add piquancy and vigor to the profile.
An outstanding food wine that was able to span across a plethora of fantastic meals. Add to the fact that this bottle was on the restaurant wine list for $250CHF, which is insanely "reasonable" all things considering, it made for a thumbs-up experience all the way around. 94-95 points for this bottle. I might be adding an extra point here just cuz of the whole Zermatt thing. Deduct a point if you're drinking a bottle of this in Somalia or Syria.
Didn't note the disgorgement date, but found this to be quite oxidative (in a good way), with apricot, fine mousse, baked red apple, some orange and a persistent length. I prefer a fresher style over this, but it was great nonetheless.
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August, 2016 disgorgement. Burnished yellow, initially frothy. Autolytic tones and ginger on the nose without any oxidative notes. Fabulous creamy feel with flavors of bitter citrus and herb that finish in a rush of acidity and soil. Flat out great bottle and, for me, at a perfect point.
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Disgorged 26 Octobre 2006. Perfect age with enough orange fruit nuances and somewhat freshness. Vanilla and grassy. Needs a bit more power if anything. 93
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24 Octobre 2014, Grains Nobles. In a very good spot to drink, great balance between oxidation and freshness if only slightly light on the midpalate. 93
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Disgorged 12th November 2019. Complex aromatics of baked apple, chalk, truffle, Ligurian honey and white peach. The palate is full and vinous. There's plenty of flesh, some salty preserved lemon notes and a graphite spine. It is powerful with an airy feel and length of flavour is very good.
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Bouteille dégorgée le 18 avril 2012 (cadeau de Tony). Robe jaune ambrée, bulles fines mais nombreuses. Nez sur des notes de rancio, noix, amandes, la bouche est magnifique avec une très grande tenue, complexe, de beaux amers et une finale encore très longue. Excellent, à point.
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disgorged April 2015. on the nose this is more "winey" than the DP 02 and the comtes de champagne 2002 we tasted side by side. this has some distinctive oxidative touch, which reminded me of cognac. orange zest and hints of nougat.
the perlage is very intact, this drinks nice and fresh. we enjoyed it all, even though it is more "special" than the other 2 champagnes we had. wouldn't drink this all the time, as I like more the traditional champagnes, but it was a nice experience. this is well done for sure and has a high quality.
don't have any experience on the ageing process of those selosse, but I feel like this can get better with time.
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Tasted double blind. 2015 disgorgement. Selosse Champagnes, especially some years past disgorgement, shine bright with an unbelievable finesse and elegance, a complex aroma profile, high aromatic precision and superb balance. Still, while I see all these traits and appreciate the wines intellectually, the aroma profile is not my favorite one. Still, this wine was drinking on a 94/95pts level easily, but I wouldn‘t chase it.
TN: Medium+ expressive nose with dark red berries at the centre, some slight oxidation notes. On the palate superbly round and sharp, very linear, superb freshness, great balance and finesse with ultra fine mousse. An array of red fruit, orange rind, some spices, slight oxidation notes which I would still call a feature. But overall still a bit too much in the sherry category for my taste.
Decanting: No decanting needed.
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12Nov2020 disg. Less oxidative than new releases in the past from Anselm. Similar in flavor profile to Au Dessus Gros Mont, which is very high complement from my perspective. Drank out of zalto burgundy. Dare I say Guillaume's wines might already have eclipsed his father's?
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In a great place, very lively and fresh yet has already developed some complex secondary flavors. Aside from the usual pear, bruised apple and Meyer lemon, this also had notes of nut shells and slight oxidative flavors. What really stands out if how all these elements combined into one really harmonious whole where the wine just effortlessly glides on your palate, while at the same time having so much flavors. Disgorged July 2014.
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July 2014 disgorgement. Per Gilman 2006-7-8. A little development on the nose, caramel, toffee, yet a beautifully fresh bouquet. Deep and penetrating palate, gorgeous mouth and head filling. Perfect balance.
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Dinner with the wine group (Cindy's Place): Disgorged 2014. Golden color; intense aromatics, orange blossom, orange marmalade, slightly nutty; palate is medium bodied, vibrant acidity, lovely mouthfeel, mature fruit, lemon peel; long finish. Vibrant and full of life, exactly as expected, with life left. 94-95
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33,000 bottles made per year. Disgorged on 9 May 2017. PNP into Riedel white wine glass (“Flower” day): Deep golden to the eyes.
Salt-Preserved citrus fruits like grapefruits and lemons with peels. Oxidative style at its best that reminds me of top Jura. With time with almond and fine tea leaves and cereal notes too.
Fine boned acidity with tons of energy and minerality. Long persistent finish.
Amazing wine here! 95 points.
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Disgorged November, 2019. Light yellow, very active fine bead. Fresh with more green apple than usual. Full bodied, increasingly creamy. Flavors of Granny Smith, ginger, and soil with the support of vibrant acidity. Deep, long, and just about as dry tasting as the VO we had the other day. Fantastic and a less oxidative edition of Initial.
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One of the best champagnes I have ever had. Intense and complex flavors of brioche, apples and lemon with that Selosse oxidative character. Very expensive, but worth the price for a unique experience!
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2019 disgorgement. Much richer, deeper, linear and more vinous than even the other bottles I've had of this, although I don't know the disgorgement date on the others. Tastes like a great mature white Burgundy with light bubbles. Loved it.
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2013 disgorgement. Really nice nose with lots of orchard fruit, brioche, lemon, chamomile, and minerals. Good acidity on the palate with fine mousse, more lemon and green apple notes. Long finish and lovely complexity. Excellent wine!
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Disgorged July, 2016. Deep yellow, good remaining mousse. Ginger, wheat, and faint bitter citrus. Medium to full bodied, moderately nutty and oxidative. This particular bottle features vanilla and savory flavors rather than fruit. Increasingly creamy feel followed by terrific acidity and stone. Best after being open for several hours.
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Disgorged Dec 11th, 2014 (Likely from vintages ’07, ’08, & ’09). This has been a bucket list wine for some time now. I saw this for a great price at a restaurant on vacation so sprang for it! Absolutely beautiful deep golden color out of the bottle, and very light effervesce. At first, the nose had some buttermilk-esc bacteria funk coming through, followed by some ultra complex apple pastry notes. After about 10 minutes time, the funk blew off and underneath was an interesting nose of soft honey, cinnamon apple pie with fresh granny smith apples, tangy buttermilk cake frosting, and yeasty brioche. On the palate, the bubbles were barely there, as this was closer to a still wine, then to a typical champagne. Oxidative in style, this was soft and creamy on the palate, with honey, bruised granny smith apples, sea water, and tangy buttermilk notes which added to the mysterious complexity. Gentle mouth-feel, brilliantly complex, and a slight crispness on the finish with a touch of lemon acidity, and some faint bubbles giving some loose, relaxed structure. I just wanted to keep sipping it to understand what hidden flavors were hiding in there. Every 15 minutes, it opened up more, and new flavors emerged. I tried it colder and warmer - each method showing different flavor profiles and perspectives. All of that said, I don’t want to overhype this - It is an insanely expensive bottle of wine and ultimately, unless you’re very wealthy, this is likely overpriced due to rarity, and market hype. However, the reputation is there for a reason, and if you like champagne, if you appreciate the creativity, subtle complexity, and relevance to champagne history, this is an incredibly unique experience and wildly delicious. If you’re looking for a more budget friendly alternative, I found the Jacquesson 700 series, Disgorgment Tardifs to be similar in style, though ultimately much less complex and less magic. All in all a great memory to add to the book.
Disgorged July 2021, this is 2013, 2014 and 2015 base. It has engaging florals, some brioche and lemon curd notes. It is biscuity and rich and finishes with refreshing salty mineral cut.
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Initial is the most produced in quantity of the Selosse bottlings but it can’t be overlooked, particularly with some bottle age. 2018 disgorgment is in a great spot with distinctive Selossien aromas of caramelized stone fruit, roasted nuts, honeycomb, gun smoke and floral undertones. The palate is rich, powerful and deep with racy acids and a chalky mineral core. It has both freshness and oxidative complexity yielding a complete, balanced and seamless Champagne. Selosse perfection for me is 5-6 years post disgorgement and this is approaching that window in great fashion. Always a treat.
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Disgorged 2016, archetypal broad and long with slightly oxidized, nutty notes along with over-ripe apples and lemon zest. Great start to the oysters, but above all bullseye with foie gras on a piece of brioche. Stunning champagne in its cote de beaune style.
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Rhône or Nôwhere 2022 (Malcom, Nebraska): The three of us from Omaha were presented this wine upon arrival, double-blind fashion in large burgundy-style glasses. The appearance was a burnished gold color with slight visual signs of gas only when agitated. On the nose, there are signs of oxidization with a slightly cheesy and nutty thing on the nose along with some bruised apple and pear. The palate was like fireworks. Layers of fruits, nuts, spices and the creamiest of textures. At first, based on the smell and the appearance, I thought this might be a vintage Champagne, 1996 or even possibly 1990. However, after tasting it, I was compelled to shift direction as it reminded me of some of the more remarkable NV wines made in a solera-style like Bereche “Reflan d’Antan” or Selosse “Initial”. Welp…basically nailed it. How I wish this wine could be in my life more often.
Disgorged December 16, 2011. Brioche and autolytic on the nose with earthy and citrus notes on the palate. Classic Selosse oxidative character with a beautiful intensity framed with minerals and crisp acidity. This bottle is perfectly mature. Great as always.
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Giallo oro, bolla fine e poco presente. Naso frutta gialla e tropicale con cenni ossidativi. Bocca polposa materica, fresco, bollicina leggera. Buona persistenza, molto giovane.
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April 2021 disgorgement. It had complex aromatics of baked apple, preserved lemon, chalk and grilled nuts. It was rich and powerful, with layers of fruit and mineral. The finish is precise and very long.
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Deg 2011 Wonderful on the nose with honeycomb, grilled lemon and pine nuts. Does not quite live up to it on the palate though as I found it a bit dull and felt like it was on the decline. The acidity is there but this bottle lacked a bit of vibrance. Glass: Zalto Bourgogne
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2019 DG version. Initially medium oxidative, pretty indicative of the Selosse style. Orchard fruit, with good acidity. The structure is still present, and while air unwinds it a little, this really could use years. Tasty but more upside to come.
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2013 disgorgement. Lovely nose with citrus, grapefruit, brioche, minerals, and yeast notes. Good acidity with creamy mousse, more citrus, and minerals on the palate. Long finish that lingers. This also got better and better with air, lovely wine!
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During a tasting dinner of the Pipette group. Served blind from the neighboring table. Was not able to see what the DG date of this was. This had beautiful richness, with lovely bruised apple notes, yet stayed frosh and precise. Medium finish. I was guessing NV Egly-Ouriet. 94+
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Selosse Initiale. Gogget i 2018. Byr på sin sedvanlige rike og oksidative stil. Denne flasken ligger helt på grensen, men jeg vipper den innafor. Bra kraft og kropp med god friskhet. Høy modning i frukten. Fin matvin dette. God lengde. 91-92p
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Nez rancio, pomme verte, zeste d’agrume et un brin de pâtisserie Bouche tranchante et un brin discrète, de la grosse pomme verte, agrumes, bulle fine. Finale pomme verte un brin discrete et sans complexité Bien mais peu décevant et unidimensionnel. On peux vraiment trouver mieux
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Incredible champagne. Disgorgement aug 2020. Still young but powerful, refined and concentrated. Pear caramelized apple, good balance of acidity. Notes of brioche
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April '21 disgorgement. Rocking from first pour. Complex aromatics of baked apple, white peach, aniseed and bread. It is rich, vinous and sappy, with awesome density but also light on its feet. There are chalky/mineral things towards the finish and a fine bead and creamy mousse. Length is excellent.
More Sherry like and oxidative than I was expecting still opened up nicely after an hour. Mostly dried herbs, citrus and some vanilla. 2020 base so way too young.
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Selosse (Oceanic, Pompano Beach, Florida): The first bottle opened in the Selosse lineup immediately disabused me of the prejudiced notion I had that all Selosse is too heavy, too oxidized. This bottle was purchased some years ago so not a recent disgorgement. Fairly pale, pleasant mousse. Really quite clean and airy with plenty of citrus character and not much yeast. Nice.
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Degorg Nov 12, 2020. A pure but young beauty. Serious and complex champagne from a top producer. Banana mellow, grilled lemon and cocoa. Drink now and hold for many years depending on your preferences.
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Aug. 24, 2020 disgorgement. Honeyed, toasty aromas but with great energy, fresh acidity with broad ribbons of salinity.
Deep and rich palate, nutmeg, baking spice, cinnamon, cider like qualities given a liveliness from lemon/more acid. Finish is long offering balance with savory saltiness and toffee.
An absolutely powerful wine whose enormity is pushed to sublime heights by its finesse and restraint. Case in point- there is a big line of acidity but instead of something harsh or blinding, it crackles and gives length and texture like a hot Orange amp.
The closest to this for me isn't Champagne but Corton-Charlemagne with 15+ years on it. The fine bubbles and precise-near-gripping acidity coupled with the life-giving oxygen are a kind of body double for the red-like qualities of CC or white Rioja.
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Selosse has a cult type reputation, his wines are rare finds at cavistes and are always expensive. This followed Sadi Malot's very good Coup de Foudre cuvée as apéritif and I was quite expecting some disappointment in view of the hype. Not a bit of it! This wine stood out in all respects. More complex, richer, yet more precise, and longer than its predecessor and with a caressing mouthfeel which may owe something to discreet barrel fermentation and ageing (I can find no information on this). Amongst the myriad flavours, I could detect citrus and peachy fruit, nuts, fine minerals, spice and a hint of port on the slightly oxidative finish. Excellent.
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Oak, an elegant nuttiness (almost fino Sherry-like), and candied citrus peel. Largely a savory wine.
Medium plus acid with a virtually indefinite finish.
This is everything I expected and more. The oxidization adds a lot of texture and complexity, while the acid keeps everything fresh and lean. As someone constantly disappointed with full stainless steel Chardonnay, this is a style I wish was more prevalent.
08/2020 disgorgement.
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Good maturation in the color already and the aromas follow up with this oxidative tone that lies over the yeast, bread, nut and slightly fatter honey and coffee. Full-bodied and fresh Champagne with this wonderful distinctive mouthfeel that the fine wine enthusiast loves and the wine-loving may never understand. Broad orange / yellow fruit, fermented baked goods, nuts, coffee. Deep minerality. Complex. The acid gives life and keeps healthy. Peculiar case in all its glory.
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Return to Piemonte!; 11/25/2021-12/4/2021 (Castello di Sinio, Alba, other various locations): Selosse at a more reasonable price point which doesn’t happen all that often so fun to get to try. Opens with time and more air and as it warms up. We left it off ice the whole time and it was quite expressive by the end of lunch. Vanilla bean somewhat predominant which surprised me, but it worked.
August 2, 2006 disgorgement. Mushroom wet cardboard and root beer. Warm toned, wil alcohol and acid perfectly in balance. Yes it’s an extreme style but it always maintains the right line between ripeness and precision, so that you never have to think about structure and can explore all the other crazy aromatics.
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Dis 2011 april Perfect right now. Mature tones of toasty brioche, smokiness, ripe yellow apples, coffee, fresh lovely acidity and long aftertaste. Velvety bubbles. Amazingly had after midnight in good company. The taste still lingers in my mind.
Was afraid it was overdue, the last one a dis-10 was abit over.
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Steve Sigmond's 50th Birthday (Minneapolis, MN): Mmm, Selosse, funky, freshly bloomed yeast on a palate that is young and explosive. CW suggests a certain marmalade character on the nose--not sure of that for me, but the citrus suggestion was a good one. Delicious and an absolute knockout with fresh, warm gougeres.
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Disgorged September 2013. Deep golden color, almost amber. Nose of white floral notes, biscuit, apple core, grapefruit. Layers of brisk white fruit, nubby texture, pleasing astringency, Parmesan, and granny apple on the palate. Fizz and spine aplenty but the fruit is quite on display. I’m not fond of the color but this wine showed very well otherwise.
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Jacques Selosse horisontal tasting of 9 cuvees (Krüff): All wines were presented by Guillaume Selosse. For me the best cuvee this afternoon was 2007 Millesime, extra Brut, 94+. An unexpected no. 2 was Les Chantereines with 93+. Usually my favourite from Selosse is Les Carelles which this time ended with 92, the same as Chemin de Chalon. All these Top Four cuvees are BdB.
This wine: Notes of ripe apple, nutty and in general very tertiary. Excellent especially on the nose. 91+
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(Disgorged in May 2010, 100% Chardonnay, base year 2004 with reserves from 2003 and 2002, dosage gr/l) Lovely maturing golden yellow colour with an endless stream of very fine bubbles showing in the glass. Red apples, mint chocolate and with a burnt note as it opens up in the glass. Smooth lemon citrus acidity combined with pure apples juiciness on the lovely palate with a buttery note as well. And on top of it all is the intense and lengthy finish showing a combination of herbs, lemon peel bitterness and a touch of oakiness in perfect balance.. (Perfect maturity with eleven years of post-disgorgement cellaring, but should evolve well for another decade without any hesitations!)
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Disgorged April, 2015. Deep yellow, minimal mousse. Rich, creamy, and off dry. Slightly nutty with bitter citrus core and a bit of apple cider. Mature and delicious. This disgorgement has provided a lot of pleasure over the years but isn't done yet.
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(Disgorged in December 2016, based on 2010, 2009 and 2008, 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Oger, dosage 1.5 gr/l) Lovely golden yellow colour with a maturing nose showing herbs, cream and yellow apples and some French nougat notes in a wonderful way. Intense on the palate with a softening acidity showing lime zest and red apples in a delicious way. (Probably best with 3-9 years of extra cellaring)
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Disgorged July 2015. Starts out showing some oxidative notes but with air it really livens up. There’s a good mousse, with some citrus, ginger, but also some light caramel type notes. Great, and quite delicious.
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Disgorged 6/15. This is dominated by bruised apple, honey, and hazelnuts. Great acidity and richness, but it could use a lot more depth and complexity. I can see this showing being far too oxidative for many, and they're probably right, but I can't lie: it was goddamn delicious.
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Dinner with Sean (Nicolas Restaurant, Teck Lim Street, Singapore): A lovely drop. This smelt a bit fresher, less oxidative than usual - perhaps because it was fairly newly disgorged, with a very chalky, stony mineral tones to the nose, along with some stone fruit - think yellow peach - apples, and a touch of kumquat, all ringed with a little bit of spice. A really entrancing nose. The palate too felt really fresh and linear, with a spine of lemon acidity and beautiful stony mineral strecthing its way through bright expressions of green apples and limes. As always, there was plenty of power and depth to the chapmpagnem but this was wed to lovely freshness and purity. Together with a nicely fine mousse, the wine presented itself both with a delicious open, generous fullness, as well as having at the same time a really nice sense of cut and definition, with that deep mineral structure to it. Absolutely lovely - it dissapeared from the bottle very quickly.
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(P.G.) superbe vinosité digne d'un beau blanc bourguignon, une touche oxydative très subtile, des aormes pâtissiers et une bulle fine... Un style, on adore!
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A: Medium (almost deep) Gold N: Pronounced nose of marmalade , lemon, ripe red woody apples, cooked pear, hazelnuts, chalk P: Dry, high acidity, medium alcohol, medium (+) intensity, medium body and long finish
It was lovely, of course, but I think this would be better if left to age. There are $120 bottles which taste much the same and this is twice the price. Love the oxidate style. Got a little brooding umami off this but would have like to have held it much longer for the real magic to happen. Outstanding quality as expected but its got way more to give.
Don't know disgorgement date but I probably won't be buying another of these. Too many other fine lovelies to try and Ive yet to open The Substance bottle so I'll leave that one for another year or two and see where it goes.
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April 2015 disgorgement. I believe this is 2009 based. As expected still very fresh and even a bit closed still (even though the bottle was opened an hour before serving). Seemed slightly thin/watery on the mid palate. I think an additional 3-5 years storage will complete this wine. As always its a pleasure to drink Selosse Initial. 93(+)
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Quince. Very little ammonia and acetone. Mainly apple cider. Mouth: moussage is on the lower side. Again, very little ammonia and acetone. firm citric acidity that's not overwhelmung. Tastes like a very dry cidre.
Disgorged March 2010. Beautiful aromas of white orchard fruit, some nuts and also bruised apple. Acidity was quite strong considering the age of the wine, was still quite fresh. Classic Selosse oxidative style but really not that distracting. Very classy and in great drinking window now.
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Disgorged Feb 3 2010. Drank this along side a bottle of 2014 disgorgement Initial. This 2010 disgorgement bottle was a touch more complex and offered additional depth on the palate. The profiles were similar with citrus zest, oxidative notes, good richness and acidity. The younger 2014 disgorgement bottle had a bit more freshness to it, but overall my preference was for the 2010 disgorged bottle.
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not blind, dig. 2017 Typical Selosse scent, roasted pinenuts, honey, but lovely fresh, not oxidative. Perfectly balanced. Nice drinking window for 2017 disgorged. Still on the fresh side. 95
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This just crushed an 06 Pol Roger SWC with its depth and interest. I know these wines are not enjoyed ubiquitously but it’s not like they are WAY off the beaten path. Balanced acidity with apple notes and brioche. Comes across my palate as a clean, suave wine with layers of fruit and nuance. This bottle was a 17 DG and well worth its tariff.
Disgorged 12th of November 2019. Super-complex with notes of hazelnut cream, tart tatin, preserved lemon, smoke and flint. It is rich, full and powerful, with gentle nuttiness and loads of green apple. There's a vinous quality and a finish that is chewy and long.
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9 Octobre 2019, supposedly from 2013. Rather lower acidity than expected, less yeasty too, somewhat oxidative but can't pin it as exactly so. Good moose and balance as always, however. 93
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disgorged at 9 Oct 2019. Pronounced oxidative aroma with lots of stone fruits, pear, white flower, yeast, marmalade. Not as fresh as I thought. rich with relative low acidity.
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A very nice bottle of an aged Initial (from memory disgorged 2012). Tasted blind, thought of a good aged Bollinger RD. Quite dry, bit oxidative, nutty, nicely mouth filling and long finish.
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Just received 2 cases and popped one bottle. So balanced with toasted brioche and nutty flavours. Just a gorgeous bottle and can only get better over time! Will enjoy but keep some for the long haul!
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Korta noter från minnet Klassiskt Selosse-doft av hyacint, ek och citrus, fortfarande ung men så njutbar redan nu. Är inte lika komplex som sina syskon men väldigt njutbar ändå.
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Poured blind. Didn't take notes or capture the disgorge date. What I do recall was impressive. The power, structure and balance here was fantastic. The kind of Champagne that I want in my glass, and a joy to drink.
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Blind: knew it was something special but what? Thought is might be a Mousse I had recently that was excellent or maybe Winston Churchill which was a real treat. Never really narrowed in on a wine other than I really like this a lot. great balance, almond notes on the notes.
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2019 disgorgement; a wow champagne, vinous and powerful, lush and full bodied with loads of fruit both yellow and red and ever present mineral notes of both limestone and something darker and richer, Sherry notes abound but do not distract, yeasty dough and plenty of autolytic notes give plumpness yet acids are taught. Not a delicate wine so I would say leave this for the dry aged steak and skip the seafood.
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2000 Lunch (Old Bazaar Kitchen): Disgorged 26 October 2006, presumably from 2000 base. So amazing, perfectly rich and concentrated, full of refreshing acidity, tangy fruit and subtle aged flavors. One of the group's favorites today. 94-95
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Smagt blindt: Bobler. Ret mørk gylden farve, æblemost. Mandler, bagværk, smeltet smør og lidt sherry/oxi-noter i næsen. Sødmefuld, smør, lidt karamel, men frisk syre og faktisk lidt underliggende frisk æble-fornemmelse under. Virkelig pirrerne, sur-sød fornemmelse. God længde. På den ene side kompakt men stadig frisk og let. Måske lidt tung på bagkant. Mousse signalerer også alder. Gætter champagne, chardonnay-baseret, 1996. Selsosse Initial deg. 2018 #vinklubben
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Doften är djup, kraftig, oxiderad med inslag av mogna äpplen, kryddor, kex, mogna päron, fat och mandelmassa. Smaken är massiv med noter som bokna äpplen, grillad citron, sherry, körsbär med elegant syra, finstämd mousse och en lång eftersmak. Initial ger en fantastisk känsla av koncentrerade bokna äpplen tillsammans med en härligt krispig fräschhet. Primör fallfrukt är en självmotsägelse i den vanliga världen men i Domaine Jacques Selosse är läget annorlunda.
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I have to be generous with the score here. One of the most impressive champagnes I have tasted. This is a non vintage. I wonder how good the vintages are.
Degorgerad 2014. Härlig födelsedagskaramell. Faktiskt godismumsig med kanderade citronskal och honung men med fin syra, mineral och jästighet som håller ihop paketet. Ohemult gott.
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Disgorged 8/8/2019. Golden color. Lovely nose of bruised apple, hazelnut, orange flower water, limestone minerality. Palate carries a lot of the same notes, but with such a savory underlying saline and umami quality. Long finish. Always a pleasure, and this iteration is no exception.
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Disgorged 5/2013; excellent bottle; fresher than expected given the disgorgement, but still lovely orchard fruits, some honeyed hazelnut, minerality, and brioche. Delicious and long finish.
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Disgorged 19 April 2019. I believe 11/12/13? Golden color. Classic Selosse oxidative notes, but lots of sweet bruised apple too. A real streak of acidity on the finish. This is pretty delicious.
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Deep yellow color. Yellow apple, malt, a tick of candied orange, caramel, honey in nose. Umami, ripeness, nice acidity, focused, full and smoot, complex. A very distinct style, a great Champagne
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Lovely complexity and length. Really needs time to open up though as usual. The wine looks light gold colored. It smells like lemon, apricot, honeydew and peach blossom, but backed by minerality. It tastes like , apricots, pear, again against a strong mineral backbone, light toast and honey rounds it off. The body is medium/full (I guess partly depending on how quickly you drink). The wine has very smooth texture once open and a looooooong finish. The wine has a pleasant medium acidity.
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January, 2015 disgorgement. Deep yellow color. Transient lively bead. Aromatically, it opened with bright apple and a scooch of honey, but transitioned to more cut wheat and herbs. Full bodied, low dosage, fantastic texture with increasing lactic creaminess as it goes. Just a touch of nutty, oxidative tones. The finish is chock full of acidity and soil. My god is this good.
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Dinner at Greenwood (Greenwood, Highland Park, IL): Nose: The nose is wide open and expressive from the get-go as it fills the glass with roasted nuts, cider, almonds, red apples, creams, bosc pears, yellow flowers, toast, brioche, custard, and pastry notes. There is excellent depth with this showing off the oxidative notes that are expected.
Taste: The feel is Medium bodied with tart, high acidity. The acidity is youthful and zesty while the feel shows off great texture and depth with roasted nuts, cider, almonds, red apples, bosc pears, brioche, custard, toast, and some pastry notes.
Overall: Yet again I didn't get the disgorgement on this but this is a newer one. Pretty much this was as good as it always is.
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Blind. Deg 2010. Dark yellow with some brown. Big mousse that dies out rather quickly. Nuts, smoke, yellow apples which are on the verge of fermenting;big bodied, mature style, grapefruit in the finish. All agreed on the producer, but not my style.
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Disgorged in October 2008. Spectacular bottle that amazed a table of veteran wine aficionados. very elegant, intricate, smooth. no tertiary notes yet. A brilliant bottle which showed much improvement from the one I had a few years ago (same disgorgement date).
twice blind, once not blind, all3 bottles disgorged Sep 2019
we had them in between the Substance, the biggest difference is compexity. Both have the Selossian roasted pinenut but Initial a bit less intensive and is fresher (yuzu) in the finish. 2x95, 1x94
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twice blind, once not blind, all3 bottles disgorged Sep 2019
we had them in between the Substance, the biggest difference is compexity. Both have the Selossian roasted pinenut but Initial a bit less intensive and is fresher (yuzu) in the finish. 2x95, 1x94
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twice blind, once not blind, all3 bottles disgorged Sep 2019
we had them in between the Substance, the biggest difference is compexity. Both have the Selossian roasted pinenut but Initial a bit less intensive and is fresher (yuzu) in the finish. 2x95, 1x94
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1 Feb 2005 disgorgement. Rich deep gold, still a strong initial mousse that tailed off. Nose of burnt orange, light caramel and lemongrass. A little chunky on the palate, fresh still with a gentle but crisp finish.
Disgorged 10/25/16. Dark golden hue like a Corton Charlemagne. Complex effusive nose of marzipan, Asian pear, quince and pineapple. Mouth-caressing fine mousse, mineral-tinged citrus and orchard fruit flavors with a bone dry finish. About as good as Champagne gets
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“Champagne on arrival” just got bumped up to a whole other dimension. Great to start a dinner with legends. Anselme Selosse is not just a winemaker, he’s creator of a new philosophy in Champagne, one that gave way to the ‘growers’ of today. He studied in Burgundy and brought a vineyard-centric focus to Champagne during an age of big houses and little attention to viticulture. He changed the course of this region forever. In the winery, he ferments all his base wines in wood, no yeast is added (even in the tirage stage), no sediments are lost and no MLF is done. “The most important thing is not what I do but what I don’t do. For me, there is no winemaking. I am just a butler, I am not a boss.”
This is a blend of three successive years, from the Grand Crus of Avize, Cramant and Oger. Disgorged in April 2019. Rare are the wines that suck you in both on the nose and on the palate, for hours on end. The nose is marked with a walnut-apple pie deliciousness with a bit of pear marmalade in the combo. I’m getting hungry just writing this. Killer energy and balance. Trademark oxidative notes, like a quality Sherry splashed into a Puligny. Still a very shy wine at this stage, I can just wonder how crazy good it will get in the upcoming years. UF!
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Lovely bottle; definitely oxidative, with bruised apple, toasted hazelnut, brioche and hints of honey. The palate was very lovely, vinous and deep, not as fresh as some other bottles I've had, but very tasty.
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Gourmetklubbens fyrtiosjunde middag (A+N, Sundbyberg): (Disgorged in January 2016, base year 2009 with reserves from 2008 and 2007, 100% Chardonnay) Very nice showing tropical notes of banana, red apples and some citrus acidity and some red apples and a touch of cognac.
End Sep fun @ Gaston!: Lemon, white flowers, yellow fruits, wet stones. Nice acidity, with slight dryness. Refreshing. Enjoyed this tonight and should improve with more time.
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For old times sake: Caramel and apple in the bouquet. On the palate very tasty with impressions of minerals, medicine and sherry. No more notes this time.
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Disg Oct 10,2019 Tight the first 10mn, showed amazing after decanting. A very elegant version, perfect control between oxidative style and freshness. Classic profile with that extra freshness and elegance. Nice minerality on this disgorgement.
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Disgorged January, 2015. Deep mellow yellow, impressively lively mousse. Hay and herbs greet you. Full, creamy red apple, and a smidgen of orange peel. Low dosage, excellent, well integrated acidity, and a boatload of soil to finish. At a most enjoyable stage, which for me means that any oxidative notes are held tightly in check.
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12/1/17 disgorge. Really rich and full champagne. not much oxidative about this besides a whiff on the nose. Full white fruit flavor, great mouthfeel and sense of power. Objectively not worth my ticket price ($219 before tax!)
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Till en början ganska blyg på grund av den låga temperaturen men allteftersom gradantalet steg och vinet fick luft så blommade vinet ut.
Massvis med smöööööör, kolasås (?), honungstoner och äpple (sötsyrliga granny Smith?). Känner jag lite krut också?! Eken är len och syran är skyhög. Wow. Vilket vin!
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July 2010 disgorgement. Zesty, orange peel with loads of chalky minerality. Very fresh and didn't lose a step being opened for 4 hours. Drink now and for another 4-5 hours.
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Disgorged 2015. Outstanding, although just a little less distinctive than the DG 2010. Nonetheless, rich, dry, yeasty - a big blanc des blancs. Full with a creamy mousse and a very long finish.
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DG 01/2017 We gave it some air after opening and it began to express itself more generously. Gently oaky with a clear oxidative base, wax, chalk, cacao butter, fresh milk, high sapidity with sea salt; vanilla, cardamom, white pepper, star anise, black tea, chai spice mix; a lot of presence of ripe exotic fruits with freshly cut coconut, guava, mango, peach, quince, cantaloupe melon. It’s always pleasurable to drink Selosse with several years of bottle age; this is still a young wine with a medium-high acidity for a fantastic ageing potential, but right now a pleasure to drink. Less oxidative than other bottles of Initial, but much more concentrated. 93pt
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Vin dégorgé le 18/05/2012 - Robe jaune paille, bulles évanescentes, nez sur le curry. En bouche, la texture est crémeuse, sur des arômes de curry, cuir, craie, brioche, belle persistance aromatique avec queue de paon - plus de 30 secondes. Sapide et salin. 95/100
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(Disgorged Nov 2017, 100% Chardonnay) Distinct yellow colour with a lovely nose showing dried fruit, marmalade and some juniper wood in a lovely way. Smooth yellow plums showing a nice acidity with a creamy mid before a nice zesty bitterness and ginger touch takes over on the lengthy finish. This is showing very well right now and will reward further cellaring to show more dried notes.
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Disgorged April 2015. Very good and way less oxidative than usual. Often times, this wine needs food and this is one the few times I had the Initial with that much acidity and with very controlled oxidative notes that require almost no food.
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Deg Aug 2013. Best Initial I have tried. A few years in the cellar really does wonders for this wine. A lot of nuts, caramel and sweet fruit in addition to more flowery notes. Incredibly complex with long aftertaste.
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Taste: The feel is Medium/full bodied with tart, high acidity. There was a bit of punch to the acidity, but it was beautifully integrated and seamless. There was good weight and depth to the feel with toast, red apples, almonds, roasted nuts, bruised apples, cider notes, dough, and brioche.
Overall: I wasn't able to get the disgorgement date down on this. That said, it was a wonderful and quintessential Selosse and that is all one really needs.
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Older bottle disgorged 2006; lovely nose of honeyed red apple, lilac, a hint of hazelnut, poached pear, a definite oxidative style, but delicious to me. The palate is silky with a caressing mousse that amplifies the beautiful flavors of ripe apple, honeysuckle, and peach crumble. Excellent. Wish these wines were a bit more affordable, but they are certainly delicious.
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Disgorged 2th August 2018. Honeyed colour and initially reticent nose. Palate evolved in the glass from initial citrus to deep savoury/ umami, with dried porcini and walnuts. Delicious fridge cold, but grew into something completely wonderful at it warmed up. Very lovely- need to get some more of this!
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The fragrance has a pear-like fragrance, and the sweet and fruity aromas of strawberries and peach, as well as roasted toast scent. The taste is very refreshing and sour, and it returns to the sweetness after entering the throat. The complex and long lingering rhythm impacts the senses repeatedly in the mouth, like drinking a vintage Montrachet with bubbles!
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Disgorged April 2019. Vinous, deep gold, slightly oxidative and delicious. The nose comes across a bit more aged than the palate, which is remarkably bright and fresh. Aromas: applesauce, walnut, brioche, pear, toast, vanilla, hints of butterscotch, medicinal plants and ocean breeze Flavors: green apple, pear, Meyer lemon, brioche, toasted almond, vanilla, chalk, lemon zest, hint of salt
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Väldigt mycket rostade toner och sherry initialt på doften, efterhand mer och mer röda äpplen. Efter mer luft blir det mer och mer som en mersault med brynt smör och nötter
Intensiv och oerhört bra längd. Grym komplexitet.
Den här var deggad 2014 så den har fått några år på sig. Fantastiskt vin!
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Deg. 2018 - Rcih, decadent, very Vin Nature with loads of fallen apples and an pronounced minerality; this remains an aquired taste, but great wine, nevertheless. #IB
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Disgorged 2019. Beautiful color and aroma. Slightly oxidative and nutty character, cut through by minerality. Complex and creamy with very fine bubbles. Delicious.
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Degorged 2008. Golden color, intense nose and palate. A wonder of a Champagne, but will not benefit from additional cellartime. Starting to show secondary notes of ripe apples and caramel.
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Degorgerad mars 2013. Massiv. Burgundisk betong – kanderad citrus med några droppar brynt smör. Och så lite jästsvamp på det och en hint krita på slutet. Wow!
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Degosjert 12 jan 2016. Rik nese, heftige oksidative toner av innskrumpede epler, kamfer, gul frukt, sjø, tang og tare. Rik stil, stor kompleksitet. Fyldig vin i munn som breier seg ut og tar plass. Ingen sparsom stil på frukten. Generøs, men med et nydelig bitt som holder alt på plass. Frukten har noen friske elementer i munn som ikke er like lette å finne på nese. Fersken og aprikos. Lang utgang.
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Dégorgement 2012. Excellent Champagne, notes finement oxydatives, large et long à la fois, typiquement Selosse, et conservait un potentiel de garde mais s'il était à son apogée.
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May 2016 disgorgement, I believe 08/09/10 base years. This was rather open, easy but still with good depth and typical Initial notes. Perhaps a bit less energy than I would expect coming from these three vintages. Great with pizza etc. Best over next 3-4 years i would imagine.
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5/11/17 disgorged) Delicious but oddly uncharismatic. Had all the element of Initial - a little nutty, a little slutty, poire and marmalade. But it never really grabbed me mid-drink, forcing my attention on it vs just enjoying and Selosse always does that.
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Sadly I lost the disgorgement date so I am putting under NV. I think it was around 2010-12 though.
Gold to Amber. Medium to generous bubbles. Developing nose. High acidity and high intensity of flavours. Such a fresh and crisp palate. The nose is aged and if not for the bottles you would think older given the oxidative style. Lots of apples. Complex and balanced.
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This was an older version, disgorged in 7/2006; the color is deep gold and the nose is definitely oxidative; rich brioche, bruised apple, a hint of toasted hazelnut, floral notes; the bubbles are subtle and the palate shows a rich, vinous tone with very elegant mousse. Very enjoyable, though if you don't like oxidative notes you probably won't like this.
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(Disgorged in December 2016, based on 2010, 2009 and 2008, 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Oger, dosage 1.5 gr/l) Lovely golden yellow colour with an endless stream of very fine bubbles that lead way for the maturing nose showing red apples, biscuits and gingerbread. Maturing palate showing red apples acidity combined with some dried fruit and a nice finish focused on elegance rather than intensity. Lighter and more elegant than I anticipated, in a very delicious and pleasant way. (Best with 3-9 years extra cellaring)
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Degorged Jan -16 Simply amazing bottle that kept improving over 90 minutes. Notes of freshly made high quality marzipan, grilled citrus with a creamy mousse. I can't imagine it could improve beyond this and this ended up as probably one of my top 6 champagnes so far.
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Naso ricco e complesso, opulento. Burro alle nocciole, frutta dorata, mineralità, e spezie, tostato in sottofondo. bollicina finissima e cremosa, struttura che gioca da protagonista con una freschezza che la supporta in sinergia con la sapidità minerale. Finale di notevole persistenza
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Disgorged July, 2015. Medium yellow and still quite lively bead. Freshly cut red apple and ginger. Really dynamic, zesty, and creamy at the same time. More citric on the palate. Superb bottle. I tend to favor about this amount of age in these wines, although some bottles have been more oxidative at a similar stage post-disgorgement.
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Inaugural mensual 17th dinner (Nico Osteria) (Chicago, IL): Disgorged March 1, 2007. I've had some problems with the older Selosse wines -- sometimes, they're too nutty and oxidative, but then you come across a bottle like this and you're back on the bandwagon. This is like carbonated, non-sweet, low-alcohol madeira. The nose is incredibly complex, with nuts, a hint of smoke, and some other sweet things. Like the nose, the palate has that same sort of complexity. There's a broadness that hides the mineral and acid skeleton structure of this wine.
Selosse Initiale. Gogget januar 16. Nedfallsepler, moden fersken, krydder og svak søtbakst. Akkurat innafor på oksidasjons-skalaen. Fantastisk mousse - strålende munnfølelse. Fullt Selosse trøkk i anslaget. Et slagskudd av konsentrert moden frukt og livlig syre. Holder kurven gjennom. Meget lang elektrisk finish. 93-94p
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Disgorged 21 Oct 2013 Has the selosse DNA for sure, but is a bit ungiving compared to the older disgorgement's I've had recently (the 12 and 07 disgorgements being the best of these). Also a bit unbalanced as there is a sweet liquer note at the same time quite austere finish.
Overall comes across a little bit too young for my taste. Same as the 13 disgorged V.O. we drank in September.
Better with an hour air after opening and a lovely champagne, really! But I've had better Selosse.
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Gula och röda äpplen, vanilj lätt oxiderad doft. Djup gul färg. Smaken är full av gula mogna äpplen, fyllig och full av smak. Varar väldigt länge. Helt ok men är inte överrumplad
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November 2017 disgorgement. There were some nutty notes to begin. With air citrus blossom, white peach and green apple came to the fore. It was layered, creamy. Complex and engaging. The finish was loaded with chalk.
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Didn't take any formal notes, but from memory: perfectly new baked bread with orange zest marmalade. Some apples and oxidative noted (sherry).. Lively, and long!! Amazing wine. Very burgundy in stile.
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Selosse Tasting (JH): Sherry-notes, liquor and green apples, with a touch of vanilla. Very intense and charming wine. Lots of complexity with florality, marzipan and mixed nuts. Impressive wine.
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Disgorged in August 2013. Sadly, probably the last Selosse I’ll buy unless I win the lottery. Almost six years after disgorging it is still vital if not outright youthful. Fruit is still fresh, acidity comes at you like a lazily shot arrow (a wee bit rounded but still very perky), slightly nutty tones of oxidation, like Anselme has splashed some good Sherry in a Puligny, and flowery sensations covered in chalk. Sad to see it go, but thankful to having been able to drink a few.
Disgorged November, 2017. Yellow, light mousse. Fresh, creamy bitter citrus flavors with little in the way of oxidative notes. Outstanding depth and length.
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Initial in secondary phase.. Normally I rate Initial highly but this bottle, disgorged in Jan 2016 was not up to the usual level - Strangely this bottle of Initial is already maturing at a fast pace and is missing the fresh energy one would expect from a young Initial. Yellow orchard fruits, ripe lemon zest and oxidative notes of cream soda and touch of sherry. Phenol touch on the palate. Bottle variation? (88/100)
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Disorged 05/15, not blind After 4-5 years is for me is the best time to drink Initial. Pine nuts, honey, concentrated, refreshing, balaced, powerful. red apples. 95
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Disgorged July 2018. Powerful champagne. Very expressive and complex aromas. Tasted alongside Marguet Shaman 14 and Egly-Ouriet Tradition and even though they were good they didn’t stand a chance against this Initial. Much more creamy and complex. Such a long finish as well. I really enjoyed this.
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Degorgement May 2016. Absolutely stunning Initial, got better and better in time in bottle after opening (just leave it be for an hour). Fruit, oxidized tones and acidity combined in heavenly taste, great length.
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Disgorged 2017. Enjoyed a bottle at La Table de Plaisance in St. Emilion. My first time to try Selosse.
Light gold color, with fine bead. The nose is unique, doesn't really call anything I've had before to mind, except maybe krug with some age? Notes of baked apples, sourdough bread, and chalky minerals in the finish. That doesn't sound too far off the path, but this is a different kind of champagne altogether.
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Nice alright but not sure if this is starting to show some age (despite neing disgorged in May 2016) or if it's an off bottle. Would have expected it a tad crisper.
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Debut des vacances... arrivés enfin à Combloux. Bouteille dégorgée en novembre 2013. Couleur jaune or demontrant une belle evolution. Une belle bouche cremeuse sur les pommes, les noix et les pâtisseries. Superbe fraicheur et longueur!
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Disgorged January, 2015. Full yellow, lively mousse out of the bottle. A touch of caramel and citrus. Full bodied, fantastically creamy, dry, and long without any pronounced oxidative character. Wonderful ginger spice to complement the bitter orange fruit. A great bottle of Initial at a perfect point in its development.
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bit early in the drinking window I think, need to decant for a while and body became much more robust and more aromas appeared, but we were drinking way too fast and regret it.
Purchased 6 years ago; golden yellow; nice brioche; nice bready yeasty taste with good acidity, excellent mousse, really tasty; clearly improved with age
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This bottle from the 2017 disgorgement seemed off. A pervasive piney-ness and strange mouthfeel. It wasn’t corked, but seemed strangely oxidized - not in the normal Selosse sense. I mention 2017 because Christina said she had a similar problem on a 17. I hope my other bottles aren’t suffering the same fate - maybe bottle time would resolve this?
Deg 2009. Opened and enjoyed slowly over 1.5 hours. Bottle in fine shape, but seemed a little bit restrained compared to other degorgements Ive had. Also a little hollow on the midpalate.
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Champagne tasting. No scores but ranked from best to worst. 1. 2000 Dom Perignon P2 - blind. classic big house prestige cuvee style. High class, but a bit generic - didnt guess Dom P. 2. Selosse Initial (deg09) - another beautiful initial, this time with almost 10 years post-deg aging which it carries effortlessly. However, some thinning in flavour. Maybe not one to save much longer. 3. 2004 Cristal - still very youthful, but has substance. 4. 2008 Dom Perignon - surprisingly accessible already! 4. 1998 Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame - deliciously mature, but on the 6. downslope - DRINK NOW 2008 Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame - very young, but accessible to some degree. 7. 2006 Taittinger Comtes - much too young, should be stored. 7. 2011 Pierre Peters Chetillons - young and rather anonymous 9. Krug Grande Cuvee (deg2003) - poorly stored 10. Ulysse Collin Rose (12 base. 18deg) - very young and complete lack of complexity. 11. 2009 Pierre Paillard Les Mottelletes - easy drinking and good value, but a tad too sweet. 12. Grande Siecle (fra start 2000'er) - Cork tainted
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Disgorged 13 Nov 2018 - 2012 base? Deeper and richer and slightly more oxidative than the V.O. After 20min in glas takes on a slightly worrying oxidated character. Good, but too young - drink from 2022.
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Very nice color,you can not see the bubbles but you feel them in your tongue.Nut and citron aromas with strong acidity and long aftertaste.a unique champagne from a small producer.
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Disgorged July 2017. Rich colour and lots of larger sized bubbles, holding plenty of fizz. Slightly oxidised but I quite like that in the right way. Lean and sharp green apple on the finish and quite dry, which for my taste means lack of richness or dosage. Seems a bit simple in some ways and seems like it’s trying to be two things rather than been very good at one. Others may well love this style (other two sharing loved it)
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Best bottle (Restaurant Waldhorn, Kirchheim, Germany): Glass: Gabriel Standard Disgorged in 2013. Nice golden color. Beautiful, precise and focused nose. Fine mousseux. On the palate very rich but focused and precise. Fine yellow fruit. Deep and complex, great mineral notes and vibrant energy and tension with an enormous pressure. Very long and fine finish. Great Champagne for sure. Amazing experience! 93-94
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Disgorged 27th August. 2018. Quite a fine nose of bread, tart tatin, lemon cued and mineral. It is full in the mouth, with layers of flavour. There's fruit sweetness and a chalky dry finish.
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Leiden in Voorhout: Degorgement 2017. These Initial need not be kept in cellar for long, this is drinking already super now. Textbook Selosse, concentration, depth, savory, sweetness, oxidative tones.
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Comprehensive Selosse (Chicago, IL): Disgorged November 2017. Independently, this is one of my favourite "entry-level" champagnes, but coming off the flight of Lieux-dits BdBs, it's pretty obvious that this wine is a huge step down in terms of complexity and concentration. There's a mild hint of oxidation on the nose here, which is carried on the palate as well. The fruit profile is simple, with a bit of sweetness. Crisp acids, and without a doubt a well-made champagne, but this (perhaps rightly) just can't hit the highs of the other wines.
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100 % chardonnay, deg 09/2018, basviner 2010,11 och 12, 5 g/l. Massiv, djup, frukt i mängder bakom en vägg av nötighet. Snyggt balanserad syra och bra längd. Mycket speciell, något svår att greppa. Jag har bara druckit Initial en gång tidigare, baserad på 10,11 och 12, deg 2016 och jag fann den mer tillgänglig än denna så kanske i en konstig fas. Gott är det.
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Disgorged in April 2016. What a delicate nose, with lovely, gentle toasty and biscuity notes. Fresh and vived on the palate with subtly nutty notes and gorgeous sparkling finesse! This Initial is a blend of vintages 2010, 2009 and 2008.
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Disgorged in 2014. Similar to my previous note, very fresh on the nose, yellow and white flowers, pear, lemon cream and minerals, on the palate, very complex with structured layers of fruits like raspberries pie, lemon skin, and apple cream, quite mineral and a bit yeasty, acidity was very focused and lingering. Love it.
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Deg. 2011. Mature, hazelnuts, almost buttery on the nose, complex; Yellow apples, moderate acidity -- but enough to balance the rather heavy fruit, long, fines -- but slightly bitter finish. Not the most vibrant wine, possibly on its way down.
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Golden, clear, plenty small bubbles. Bread, red apple, yellow pear, brioche, wood nose. Red apple, brioche, honey syrup taste. Rich, full, fruity and ripe. More a food wine than an aperitif to my plebeian palate.
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The nose seems to suggest that some air or more bottle age might help - slightly reticent orchard fruit. But on the palate, this shows tremendous expressiveness and life with ripe appley, pear, orchard fruit, slightly autumnal but with a bit of citrus to keep it bright. Beautiful mousse. Lovely stuff.
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Deg: 16/10/2012 Wow - this is a beautiful edition of the Initial with potential for futher development. Better structure and focus/edge than the 2010 disgorgement. In hindsight we probably should have decanted this.
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Doft av mogna äpplen, fruktig kraftig smak. Inte så kraftig mousse (ganska länge i glaset innan provsmakning). Mycket bra vin men inte riktigt så att det passar mig.
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Peter's BDay (Bistro Na Pasadena): Tasted blind alongside a 06 Leclapart L'Apotre and '10 Hebrart Rive Gauche Rive Droite. My #2, but #1 for the majority. Disgorged 20 July 2016, but I don't know the vintage blend. Great depth, and nice nutty oxidative notes, a hint of citrus. On the palate, excellent acidity, and great texture...a bit broader than the Leclapart, but to my palate, less so than the Hebrart. Again excellent.
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I could roll in this wine like a pig in mud. The ‘16 disgorge seems to be firing on most cylinders. Based on my grandmas rose garden 40 years ago, when they actually had a scent, this wine was the peach colored roses. Classic roses, not this hybrid crap with no character. The Initial never has the rich full palate of the lieux dits, but it’s still a pleasure bomb in a bottle. The palate and price are equally intense and becoming somewhat out of balance as I see this selling at a 30% increase in one year. Fun wine either way.
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The first bottle of Selosse I purchased for myself (great deal in US terms from a Zachy's sale last year for under $140). While I have tasted this and other Selosse wines before, it is something altogether different to be able to enjoy a whole bottle just among the two of us. The nose is a knock-out – so much going on. The palate is beautiful, with richness that descends gradually into a chalky note on the finish. It is just as enjoyable without the bubbles for me too. A truly lovely wine of power and grace that would elicit a higher rating (from me) if only the price were not so crazy.
Fantastic. Medium to deep gold (darker than I would have imagined) with a good stream of bubbles that accent, but not dominate the wine. Lemon cream, toasted brioche, jasmine, honey...hard to pull your nose away. Listed as Brut but seems drier. Initially a rich/nutty palate that gives way to lemon curd, honeysuckle, lime zest and je ne sais quoi crisp minerality with a light dusting of smoke. DG Nov 2017 NYE morning with a homemade Bulgarian banitsa.
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Degorgement July 23,2015. Straw yellow color. Brioche, roasted bread on the nose. Very rich and lush palette, minerals with some lemon zest. Wow this bottle is performing much better than expected.
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Very solid showing of Initial! A little austère at first, very dry. Only a little effervescence (very fine bubbles), more a wine than a Champagne. Then as the evening went on (and warmed up) it opened up to wonderful aromas of pears, ginger and oak. Very well balanced and structure. Next time i will follow the recommendation and decant it.
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Dark golden in color. Orange peel, cooked apple, roasted nuts and honey on the nose and palate. it has the signature JS toasty note, complex yet elegant.
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9 November 2017 disgorgement. Really nice showing. Quite tense and nervy still but with some time in glass and a touch warmer it broadens nicely, becomes more vinous. Still very much on the yellow citrus side of spectrum. Think this disgorgement probably needs at least another 2-3 years to really show best.
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Disgorged July 2017. Umm, wow. Somewhat deep gold. Huge yeasty bread when popped, but quickly being a chameleon to scores of different profiles as time went on. Beautifully and lightly effervescent, really secondary to the underlying wine. A wonderful contradiction. Fresh, yet hints of interesting oxidation. Mellow, balanced flavor profile, yet ebullient. With an hour in the decanter it gets more tropical in nature, though keeps its light smokey and mineral personality. The longer it sits, more tart lemon comes out. Damn good stuff with a great personality. Next time I would not worry so much about making it last hours, as I liked it best in the first hour.
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Disgorged January, 2015. Full yellow. Lightly effervescent. Wonderful apple and ginger aromas. Minimal but perceptible dosage. Creamy feel, deeply flavored, and poised between freshness and early secondary hints of caramel. Excellent acidic backbone. An outstanding example of Initial drunk at the optimal time post-disgorgement for my taste. Makes many a Grand Marque Champagne seem pretty insipid and lifeless.
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Mun: bokna äpplen även här, men också en släng av stenfrukt, diskret touch av citrusfrukt, kanske inbillar jag mig detta men jag tycker mig även känna nämnda saffransbröd (med mandelmassa) i smaken i någon sekund innan den övergår till en balanserade ek. Den finns en genomgående intensitet och syra som följer varje steg av smakspektrat och binder samman de olika momenten. Det samlade intrycket är att detta inte är ett spretande vin, utan ett väl balanserat vin som utgår från de komponenter som Selosse vet att han behärskar så väl.
Det är imponerande hur snyggt detta vin är. Ett hantverk som väldigt få kan konkurrera med.
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Wasn't planning on opening this for a while longer, but...special occasion. Disgorged 16 July 2015, based on 07/08/09, I think (but have to double check). Decanted. Like a grand cru burgundy with bubbles. On the nose, some oxidative nutty notes, rich vanillin and toast, floral notes. On the palate, great acidity, bubbles supporting the nose, great richness...wow.
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Un producteur que j’affectionne beaucoup. Sa cuvée d’entrée de gamme (si on peut vraiment dire) Initial est habituellement superbe et cette bouteille ne fait pas exception. Un parfum de fleur blanche et une bouche sur la pomme verte et la brioche. Une bouche crémeuse et fraiche dans un style moins oxydé que d’autres cuvées.
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Disgorged 7/23/15. Light-to-medium oxidation, with some fried plantain and butterscotch notes darting through the ripe yellow citrus and pear skin core. Bruised lemon peel, toasted almond, and faint salinity round out the attack. Medium acidity and effervescence, with some softer edges that make for a smooth finish.
More of a richer, rounder version and less of a high-toned bright yellow citrus animal. Less of a frothy and bracing acid sort as well. A bit Krug-esque in regards to the oxidation and its more serious light-bronze/coppery contour. A liquid party that leans more toward “stately” and “merrymaking” (insert proper British accent)...and less of the “off-da-hook-pahrTAY we just won the Indy 500!” type of celebratory sprayer (insert Ricky Bobby twang).
An easy drinker to be sure, pairing great with a sturgeon caviar in a whipped potato “cloud” (who even knew there was such a thing?!). Drinking well on PnP; I wouldn’t hesitate to open this now, as I personally would want to take advantage of the freshness and energy this is displaying now. Depends how you like your bubbles I suppose. If you prefer lamp oil and seltzer water, then maybe hold this for 20 years. But if you want a solid Champagne that performs with some maturity despite its youth, grab yourself a glass of this royal molten juice and go to town...err... rather, “promenade to the Thea-tah [theater]!”
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Disgorgement 2012. My first Selosse and I now really know (especially after the second bottle) where all the buzz is coming from. This Initial was already very nice with a high focus, having the slightly oxidative "Selosse touch" but gaining more and more freshness with air. Lemon zest, white flowers and just a bit of yeast. Rich palate with power, tension and length. A world class Champagne.
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An evening with wine geeks (@Private location, Frankfurt): Glass: Gabriel Gold Disgorged in 2012. Nice golden color. Beautiful, precise and focused nose. On the palate very rich but focused and precise. Deep and complex, great mineral notes and vibrant energy and tension. Very long and fine finish. Great Champagne for sure. Amazing experience!
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Disgorged Oct '14. First time with the Initial, had Substance before. This is definitely much younger, but very similar in style. Nutty on the palate initially and nose was slightly tight. With some air (few hours) and warming up, got great acidic bite and the nuttiness falls to the background, but then a bit later nuttiness comes back again. Enjoyed its evolution over the evening. Bubbles were persistent throughout the evening as well.
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Disgorged April 2015. Slightly oxidative in style, with lemon zest/lime notes. Bready, toasty 'initial'ly, but with air, it gained a lot of depth and picked up notes of peach, pear, and balanced acidity. Yum.. paired really well with a number of the courses at Benu.
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Disgorged in 2014. Very fresh on the nose which was a bit surprising (in positive way), I guessed the disgorgement year is in 2016 based on this freshness. White flower, mint, lemon tart, and stony fruits; on the palate, deep and structured, layer of lemon pie, citrus, and almond
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Yellow-soft golden color with some murkiness. Minerality on bouquet (some flint?) with distant hint of orange peel and honey. Nice earthy undertones with brioche. There is walnut in there and a hint of flower blossom, perhaps linden. Tiny, well distributed bubbles. Highly complex on palate, with a tiny bit of sherry, good oxidation, pastry, with some orange essence, meyer lemon, and pear or apple in there. Stays long on the tongue. This was my first Selosse; its level of complexity, balance and amazing craft left me nothing less than in awe. I tried to engage in polite conversation, yet, unable to do so, as I was totally absorbed by this wonderful creature that I had just met: sniffing, sipping, savoring; this is a wine worth the expense and demanding of appreciation.
Dinner at Bistro du Vin, Kennedy Town HK. First introduction to this Champagne. Not too bubbly but still very refreshing. Complex, multi-layered, with lots of fresh acidity, concentrated zesty fruit, toasty notes, and a touch of oak.
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Disgorged 07/08/13. Straw color. Yeasty and oxidized nose, nuts and bruised apple. Softer body than I expected with a very complex palate and a finish that keeps going. Excellent.
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Disgorged 5/14. Richer-then-expected- golden yellow color with few, steady, tiny bubbles. It has hints of an oxidative note, with some sherry and honey but such lively energy, too. There's an earthy streak in the finish amidst almonds and tart green apple. With time in the glass, it opens to reveal a kaleidescope of scents on the nose. Really interesting about an hour in. Terrific stuff. Wish I could make Selosse my house bubbles. Love the stuff.
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Degorgement July 2016. This is absolutely gorgeous. A combination of sweetness, acidity, fruit, minerals and oxidative tones that is spot on. Emptied half the bottle sitting in the sunshine and enjoyed life.
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2010 disgorgement at a restaurant; I love this Champagne; bruised apple, honeysuckle, a hint of toasted walnut and brioche; the palate is rich and vinous yet still delivers the energy and freshness you want from a bubbly. Finishes long and lingers.
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Dinner at Sun Wah (Chicago, IL): Disgorged December 11, 2014. This wasn't the best showing of this wine. It certainly had the correct notes, but there was a slight bit of high-toned character that seemed a bit out of place. Hazelnuts and browned apples. Great acidity and intense chalkiness.
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Pour la fête des mères. En l'honneur de la mienne qui n'est plus avec nous pour la première année. En l'honneur de la mère de mes enfants, une compagne incroyable. Grand champagne. Vineux avec des notes de pâtisserie et sur le fruit à l'orange. Long avec des bulles fines. 93 sur 100.
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Gogget i 2016. Flott intensitet med Selosses klassiske oksidative toner, uten å gå over the top. Fresh på smak med konsentrert spenstig frukt. Nydelig nerve her - ungdommelig. Bra trøkk! Lang elektrisk finish med pen modning i frukten.
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I enjoyed this one alot (02-2013 dis) and I think it falls in line with the selosse palate line I recall from previous tastings. Color wise, it fell well (bright yellow/gold) on the color scheme by age of four different champagnes. It was an enjoyable visual. Floral wise, it had the pears and flowers on the nose (could not detect them all, was slightly under the weather). Nice spices on the palate, along with a good balance of the minerals. Very little/gentle oak. The wine opened up over the course of the evening. Drank better after 2 hours or so. A good addition to a line up of aging champagnes. No rush to drink it, but its already great.
(92+ to 93)
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“Papa” delivers always. For me one of his best wines. Fresh, not too oxidative and enough power to accompany a whole dinner. Even that I prefer at least 5 years of disgorgement with Selosse champagnes the young one convince with a great freshness. 95
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Notes taken from a glass poured after about 1.5 hours of decanting.
Medium-plus gold color. Signs of effervescence - bubbles coating the glass.
A pronounced aroma of yeast, evident from far away. Bringing the glass closer to the nose, a lemon scent with a slight acetic acid quality (slight VA) like lemon infused vinegar, then scents of lime peel, chalk, old wood, white flowers, hints of almonds and hazelnut, medium-aged cheese rind, as well as a top note of green herbal shrubbiness. So quite a complex nose,
On the palate, a tart green apple quality shows itself, as well as a light pleasant salinity. Wonderful evolution on the palate, from light-medium-bodied to a more rich quality where the cheesy lees builds body, then right at the midpalate it gets lighter again, with an oxidized Savennieres quality.
Really quite nice.
93 points.
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corkage at Pasquale Jones. Very typical -- a push and pull of richness and tension. Will hold my other for another couple yrs of bottle age. Dis 5/2016
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Disgorged in July 2017 and made up of 2009, 2010 and 2011. It smells like tarte tatin and lemon butter. It is full, rich and chalky, with power and elegance. The fine finish shows excellent persistence.
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Nicely complex. Hints of oxidation but not bothersome. Good lemon and brioche and some toast. Good energy and tension. Nicely nuanced. Consistent with previous bottles.
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Acker Auction - April 2018 (Marea in NYC): From the new release. This was very impressive. Lots of spice and maybe some parsley and dill and herbal and just very interesting. Quite enjoyable.
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As I fail to comprehend any of the greatness attributed to this champagne (first encounter) I rest my case. To me this is all green apples with high, refreshing as it is, acidity and apple must juice with a vinous character. I can see the potenital though, but I have no idea where it will drive the wine in 10 years time. Or it may be just like black olives, you just have to learn to like them...
Betty's BDay (Intercontinental DTLA): Disgorged 15 July 2015. I was told this is based on 08/09/10. Decanted and sat for about 15 min in decanter. Eyes-roll-back-in-your-head good. Just amazing concentration, balance, aromatic complexity. On the nose, precise and rich at the same time. Great density, and acidity is spot on. I don't know how to describe the fruit, which was so varied. Just sit back and enjoy.
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Disgorged March 2013. Amber color. Ripe apples. Sherry. Smoky mineral. Strong mousse. Lively acidity. Powerful champagne. Keeps well in the glass doesn’t fade. More mature than expected.
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Really nice. Great flavors of lemon, toffee, coffee, pears. Creamy and wonderfully textured. Tiniest of bubbles. A really nice effort with great energy and verve. Good complexity balanced with nice youth.
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Tasted at Marco Brunello's home as an appetizer. The wine was NV, but they gave the date of degorgement on the back of the bottle: 18 April 2012. Very fine and dense mousse, delicate and yeasty nose. Lovely, quite fresh and nice complexity. A great start to a wonderful dinner!
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Once again, “Initial is like a box of chocolate”. More mature expression, harmonious sweet and nutty nose displaying, baked apple, red currant, almond cookie, sweet spices and mineral. Perfectly harmonious palate, decadent sweet yellow fruit driven palate impression, fine mousse, perfect amount of acidity, strong mineral presence and a long decadent yellow fruit and mineral driven finish with a hint of almond cookie at the end. This particular bottle is similar to Substance but with more energy and freshness. Excellent showing.
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New Year's Eve (Healdsburg, California): Disgorged October, 2014. Light yellow. Medium body. Green apple, caramel, great soil and minerality. Not the most layered Initial at this point. Could use more time to round out.
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Pale gold in color. Tiny bubbles as expected. Nose is of peeled apples, a bit of caramel, not much yeast. One of a kind. On the palate it is round. Not as acidic as most Champagnes I've tried. The texture reminds me more of DP than Krug. Good weight but with just enough acid to remain elegant. Like drinking a Meursault with bubbles with the oxidative nose of aged Jura's Savagnin. The finish is at least 50 seconds long. This is definitely unique. Excellent Champagne.
Degorgement 25 July 2015. This has become so much more mature in a year. Very nice at the moment. Very mineral and fresh on the nose. On the palette, it reveals a very fine bubble that keep exploding with minerals and fruit. I got one bottle left with the same degorgement. One of the questions I stil have with Initial is if it should be opened quite young or if it ages gracefully. I tend to think it should be opened 2-3 years after degorgement.
Golden yellow. Ripe, browned apple flavor. This just seems like it should finish on a tired flat note, yet it soars with crisp, juicy freshness. Very complete- one of our favorite Champagne producers
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Disgorged 2002. Has a rather oxidative color (!) - a little too golden for comfort. However, this is still incredibly fresh and vibrant. Both the oxidative and the non-oxidative crowd loved it.
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Fresh yet bold nose of lemon, white flower, toasted nut, and ginger. Full bodied, with a voluptuous mouthfeel and big flavors of apple and a zesty minerality. This bottle (unfortunately I didn't get the disgorgement date) was open-knit, accessible, and ready to drink.
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First bottle of this since having tried it in Paris; it didn't disappoint; disgorged in 5/2013 this is rich and vinous. Definitely made in an oxidative style as pointed out, but the bread, nutty, honeyed notes on the nose are fabulous. The palate is so rich and vinous with mousse that is just caressing... delicious. If this was cheaper I'd drink it weekly...
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2006 Disgorgement. Very mature though not sherried. All hazelnut and dark cocoa. First 5 minutes of the bottle were the best and it slipped a little over the course of 40 minutes. Still a stupendous bottle of champagne.
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Tasted in an informal setting next to several other Selosse Champagnes. Dég. 2013. A touch lighter than 2 of the lieux-dits but still one of the more powerful Champagnes. Notes of citrus, chalk, smoke, brioche, also some white flowers and mint. It's medium-full bodied with medium-high acidity and nice fine mousse. Good length. A superb Champagne that was only suffering from being served next to the lieux-dits. (94)
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This was tasted in Zalto Universal served at 12 degrees, nose was fresh no oxidative reminiscence, all wonderful, taste rather big and round long aftertaste. A typical Champagne with food like seafood or ham and cheese. Needs air so a big glass, fine bubbles well integrated. Vintage 2007/2008/2009.
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Wenn ich mich zwischen Initial und Substance entscheiden müßte, könnte ich es nicht. Der Initial ist eine Spur „leichtfüssiger“ und „spielerischer“. Die Zitrusfrucht dominiert die ebenfalls vorhandene Vanillekipferlnote. Die Präzision und Leichtigkeit werden durch die beißende Säure aufrechterhalten. Ich bin der Ansicht,dass 3-5 Jahre Degorgements mindestens notwendig sind, um das Potential des Initials andeuten zu können. Habe vom Vorgängermodell mehrere 1997 degorgierte Flaschen genießen dürfen. Ein Traum. 96
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2017 Piemonte trip for Thuy's 40th!; 10/12/2017-10/15/2017 (Piemonte, Italy): 16 October 2015 discorgement. Tasted blind and the oxidative side of it made us point to a Selosse, but really thought this was one of the solera ones. A lot more evolved than we expected , more oxidative for this age. Good mineral side , ripe fruited and very bright too. We have had our ups and downs with Selosse's champagnes and this looks like a down. Will not rate this time.
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Disgorged 25th of October 2016. A really fresh bottle with intense green apple, white peach and grilled nut aromas. It is rich and full in the mouth, showing loads of sappy orchard fruit flavours. There are some bakery notes and plenty of mineral. The finish is chalky and long.
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Disgorged December, 2013. Full yellow, subdued mousse. This starts with a fair amount of caramel but freshens to reveal bruised apple and a citric twist. Full bodied and creamy, but enlivened by excellent acidity. Very alive, constantly changing in the glass. Again, for me, this proved to be just about the optimal time to open after disgorgement. I know that others prefer it with more age and an even stronger oxidative component.
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Opens with a slight oxidized note which blows off and gets more complex with air. This is more creamy textured but with a crystalline purity and vivacious energy. This wine is clean and refreshing enough to have on its own or as an aperitif. I just kept going back to this. Delicious!
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Disgorged in Sep 9th 2015. 12% alcohol. Total production 33,000 bottles. Served blind.
Pale golden yellow color, perhaps very slightly hazy as well. Waxy, subtle and attractive nose with slightly sweet and nuanced aromas of yellow fruits, some marzipan and crème à la vanille, a little bit of apple jam, a hint of creamy autolysis and a touch of crème brûlée. The wine is bone-dry yet broad, full-bodied and round on the palate with layered flavors of apple jam, some peach, a little bit of cookie dough autolysis, a hint of yeasty French bread and an oxidative touch of mocha. Overall the wine is high in acidity with lively and persistent mousse. The finish is steely and pretty acid-driven with complex flavors of smoke, rich dark-toned fruit, some oxidative mocha and nougat, a little bit of sweet spices and a hint of creaminess.
Even served blind, this wine stood easily much taller than the rest of the wines in a tasting of grower Champagne (apart from another Selosse wine). Compared to my previous experiences with Selosse wine, the nose here was much less oxidative and a lot more pure and crystalline with rich, complex fruit and nuanced non-fruit aromas. Of course you could easily notice that this was an oxidatively made Champagne (as opposed to one made reductively) but still this was far from the most oxidative Champagnes I've had. Lots of power, weight and depth without anything in excess. I suppose Selosse really is in a league of his own, because even when served blind everybody goes nuts about the wine. The hype is real. Worth its price at 115€, but a steal at 60€ from the cellar door - if you happen to get in, that is.
Disgorged 17 jan 2007. Second Selosse. Very deep, in every way. Golden yellow but had turned a bit cloudy, lost quite some pressure in the bottle too. With time, develops distinct tones of raisins and minerality accompanied with citrus. Anyhow, good acid and is in the preferable drinking span atm. Very mature wine with a long finish.
Tasted alongside Extra Brut, Substance and Rosé
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First Selosse, very delicious. Certainly different from the other champagnes on the table, but not too different. Definitely a bit of oxidative/nutty note but really only a little. Picked up weight over the night. 2016 disgorgement
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Champagne and Sushi (and other wine) (NYC): oxidative, but not to the point of making it the prevalent note. quite nice. a style for sure. I liked this and found it enjoyable, but preferred the Fillaine and Taittinger to this.
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Middag på Sturehof (Sturehof, Stockholm): (Disgorged in January 2016) This is lovely as always and should benefit from further cellar time. Dominated by oak and showing a maltiness in the beginning. After some time in the glass it opens up showing butterscotch in a very positive way.
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Disgorged 7/15. Everything's in perfect balance here - oxidation, fruit, and acid with the bubbles adding needed lightness. This is brilliant winemaking and absolutely worth the price. The Lieux-Dits are wonderful and distinct but I can't say they deliver more enjoyment than this despite being multiples of the price.
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Disgorged October, 2013. Deep yellow, still quite a bit of frothiness. Full, somber, and rather oxidative at first, this brightened up considerably to show bitter citrus, fresh acidity, and excellent minerality to go along with its intrinsic creaminess. Dynamic bottle, excellent.
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Disgorged September of 2010. Notes of pear liqueur, ripe citrus and flowers. Rich and polished, rather confected but also very lively. Finishes with beautiful notes of glazed fruit pastry. Super yummy and satisfying. Should have vast appeal as Champagne goes.
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October 2009 disgorgement. What a lovely wine. The best bottle of Initial I've had. It was perfectly balanced, middle-weight, mouth-filling, fresh but with characteristic Selosse notes. Held together beautifully (unlike some of his wines) over 1.5 hrs of drinking. Highly recommend.
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Had this a couple weeks ago and this bottle was better. Fresher. January 2015 disgorgement. Medium yellow color. Tiniest of bubbles. Slightly oxidative which is the intent. Not at all bothersome. Fresh and clean. Good energy and vibrancy. Lemon and yellow fruits with hints of butterscotch and some baking spice. Refined and elegant.
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10-13 disgorgement. This is quite fragrant with some sweetness tied in: marzipan, cider, yeast, pears? lavender? On the palate this has great energy with a solid mousse - it's got that nutty, creamy thing - so marzipan again, along with pears and some herbal. Not the best showing I've had but still excellent. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16.5-17/20.
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2010 degorgement. Took about 30 minutes to open up fully. Fine muted mousse, creamy taste with aromas of apple tart (apple pancakes/pie?), burnt butter notes and some red grapefruit in the finish. Great bottle with a "large" taste that lingered. Went from lively to flat in about 30 minutes after 2,5-3h hours though
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Jon's Birthday 2017 (Kallang Way Extra Space): Pop and poured. Drank over 1 hour. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, gold colour. Legs. Fine bubbles. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of autolytic yeast, yellow flowers, marble cake, wet stones minerality, citrus lemon-lime. Developing. On the palate, dry, very high zesty acidity, medium- alcohol (12%), medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of taut wet stone minerality, marble cake, slight caramel, citrus lemon-lime. Very long finish. Very good quality. Only mildly oxidative it seems to me. Great mouth-feel. Bad QPR though. This bottle was disgorged 13 December 2013.
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Les beaux parents nous rejoignent en vacances et je leur fait découvrir Selosse. Dégorgée le 22 novembre 2013. La bouteille est sur les fruits blancs. Longueur moyenne, toujours crémeux et le coté oxydatif est plus prononcé que les précédentes. Comparaison difficile avec la VO bue il y a quelques jours.
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(Disgorged in September 30th 2012, based on 2006, 2005, 2004, 100% Chardonnay) Yellow colour with a stream of fine bubbles and a lovely notes of dried fruits, marmelade, hazelnuts and mature apples on the wonderful and creamy nose. Palate is filled with an intense and maturing taste of dried fruits and animalistic notes with a long and lasting red grapefruit peel finish. This was a wonderful and maturing bottle showing how good Selosse evolves over time. Lovely! Best with 5-15 years of extra cellaring.
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Somewhat oxidative. Closer to an aged Chardonnay vs a Champagne. Crisp and fresh all the same. Medium yellow color. The tiniest of bubbles. Some reduction. Butterscotch and carmel as the wine warms up. This is good and a specific wine.
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vinet har blivit väldigt fylligt och antar nästan tonerna av en topp Bourgogne med angenäm ålder mer än champagne vilket jag gillar, fylligt och rikt och lång fin eftersmak, färgen nästan mörkgul. svingott hela vägen! dekorerad april 2013
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Champagne avec légère oxydation, sur la pomme. Des notes légères de patisserie au citron. La longueur est moyenne. Déçu sur cette bouteille considérant le producteur. 88 sur 100.
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Supper with Futronic (Osteria Langhe, Chicago): The first to be opened, one of the last to be finished, this had the benefit of being served in a large-bowled stem. A March 2009 disgorgement showing a darker color with a soft mousse and slow, fine bead. Notes of roasted nuts, honeycomb and sauteed apple with an undertone akin to marshmallow fluff. The palate shows orchard druit and the mature roasted nutty qualities. Treating this like a mature Burgundy is the most rewarding approach, and this was for me the best example of this wine I have tasted. Very menu friendly.
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Disgorged August, 2013. I opened this since we had a bottle disgorged in 2014 that was quite oxidative and a bit dull. This immediately had brighter aromatics with lively citrus. Much less caramel, much more bitter orange and fine minerality. This just had much more bounce and freshness. Outstanding bottle.
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Disgorged October, 2014. Deep yellow. Low pitched, oxidative nose. Very dry caramel without much fruit. Creamy entry, mineral finish. Not fatigued but definitely on the more oxidative, less vibrant side of Initial.
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Was informed that this was disgorged in 2011... Didn't come across as that oxidative as I recall of past Selosse champagnes. However, the texture & intensity on the palate was obvious, nicely balanced with great freshness amidst notes of apples, citrus & some chalk. A solid start to our dinner!
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Disgorged Oct-09-14. Served in plastic flutes (so perhaps not the best tasting vehicle) to celebrate our friend's new home purchase. This bottle was much less complex than previous examples - more clean and crisp than rich and oxidative. Not sure it had enough time to open and strut its stuff.
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Disgorged 10/22/2013. As usual, great champagne, a tad leaner than i remember just out of the fridge, but gained volume, texture and depth while getting warmer. A lot of definition on the nose and palate with citrus, wild white flowers, some nuttiness and french pastry notes. Sails on and on a crystalline and saline finish. Drink or hold.
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A bit more acidity than some previous bottles which really kicks it up a notch for me. The additional acidity balanced out the ripe fruits and oxidative profile. One of the tastiest Selosse Initials I've had.
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Celebration dinner (Heirloom cafe): Light golden with excellent bubbles; highly aromatic with plenty of bruised apple, slight yeast, brioche, slight oxidation that I love; palate has excellent apple and citrus fruit, nice density; finish is long. Wonderful champagne. 95+ Day 2: Still good, but a significant drop since it was first opened yesterday. I didn't expect it to improve, but still good to note that this champagne should be opened and finished on the same day.
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Wow, this was good. A copper-gold color in the glass. A big Champagne with a touch of oxidative notes along with creamy fruit. Driving acidity and a high-energy bead. Long. Got better with air. Was at its best with food.
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Broad and rich with orangepeel, overripe apples, cinnamon and cloves. On the palate a bit leaner with fine mousse and good acidity. Very nice. Deg 13.08
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My fourth time with this champagne and this time this time it is just entering its drinking window. Mature apples, which are a bit sweet, while the acid is still quite intense and with lots of smoke. Not very oxidized yet, but this should turn out very well. Disgorged January 12th 2016. Wait at least 2-3 years.
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Disgorged October, 2013. Full yellow, still lively mousse. Wonderful mellow nose of toffee, ginger, and orange. Full, some oxidative notes, but terrific mix of apple and citrus, fine mineral edge. On a knife's edge between youth and maturity. I really liked it at this stage.
Explosive nose...this jumps out of the glass.This is certainly leaning towards the oxidative spectrum but really enticing...not over the top at all. Aromas of caramel, orange, ginger, spice, mineral, brioche, marzipan, candied lime and marzipan.
Palate is medium-full bodied with rich notes of orange creme brulee, hazelnuts, almonds, ginger, minerals, yeast, brioche, lime and sweet spices. So layered....great texture and balance.
Finish is long and jumps back and forth from bright citrus flavours to rich caramelly, oxidative notes. Such an awesome champagne.
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Popped open a bottle in Avize, France after a tour of the winery with Jacques. Medium bodied, with good balance and average depth. At this price point I still prefer Krug NV. Tonight I will sample the Selosse VO.
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Disgorged August, 2013. Medium yellow, transient bubbles. Bitter orange, herbs, and a brief whiff of caramel. Full bodied, just off dry. At a very nice equipoise between retaining some vivacious citrus and rounding out into more mature Champagne flavors with the earliest hint of oxidation. Excellent and long.
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Disgorged on the 13th of May 2016. It was fresh yet complex and deep. It had the usual Selosse vinous quality and great intensity of orchard fruits. There’s plenty of mineral and a gentle thread of spice as well as a lactic, creamy feel in the mouth. It has great volume and a seriously chalky finish.
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Disgorged Oct 2003. Deep yellow. Quite oxidative style. Yeasty. Some citrus and spice. Rich, big on palate. Lacks freshness from previous bottle tasted a few years ago. Drink up.
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Comprehensive Jacques Selosse dinner (Source by Wolfgang Puck, Washington D.C.): Similar expression as the last bottle drank on March 1st. Ripe yellow fruit with a hint of red berries, lemon curd, dry orange peel, yeast as in hefeweizen, mead, biscotti, cinnamon and sweet spices. Fully integrated palate, medium find mousse, perfect amount of acidity and a long sweet and sour finish with a hint of mead as the end note. Really delicious.
Per David White, author of But First, Champagne.
"Dosage: ~5g/l A blanc de blancs of three recent vintages from lower-slope vines in Avize, Oger, and Cramant. Spends 24-30 months on lees."
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Dinner at Table, Donkey and Stick (Chicago, IL): Disgorged December 11, 2014. This is Initial as I like it. A heady, heavy champagne, with tons of ripe fruit and mushroom. This is dense and big, and clearly stylized too. There's tons of chalkiness here, as well as a lovely bruised green apple type of acidity. I've always been shocked at how many bottles of this stuff are made, but it also never fails to impress me, even if it is a very recent disgorgement.
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Dinner with Zachys crew (Blacksalt, Washington DC): Paraphrasing Forrest Gump’s momma, “Initial is like a box of chocolate”. Even from the same batch, the expression varies significantly, i.e. some quite fresh and energetic, others at the peak and perfectly ready. One of the more “yellow/natural wine” expressions. Decadent ripe yellow fruit, a hint of red berries, OJ, sour apple, a hint of red currant, peach, cinnamon and brown sugar. Perfectly mature palate expression, once again very natural wine like feel, ripe yellow and red fruit driven palate impression, fine mousse, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a love long sweet finish. Drinking wonderfully. I didn’t check the disgorgement date but younger than 2014. Really delicious like a twenty year old Krug MV.
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Disgorged Jan-12-16. The nose was good, but served in a champagne flute so could not appreciate as much as when served in a larger glass. The bouquet really opens on these with some air time and closer to room temp. On the palate this tastes of brioche, golden apple, a bit of carmelized honey, bright acidity and fine mousse. Definitely one of my favorite champagnes.
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Tampa Spring Break (the second); 2/17/2017-2/19/2017 (Various spots (homes, Mis en Place, Capital Grille)): We have a bottle of this sleeping in offsite storage, but my takeaway was we should definitely have more. Rivaling Krug in that ability to create a MV champagne that is excellent and interesting. Lovely toasty characteristics, but what I really liked was an almost spiciness to bubbles in the mid-palate. Still very classy and elegant. Very much enjoyed.
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disgorged 2013. Excellent rich and creamy. Not too oxidative. Gains complexity with time in burgundy glasses. Would drink remaining bottles in the next two years or so.
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Deg. 120116 Way too young, needs a couple of years in the cellar to unfoil its depth and complexity. Our table agreed that Initial is best drunk 3 - 5 years after degorgement.
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Game dinner with friends Champagne and Northern Rhône: Just some short notes; minerals in the bouquet. On the palate good acidity, pleasant oxidized style and some ok bitterness in the finish. Beautiful wine, but this bottle impressed a bit less compared to the previous ones.
Bordeaux dinner at Ripple with live rendition of the Star Spangled Banner (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Recent disgorgement but more marzipan/oxidative note than usual. Succulent yellow fruit, lemon curt, peach, marzipan, mineral and coriander seed. Very good concentration, sweet yellow fruit and marzipan driven palate impression, bright acidity, good mineral presence and a long sweet finish with marzipan at the end. Slightly Substancesque showing. Quite enjoyable.
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<Espumosos del Mundo- 2ª serie nº 4> Para mi gusto el vino de la noche. Nariz intensa, expresiva, muy bien perfilada, por momentos recuerda a un vino de Jerez, hay matices especiados, algo de frutos secos, recuerdos a naranja confitada... En boca entra bien, con la justa cremosidad, muy buena sensación de acidez, largo y evocador. ¡Grande!
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July 20145 Disgorgement. Complex, rich and powerful. The nose has so much going on with a whiff of chalk, some brulee, a little custard apple and candied citrus. In the mouth it is deep and direct. It has so much grunt but doesnt feel heavy in the slightest. It is imposing Champagne with supreme length.
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(Disgorged in January 12th 2016) Yellow colour with a broad nose showing yellow apples, mature banana and orange peel. Feeling exactly like a fruit salad. Palate is youthfully acidic with same flavours as on the nose with a distinct long orange peel finish. After a couple of hours it feels more integrated and shows hints of coffee. This is good, but needs more time to settle down. Best with 3-8 years extra cellaring.
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One of the best showings. Succulent sweet yellow fruit, lemon curd, apricot, peach, biscotti, saline, mineral and sweet spices. Excellent concentration, sweet and sour decadent yellow fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and a long sweet yellow fruit and sweet spices driven finish. Really delicious showing.
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Disgorged October 2010. My first ever bottle of Intial, but not my last. Wow - a real show stopper. Amazing mousse and yeasty tones with a clarity and precision that is hard to beat. Hazelnuts, almonds, violets. Lots going on.
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Disgorged may 2014. The Selosse vineyards are under bio-dynamic regime and the yeasts are natural to let the wine be free to develop before the dosage, made only with fructose from grapes. All very clear. This Champagne comes—with the solera process—from a blend of three successive vintage, 45-55% from the current year, 30-35% from the year before and the remaining from the two years before. Then comes a two years and half ageing on the yeasts. So this bottle was probably vintages 09/10/11.
Lovely selosse nose. This bottle was a lot less tight than a similarly gogged a year ago. Great structure throughout. Keeps going in the mouth. Strong acidity but never close to acidic.
After about 1 hour there is a sense of overripe oranges. After 2 hours marzipan is added to the mix. Great champagne.
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Deg 2014 Doft: Gula, bokna äpplen, sherryoxidare drag, nötter, mandelmassa och lätt hyacinthblommigt (dock inte nära på lika intensivt som Selosse kan vara) Smak: Ganska ljust och lätt med trevligt oxiderade drag och lite nötighet.
Bra men hade förväntat mig mer - det är inte wow på något vis som jag upplevt med Initial tidigare. Kunde ha legat till sig längre men unga flaskor har imponerat tidigare. 89+
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My first Selosse, and it was completely en fuego. Beguiling nose: flinty, oxidative/nutty, and floral. Sensational energy and suavity on the palate, with a sweet, lingering finish. The prices are staggering, but the quality is undeniable. Happy New Year!
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Gyllengul med liten ström av små bubblor. Doft domineras första dagen av multna äpplen och jäst. Första dagen är smaken dominerad av jäst och ciderlik. Märkte tydlig utveckling efter ett dygn i kylskåpet- vinet utvecklade sina toner av sherry, marzipan och gröna och gula äpplen. Låååång god eftersmak med äpplen, syra, kalk och citrus, den fina moussen håller i sig hela vägen. Nästa flaska får ligga till sig lite och luftas bättre än denna!
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Disgorged December 11, 2014. White golden color. Nose of yeasty baking spice, pear, almonds, white flowers, flint. Big and bready on the palate with notes of biscuit, parmesan, grapefruit, apple core, and tons of satisfying grip. Nicely acidic with nubby, massaging texture. Long finish of energizing fizz, flint, citrus, and yeasty bite. Terrific Champagne.
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Disgorged Dec 2012. 12% abv. Golden yellow. Marzipan, toast, mineral nose. Rich with residual sweetness, but retaining nice green apple like acidity. Complex.
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Voimakkaan Kullan keltainen Todella runsas paksu paahteinen tuoksu. Litsiä sitrusta Maku paksu, kypsä, kaniin tamminen, herkullisen hedelmäinen, Kypsän makuinen. Maku varmasti syvenee ikääntyessä, sopisi loistavasti myös rasvaisien kalaruokien, kampasilmpukoiden tai tuoreen parsan kanssa. Osta lisää!
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Deg 2014-05. Äpple, vingummin, bröd, marsipan, nötter och blommor. Lång eftersmak. En mycket bra och fruktig Initial. Den är som vanligt ganska extrem i sin stil, och det är fler än en gång under kvällen som tankarna far i väg till Jura och till torr engelsk cider.
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Drunk over dinner with friends, together with Jacquesson 739 and Chartogne-Taillet Brut 2008. My first Selosse, from memory. This is even more expressive and powerful on the nose, not fully on the oxidative side, but the apples are more prominent. More body and intensity and complexity on the palate, supported by lively acidity. It worked for me. It went very well with pasta with broccoli and salsiccia, with grated pecorino cheese and black pepper on top - surprisingly it wasn't at all overwhelmed by the strong flavors of the pasta. I wouldn't drink this as aperitif, but I think it can work very well in pairings with a variety of different foods.
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My friend Neecies brought this out at the end of the night after 12 or so Champagne and various still wines. I was unable to make a fair evaluation. Later Neecies told me she thought it was a bad bottle. Interesting.
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Degorgement Juli 23, 2015. Oh my....what a treat! This is heaven in a glass. On the nose, toasted bread, summer/tropical fruits. On the palette this explodes at first with pineapple, apple, transforming into toast, butter, nutty flavours in an impressive long finish. Very curious how this will evolve.
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Disgorged 4/29/2015 LB10415 - Wowza this was delicious tonight! The nose was intoxicating with all those bread baking smells. Just a very complex multi-dimensional champagne - buttered brioche, tart apple, toasted honey, lemon curd - just keeps unfolding. I really love this at room temp rather than very chilled - my best champagne to date!
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I know how spectacular this wine can be, and this bottle was sadly missing those bright and special elements. Instead it was merely a good, mature tasting bottle of vintage bubble. Note: cork seemed compromised--it was very stuck at first then came out with barely a whimper. Disgorged 10-1-2013.
Wide open right upon opening. Pronounced intensity and really complex. Bursting with honey, toast, sourdough, oak, candied nuts, bruised red apples, dried stone fruit and mushrooms. Clearly oxidative in style. Developing more nuttiness with nougat and buttered pine nuts. Really lovely nose that keeps on going the whole night.
Bone dry, medium(+) acidity and medium(+) body. Really rich and powerful on the palate showing more youthful fruit with tart lemon, crunchy yellow apple and pineapple but there's still lots of oak, butter, caramel, nuts and yeast. Pronounced intensity and really long finish.
I haven't been so impressed with the Initial before but they have been wines that were recently disgorged. Clearly these wines need some time under the cork to really loosen up. Great to drink now but will probably keep for a long time.
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Complex aromatics of lemon curd, custard apple, white peach, flint and chalk. It is full and rich with latent power and all sorts of engaging fruits, spices and geological material. It has great cut and outstanding depth and persistence. There's a huge puff of chalk to the finish.
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10/06 Disgorgement. This is a real stunner 10-years on. Roasty toasty nose of crusty bread and walnuts, fine bead, hugely complex palate reinforcing all the the oxidative notes but with an undercurrent of vibrant acidity, lemon curd, pastry crust, lingering finish.
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Tasting: Latest discorgement (I guess January 2016) What a difference compared to previous tastings of this champagne. A lot more open and a lot more tasty. Quite a lot of oxidation and brandy notes? Great.
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Drank it in Morrell NY wine icon by the glass event. Disgorged in 2013. Wonderful nose of oxidative yellow fruit and minerality. A great entry level selosse.
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Disgorged January, 2015. Yellow with short lived frothiness. Orange peel aromas. Stunningly fresh and dry for Initial. In fact, when it was opened and a bit cool, had I tried it blind, I would have guessed VO, it was that mineral and almost austere. Beautiful bitter citrus, and as it opened, it added creaminess and length to its firm core. A great bottle that finished like Les Carelles, and one to try early if you don't care for the more oxidative phases of Initial.
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Degorgerad 24 Apr 2015. Härlig ljust gyllengul färg. Legat i källaren i ett år men har redan goda mognadstoner. Fantastiskt gott. Skön mousse, känns som om vinet absorberas direkt i munnen. Rejält med äpplen, förde nästan tankarna till äppelmusten jag släckt törsten med straxt innan. Även ganska mycket ek som var än mer framträdande dag 2 när jag drack sista dropparna utan bubblor. Något i smaken påminde även om en ordentligt lagrad Krug jag drack härom veckan men betydligt mer subtilt här. Glad att jag har en ny flaska på ingående.
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Really incredible bubbly; beautiful nose with baked apple, brioche, pear, and a hint of lemon. The palate is awesome with great depth, incredibly fine bubbles and mousse, and perfect balance. One of the best Champagnes I've had without a doubt.
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Classic 'aged' style Champagne with microscopic bubbles down the center of a golden straw colored Champagne. Full creamy mouth feel with brioche, lemon, apricot, peach and pear, apple tart. Allot going on with a dry finish I am struggling to describe. Incredible Champagne. Very happy I have several more bottles.
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From the Pearl & Ash NYC- 10pm one bottle only sale glass list - $29 per glass. 10/9/13 disgorgement. My first experience with Selosse and very excited to try - competition for these sale glasses was intense - bottle was sold through by 10:01pm - we had to settle for splitting two glasses between 3 people. On the nose, lots of yeasty/doughy bread rising in the bowl aromas came wafting from the glass - yum! On the palate, the initial attack of acidity and bubbles was very bright with flavors of tart green apple, brioche and an oxidative note. A lot of the underlying wine character and complexity comes through the finish. Definitely want to buy some of this for the cellar now. Delicious!
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Recent disgorgment. Oh yeah, that's good stuff. Selosse nose: cream ox style, nutty, pear, brioche, sweet fresh fruit - some apple, maybe even a bit of peach? Really delicious on the palate - juicy, ginger, spicy orchard fruits, almond, excellent acid - zingy. The palate is superb, as is the nutty, saline and sweet fruit finish. This shows more primary and more fruit than I am used to with Selosse, but I'm not complaining. Thanks Josh! Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.
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A very huge bouquet of oak, vanilla, lemon, citrus and flowers. The colour of the champagne was a deep yellow not unlike aged burgundy. The nose had a lot of depth and weight to it. The palate was equally heavy and somewhat similar to a burgundy. The wine also appeared to be slightly unctuous. The complexity was quite astounding with flavours of white flowers, lemon zest, citrus and grapefruit. The transition from mid palate to finish was also seamless. Had very good, focused length.
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Sushi Night (Omakase, San Francisco): Disgorged August, 2013. Deep yellow, transient mousse. More caramel than usual. Also fuller than I expected with red apple and definite oxidative notes. This bottle was not as bright as Initial usually is, although maybe we didn't spend enough time with it as it was a pre-dinner aperitif on the way out. Toward the very end of the bottle, more citrus came forth, and it seemed less heavy. Still, overall, a disappointment.
And, in fact, the next morning the dregs seemed fresher still, creamy and now with a note of ginger. Ah, these Selosse wines are living, breathing things. I should know better than to write them off too soon.
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January 2015 disgorgement. Really energetic and intense at first opening. Showed well for first 20 min but then turned very oxidative and flat. A shame.
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My first Selosse and it's clear that the fuss is justified. Great depth and complexity for a champagne disgorged in August 2013, notes of citrus and red apples with the oxidized character I've been reading about. Great presence on the palate, profound and delicious.
Disgorged August 2, 2013. Rich yellow and orange citrus aromas. Big and substantial, yet so easy to drink. Perfectly integrated acidity and exquisite mousse. Three years usually does it for Initial.
2008 disgorgement. Yellowing, not especially fizzy, oxidative (much more than the same disgorgement earlier in its life) but very vital still. Extremely full bodied and concentrated. A bit more like Substance than when it is young..
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Disgorged 06/2010. Dinner@Happolati. If served blind I would have guessed Substance, as I often find the Intitial to be a bit leaner and with less on offer. Not the case this time. Great mousse. Very harmonius in the mouth. Lovely mature notes, with the oak and sherry nicely integrated, and the great Initial vibrance still intact. Great bottle and prefect match to our lovely starters. 94-95p.
Dégorgement 20 septembre 2012. Les vacances qui s'achevent... Celebrons avec Selosse ! Absolument magnifique ! Cremeux, riche, citron, pomme verte, brioche. Persistance en bouche, longue finale. Encore svp...
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Disgorged 08/14 Very Selossy-style but very fresh, not that oxidative. Sometimes I don't know which I prefer more: reductive or more oaky? This time I prefer the citrus notes because for the first a Selosse without food. Strong clean finish. A nice Giant, 94-95
Mature and concentrated flavors. Very high acidity that balanced the richness of the aromas. Very evident blancs des blanc character. A lot less Selosse typicity (oxidation, flowers, oak) than normal. Disgorged August 2013.
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Big, burly champagne with some oxidative notes still lingering and it packs a punch of lemon and candy. Not for the faint of heart and will mellow out with a little more time but worth taking a peek now if you have multiples.
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Fine, complex, elegant and precise likewise. Disgorged 09/2014. Lemoncest, not that much oxidative style as usually known from Selosse, some nuts, but the freshness is dominating, Grapefruit in the Long clean finish, good length, gaining from time and air
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Dinner with Kent (Zazie's, San Francisco): August 6 2013 disgorgement. Rich golden color; aromatic nose with brioche, slight Apple; palate is rich, brioche, yeast, high acid; medium-long finish. Very nice, but needs a few years to develop more. Going back and forth between this and the 2002 RD Champagne, this one had something that gave it unique character. Always fun to drink... 93-95
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Ten Days in Burgundy, Champagne, and Paris; 6/24/2016-7/6/2016: [Disgorged 2010]: Cleaner and more precise than the V.O. Last night, if less rich. More citrus, ripe grapefruit, than tropicals. Very honeyed on the nose still. So great to try in an earlier disgorgement.
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Disgorged Decenber 1 2011. Very creamy with plenty of lemon zest, crusty bread, stone fruit, and marscapone. More mineral driven and not as sweet as the disgorged 2014.
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May 2013 disgorge. A little bottle age goes a long way with the Initial as I appreciate them much more after a couple of years than upon release. Golden, creamy, light yeastiness, smooth, mellow, rounded, but with intensity. 92+
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This is a combined note about Selosse Initial and Roederer Christal 2004. My previous note from June 2015 about the Selosse Initial was extremely enthusiastic. This evening I tasted/drank it again beside the Roederer Cristal 2004 and it was a different experience. The Selosse with beautiful almonds, marzipan and oxidized impressions. Really beautiful and great expression with some rustic flavors, beautiful acidity, minerals and great complexity. The Roederer Cristal shows a more tight and focused citrus constitution, and has a very rich bouquet with luxurious oak. On the palate tight citrus, some nuts, full bodied, but also elegant and refined. Both wines are truly great, but this evening I preferred the Cristal. Initial: 92, Cristal 95 – 96
Disgorged December, 2014. Moderate mousse. Creamy, fresh, lively apple skin, great length, chalky finish. Vibrant and very young. A great bottle of Initial for those who dislike the oxidative notes that show up with more bottle aging.
A lot of power, nuts, honey, citrus, typical oxidative notes, more in the nose than in the palate, refreshing acidity, good balance between structure and freshness, 94+
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A private dinner (Restaurant MOS, Amsterdam, NL): A blend of wines from Cramant, Avize and Oger, 100% Chardonnay, base vintage 2008, vin de réserve from 2007 and 2006, disgorged 29 April 2015. Deep and rich nose, vinous, warmth from the wood, spices and minerals, citrus, hint of marc; very tightly wound palate, an essence of the Côte des Blancs in a rich and ripe fashion, broad shoulders, lovely hint of evolution in the flavours; long and powerful finish.
SLDS May 2016 - Verace Pizza: Disgorged 23/05/14. Lemon, vanilla, sea spray, toast, apple and floral notes. Beautiful palate, bright acidity and layers of fruit. Opens up further in the glass to show even more interest. Super wine.
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This bottle was different than normal. I could not read the date of the disgorgement anymore. I was missing the freshness. I like Selosse Initial more when it's young.
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This bottle is an October 21, 2009 disgorgement. What a wonderful bouquet of fruit and nuts, toasted biscuits. The palate is powerful complex, and crisp, with wonderful fruit. This is very Selosse with the oxidative notes that are perfectly balanced. Lovely
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Tonight the Initiale is certainly singing from the glass, as I am used to... The Selosse typical red baked apples combined with minerals, citrus and rich dark toast are all walking along their yellow brick road singing happily. The palate adds an imposing texture, balanced acidity and a velvety subtle mousse. The length on the finish lasts some rather impressive 50 seconds. (my last bottle disgorged September 2013) (score is 93+)
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A Range of Jacques Selosse Champagnes with Anselme Selosse (Avize, France): Disgorged November, 2015 and just being released. 2007/8/9 fruit. Deep yellow. Toasty, oxidative scents without maderization. Rich, long, complex, nutty, and creamy with flavors of red apple skin. Dry, mineral finish, and soil that just clings. Pretty great way to start the tasting here.
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2 bottles of this and the former was disgorged 2013. The former had very oxidized apples and oivernight zappel feel to it. The latter was nicely chilled and showed much more tension with smoky minerals and chablis like precision
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disgorged 2014, light golden color, oaky nose with Selosse signature oxidativeness, which makes it rich yet its not overdone. Young yet with good structure and great acidity balance to boot, an always enjoyable champagne.
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Yea it's pretty good but do you really notice it if drinking blind? Bit fuller than most maybe so again I say the balance is the sell point, but other than that, yea not worth the price perhaps
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Okänt deg.datum - bör vara kring 2012. Lite fino-toner, skumbanan, mogna äpplen, hyacinter, lite rökig mineralitet. Fyllig och blommig champagne. Riktigt god och känns drickfärdig nu även om den nog klarar mer lagring. 92p
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Celebrating Neil's 75th & Chinese New Year (Sun Wah, Chicago): October 2009 disgorgement showing almond and a nutty, reductive quality. Baked apple fruit qualities along with a pleasant nuttiness on the palate. Medium bead with a nice finish. I'm still not sure if this is the Selosse style or if this was a bit oxidized due to storage conditions, but this just didn't really do much for me. Good but not great.
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Disgorged 2014. Starting to show some apples, so given an additional 2-3 years this will reach at least 93. Better than my 2012 encounter with this champagne. Then we had a bottle disgorged the same year, but putting a bottle away for 3-5 years obviously leads to an improvement.
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Refined and airy mousse. Appealing bouquet of terroir (chalk and clay), citrus, steel, and construction site. The wine conveys a precise purity of fruit and earth. The generous mouthfeel scintillates the entire palate, making it difficult to put the glass down. Powerful yet complex acids, long and complex finish. Exceptional!
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Tonight as so many times before the Initiale is indeed singing from the glass. Red baked apples accompanied with minerals, citrus tones and rich dark toast all walks down the street hand in hand humming on the same tune. This is a powerhouse and a very particular style, yet it is just brilliantly crafted. The palate adds a lovely texture, integrated and balanced acidity as well as a fine grained and velvety mousse. The length on the finish lasts some 45+ seconds. Maybe not a Champagne for all palates, but I just love it. (disgorged September 2013)
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Hard to fault. Very long, rich and complex on both nose and palate. Disgorged 2011 and still improving compared to previous bottle. More secondary flavours but still more to come from perfect BdeB.
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new year's eve dinner in old Enskede (Enskede, Stockholm): Degorged January 2015, thus potentially still young, but I found this open for business, generous nose with a lot of mature and baked apples, almond pastry, some hints of fino, but really not much, more than anything great freshness. Bubbles were fine but not as fine as the pol roger cuvée Winston C. Tried at the same time.
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Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout with medium, steady beading. Nose of seabreeze, lime, papaya and talc. Flavors of lime, lemon and minerals. Medium to bright acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold. Purchased on receipt in the U.S. on 10/28/2009 for reference purposes.
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2013 Disgorgement - Just wonderful from the moment it hit the glass. Huge nose. Golden yellow in color. The palate is rich and full. The bubbles are tight and focused. The finish is long and coating. This is a benchmark BdB.
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Quite different from the bottle earlier this month (d.2010). This one was more muted on nose, however after letting one glass sit for 2 hours, became opulent with caramel, toffee and citrus (lemon) aromas. Similar palate but even more mature, vinous and volume with plenty of honeyed flavors and some sherry notes. Love this with some age on it. This one is on a sweet spot if you like this type of champagne 93-94.
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A bit further along in it's development than I would have thought, nice fruit, some nutty flavors and marzipan are quite noticeable. Nice length and balance, not a huge Champagne but one that drinks very well right now and for the next 5 years easy.
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Big cab dinner at Morton's - 07 Maybach, Ovid, Insignia and etc. (Morton's - Reston, VA): The degree of roast/toffee/madeira expression varies a bit in this wine, ie this bottle displays a bit of substance like oxidative note. More yellow/orange fruits than usual, peach cobbler, plum sauce, marzipan, macadamia and mineral. Sweet, sour and tart, sweet yellow fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and long sweet and sour finish. A bit more mature example. Quite enjoyable.
Degorgerad 23 mars 2010. Inte lika underbar som den föregående. Fast ett par års tidigare degorgering borde ju inte betyda något negativt, kanske snarare tvärtom. Nåväl en storlek mindre i smaken, både vad gäller frukten och jästtonerna men fortfarande väldigt trevlig.
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November, 2011 disgorgement. Light golden, tight, fine bead. Ginger, peach, and honey notes. Full bodied, some oxidative tones but terrific verve and acidity. Dynamic as usual.
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A fantastic bottle. Lemon, flowers, stone. Enormously lively and pleasing. Can't help but think it's way to early for this one, but I wouldn't wish to not have had this now.
First nose right after pouring is toast and grilled bread. One minute later it opens up beautifully, but it needs at least 5mins in the glass to show its true Chardonnay character.
Another pre-Xmas Saturday Lunch (Cal Fuster (Serrateix)): 2010 disgorgement. Very fresh and clean on nose, minerality stands out. Seems young. Very different bouquet compared to the Ogly, this one shows less (medium) acidity yet floods the palate like a silk glove with a decadent, elegant style made of white fruit and honeyed notes.
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Fresh, vibrant nose of lemon zest, white flower, pear, and ginger. On the palate, beautiful mineral-accented pear and apple flavors with a creamy, full bodied mouthfeel. The finish is long with a hint of iodine. This reminds me of Krug Grande Cuvée—full bodied and rich, but none that trademark Selosse oxidation and complexity.
Beautiful light golden color. Big nose with seductive notes of baked apples, peach, mineral and chocolate. On the palate, an elegant fruitiness in the middle, showing notes of white chocolate, lemon peel, red apples and mineral around the edges. Harmoniously fading medium+ finish, dominated by minerals. Overall a very elegant, harmonious and generous wine with fine, smooth mousse. Excellent showing by the wizard of Avize!
Déliceux. gouteux. Se laisse boire tout seul. Un vin d'une grande classe, unique, équilibré, long, très long. Un très grand vin. Dégorgement octobre 2013
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Disgorged August 2014. Full bodied effervescent mouthfeel with low acidity. Sweet palate of creamy marscapone, vanilla, peaches, slate and a steel tinge. Definitely sweeter and more like a still wine than anticipated.
Wineberserker's offline: Tartufo Bianco (San Carlos, CA): August 2013 disgorgement. Yellow-gold; nose is incredibly aromatic with slight oxidation, yeast, biscuit, apple; palate is high acid, low alcohol, wonderful character; finish is long. Just superb, superb, superb as usual. This particular bottle could use a few years of bottle age to let the acidity settle a tad bit that doesn't take away from how this is drinking now. 95+++
Bottle of the winter 2013 disgorgement. Vital, energetic, balanced. Sensational food wine and unlike some of his grander cuvees doesn't overwhelm or take control. Really superb and harmonious wine. Would open 20-30 min before drinking.
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Deg: October 5 2012 Light golden yellow On the nose: Very significant red apple tones, yeast, vanilla, coffee and sherry. On the palate: More riped red apples, vanilla, marzipan, some fudge and citrus. your thoughts are leaning towards Normandy and cidre. Very well balanced Long finish
Barolo gathering at Aggio (Aggio restaurant, Baltimore): David mentions a hint of chlorine and it is definitely there. Very fresh and succulent nose displaying crunch white and yellow fruits, white peach, pear, kiwi, pineapple, macadamia power, saline and strong presence of mineral. Excellent concentration, quite ripe and sweet yet pure and crunch yellow fruit driven palate impression, mineral, bright acidity and long opulent finish. For my palate, it is fresher and sweeter than Krug Grand Cuvee. It gains complexity and shows the best at the end of the night. Really drinking well.
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Degorgerad 2003. Drack för att fira Agges 57-årsdag. Strålande gott. Mycket brioche och gäst i doft och smak. Stor, syrastram men ändå generös. De många åren på gästen (hö hö) märktes tydligt. Väldigt trevligt.
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Celebrating Doug's Birthday...; 11/8/2015-11/9/2015: Color: Golden yellow Smell: Baked apples, almond, brown sugar, and mineral notes Taste: Poached pears, pie crust, quince, and a chalkiness persisting on the finish. Overall: These wines are special. Complex and more oxidative in style with good acidity, vibrant fruit, and a long finish. Great with sushi. Outstanding!!
Golden in color. Nose shows oxidized apple cider with hints of espresso. Very long, powerful and mulitlayered. This is an amazing Champagne. Drink now. Bottle Deg. August 2013
Note: I am actually not a Selosse fan and I usually find the wines too oxidized. So I rather drink them close to degorgement date and then they are just fabulous as this example.
Dinner with Friends (San Francisco, CA): Disgorged December 2011. Deep golden color; slightly oxidative, nutty, green apple, complex, highly aromatic, slight year; palate is full bodied, ridiculously high acidity, fresh, nutty, very persistent through the midpalate; long finish. Just wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. 95-97
Disgorged Oct. 2013. Medium / light gold in glass. Soft nose with starfruit, cantaloupe, sweet honey, lemon spray, some chalkiness. A great blend of rich honey, nutty flavours with great dry minerals. Nice and dry. Quite complex and beautiful already. Would like to keep some of these around long term...
Tonight the Initiale is certainly singing from the glass. The Selosse typical and to me rather adorable red baked apples combined with minerals, citrus tones and rich dark toast all marching forward hand in hand. The palate adds a brilliant texture, balanced acidity and a velvety mousse. The length on the finish lasts some 45 seconds. All Selosse wines are made in a very distinct style, personally I really enjoy it, but it is not a wine for everyone. (disgorged September 2013)
Disgorged oct 13. My first Selosse and I (too) was impressed with the combination of the richness and the finesse, the depth and the energy. I found the wine to be aromatically relatively open but also with such tension that further keeping could be rewarding. Paired very nicely with some quality cured ham, which brought out the nuttiness even more.
A wonderful complement to caviar and yet a not ready to drink on its own wine. Very fine mousse with a nose of dry ginger, yeasty notes, asian pear, apple cider, freshly grated nutmeg and background cardamom. A fully engaging front palate but with a quite firm backpalate acidity that makes for a pleasing but austere finish. This wine has a lot of life yet to live and should only get better for the next 5-10 years. May 2013 disgorgement. 92+
Disg: May 2014. Bruised red delicious apple, oxidative cider-like character on nose, soy sauce; palate follows with granny smith apple intense acid. Very impressive; my very first Selosse. Feels a bit broad and unfocused but ravishing and rich--as the back label affirms, "radiant and jovial". But somehow quite serious.
2006 disgorgement. Still young(ish), some smoke, barest hint of sherry, lots of depth and nuance. I was worried about sitting on one so old but while maybe not as fresh as a newer one it was only different, not worse.
Disgorged October, 2010. Full yellow. Lively beads to start. Wonderful nose and palate of freshly sliced green apple and ginger with yeasty undertone. At a really terrific equipoise between vibrant fruit and early oxidative notes. I like the Initiale at this particular age.
Game dinner with friends (@ t Jachthuis): Possibly more experienced Champaign drinkers will disagree about this tasting note (or score), but I will explain. This Initial was disgorged May 22, 2014. First we had the V.O. Then the Dom Perignon 2002 and now this one. The V.O. so special. The DP 2002 so lush. And then this Initial holds the middle, but in fact complements both other two wines. Beautiful and complex bouquet with some reductive/oxidized impressions and beautiful minerals. On the palate also a bit oxidized in a beautiful way, beautiful lime acidity and enormously tasty with a great length. For most of the tasters including me, this was the winner of the evening because it combined special complexity and lushness in a beautiful way.
Degorgerad oktober 2012. Underbar fruktig doft med både hallon och jordgubbar, mandel, rosor, vanilj och en hint av oxiderade toner a la Selosse. I smaken även här lite oxiderade toner, underbar syra, vanilj, honung och lång fin eftersmak. Väldigt bra!
Deg. October 2012. Lovely deep nose, showing Pinot Noir fruit profile , despite beeing a Bl. d Bl. wine (almost like in a red Bourgogne wine) with ripe raspberries and sweet strawberries, some peras, herbs and a touch of gunpowder and match stick. Very attractive. Palate is balanced, with sweetness and acidity playing in fine harmony, sweeter tropical fruits, spicy with minerals, long finish with some oak bitterness showing. Very good bottle of bubbles, keep it for another 5 years, and you will be rewarded. (93 – 95)
Nice light golden Deg. october 12 On the nose, roses, honey, raspbarries, buscuits, citrus, hint of oxidation. On the palate, vanilla with a nice buttery taste, raspberries, nice acidity with a slightly hint of almond. Long finish
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Just spectacular - 2011 disgorgement. The best bottle of Initial that I've had to date. The nose was jumping out of the glass. The perfume is so beautiful. On the palate it was deep and penetrating. Layers of flavors with a great finish. A rich and opulent Champagne. This hit all the switches.
Drank in Bordeaux This really is incredible stuff. Fresh nose with lot's of yellow fruit, brioche and vanilla. Deep complex palate with a long length. If you can find this get it.
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Toast and butter on the nose. Palate of intense farm-fresh apples and tropical fruits. At most, tiny bubbles. We think it will continue to get better, but happy as humanly possible to sip now.
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Degorgerad 4 oktober 2007. Vete sjutton om den här inte var aningen korkskadad. En mycket lätt men tråkig doftslöja av våt kartong som kom och gick i glaset. Annars hyfsade syror, citrus, grönt äpple men inte så mycket mer. Inga mysiga mognadstoner. Drickbart men en klar besvikelse.
Late 2011 disgorgement. Yellow, mild mousse. Wonderful ginger and citrus aromatics. Medium weight but deeply flavored with tremendous acidity and fine stoniness. This held up and evolved beautifully over 3 hours and more than stood up to a wide array of dishes.
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A private dinner (Restaurant De Echoput, Hoog Soeren, Netherlands): A blend of Avize, Cramant and Oger from three consecutive (but undisclosed) vintages, disgorged 15 January 2007. Rich and vinous, mature but certainly not as oxidative as might perhaps be expected after more than eight years of post-disgorgement ageing; like a powerful and mature (but chalky) white Burgundy, a quite unique approach of the Champagne theme.
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Decidedly toasty and doughy nose with round baked apple pie fruit. Big and toasty on the palate. There is freshness and lift, but this is a big, dense and concentrated bubbly. Excellent, a Champagne that is better with food than as an aperitif.
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Sunday Dinner at Formento's (Chicago, IL): Disgorged December 24, 2013 (they work at Christmastime?). 33,000 bottles produced each year. Extremely dense and powerful, with a nutty, bready note, and pronounced salinity. There's a huge baked apple component as well. You gotta be a fan of the style (I am). This finishes off with a fair bit of chalkiness. The last glass of this was best though. These wines truly benefit from extended air.
Franska Vinlistans Champagneprovning (Grappe Vinkällare): (Disgorged August 2014. Based on years 2008-2009-2010.) Yellow color showing a filled nose of clove, roses and spices in a wonderful way. Creamy, mellow and powerful palate showing citrus, caramel and oak. Very nice long finish that lasts forever.
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Disgorged October, 2010. Deep yellow, transient mousse. Heavier with more oxidative tones and caramel than fruit. Very good but not as much wild, vivacious fruit as in other bottles.
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Some Champagnes: (Disorged 2009). Although being a BdB it is rather heavy handed and almost some red apples, high dosage, intense wine. Honey and yellow plums, powerful, quite developed.
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Much too young. Very lively mousse initially, then dissipates surprisingily quickly - I can't recall having seven snyting like it before. It's been years since I last tasted this wine, didn't make a lasting impression then. This time, I like it better. Powerful body, heavily oaked but harmonious. Autolytic and rich. Lots of aromas that need more time to develop-bottle disgorged june 14, so I'll wait a few years until next tasting. Very promising.
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October 2013 disgorgement. Sharper than the 08 disgorgment had along side. Nose is spicy, brown, chalky, lemon, nuts. Just great on the palate - lemon, brown, nutty. Excellent cut but complex and rich. Spicy lemon mineral finish. A top showing for the Initiale. Like sparkling Leflaive or something. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.
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2008 disgorgement. Quite oxidized in style on the nose: golden, cidery. Like sunshine. Sharp chalk, flint. Sweet on the palate with cidery apple and pear notes, golden, soft, citric. Very soft mousse. Appley, like calvados. Spice and lemon on the finish. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17/20.
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Deg datum 20 September 2012. Doft av rött äpple och toner av citrus. Smaken dominerades av rött äpple med toner av citrus och bröd. Det jag noterade var att jag inte hittade några oxiderade/Oloroso toner i vinet. Förvånansvärt "ren" frukt och riktigt lång eftersmak. Riktigt, riktigt bra! Jag hade inte gissat på Selosse Brut Initiale om jag hade fått in det blint.
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Choucroute Garnie at Sarah and Jonathan's (Theater District, Manhattan, NYC): September 2013 disgorgement. Very oxidized style nose with apple cider, nuts, chalk, pear, orange peel. The palate is a Wow! explosive cider, pear, lemon, chalk. Perfect power and cut. The long finish has pear, chalk and lemon. Again, this wine manages to be creamy, chalky and sharp with acid at the same time. Simply destroyed the 05 Comtes poured earlier. Nose - 5-5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5-5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17-18/20.
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I thought this was a real show stopper. It was very aromatic with apple, red fruit, a hint of citrus, and soil. In the mouth the wine was crisp and snapped green apple, apple skin, and a nice balancing minerality and dark soil perceptions. Really delicious
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Disgorged 2003. This was a touch flat for me but drank nicely. I preferred the 09 disgorgement I think. Not funky just a bit less complexity than ?I recall from other bottles. Seemed like very ripe fruit.
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Disgorged 10/21/2009. Drank clean and delicious. Vanilla candy. Touch of Jura. On its own after a big meal. Less funky / oxidized and more fresh in a good way I thought than a bottle recently at a restaurant disgorged 3/26/09. Storage differences?
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Fairly light bodied and elegant. It still seems to be in its youth. The acids make a distinctive impression, but are not unbalanced. Has a little complexity and some length, but not quite like the greatest champagnes.
Still, quite a good blanc de blancs, if you don't require very full-bodied champagnes. The style seems a bit special, somehow, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is. My guess would be that it is the Selosse house style. I can't say I have tried champagnes from this house verymuch, but going from what little I have tried from my memory, I think there is a similarity.
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Absolutely lovely champagne with extreme minerality backed up by tremendous amounts of full citrus, green apple and roasted hazelnut. The mousse is absolutely perfect
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February 2010 disgorgement. No formal notes taken, but very impressive. If this is the entry level of Selosse, then I can't wait to taste some of the wines further up in the hierarchy.
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Disgorged 7/20/12. Popped on New Year's eve. Warm white gold color. Nose of citrus, almonds, stone, floral notes, yeastiness. Firm, almost majestic layers of biscuit, yeast, white pear, peach, and grapefruit soaring over a tensile spine of mineral and schist. Palpable, massaging texture and terrific grip counterpointing its obvious acidity. Long, brilliant finish. Absolutely beautiful and of course quite young, this has years to go.
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The Initiale certainly develops a lot of character if just given some rest in the cellar. Tonight it is certainly singing from the glass. The Selosse hallmarks all reveal themselves with some time in the glass. Classical red baked apples combined with minerals, citrus tones and rich toast, just adorable. The palate adds to the nose with a brilliant texture, balanced acidity and a creamy velvety mousse. The length on the finish lasts some 45 seconds. There is a lightness emerging at the back-end of the palate providing an elegant balance to the overall power. Without doubt this wine has a great personality, expressive, massive and powerful, yet balanced and elegant. (disgorged September 2012)
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April 2013 Disgorgement - Typical Initiale. As it warmed up and took on more air over the course of a couple of hours, it started revealing notes of toffee, caramel apple, and candied lemon peel. Beautiful.
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Disgorged April, 2012. Simply stunning juice. Gorgeous golden hue. The bouquet fills the nose with an enticing yeasty aroma that stimulates the palate for the sheer brilliance it is about to experience. Finishes with great length.
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Disgorged September 20, 2012. The hyacinths are back! Perfectly balanced oak and just a hint of fino. Great concentration & mouthfeel, firm acidity. Still youthful - this version will go for several years.
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Yeast, malt, honey, almond and a touch of roasted pear. Big, rich and dense. Superfine, airy mousse. Amazing velvety texture. Another great Initiale. 4/30/09 disgorge.
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Disgorged June 2008. 😘 medium yellow, brassy. Biscuit and green apple to go with the ample mousse. Flavours follow the Nose plus malic crispness. This is fully mature and easy to like. The mousse dies quickly.
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2014 Acker BYO at TriBeCa Grill (TriBeCa Grill, NYC): Pale straw. Intense yeasty, mineral nose; wafts of light oxidation; briny seashell, seaweed. Palate is also intense and tongue-coating, yeast, cream; highly saline. A very fine-grained mousse leads through to a beautifully long, lingering finish. Really delicious, probably the first Selosses I've ever really enjoyed for my palate (as opposed to appreciated/admired). Terrific. (disgorged 12/2010)
Dec 2010 disgorgment. Bright nose of lemon, minerals, some herbal notes. Lemon on the palate - very tight, with minerals, chalk. Very pure and alive. Finish of lemon and spice. Delicious. Less ox in style than most bottles of Initiale I've had. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16.5-17/20.
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Simply terrific. Not much in the way of nose (needed more time) but the mouthfeel and the palate experience is just fantastic. Sherry notes with a long finish.
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Domaine Champagne tasting: Disgorged in 2006. Golden hues, very small amount of bubbles. Creamy, very mild hazelnut and zephyr as well as baked apple, hyacinth, rye bread. Long and balanced, like a white Burgundy. With time it starts to show aromas of mushroom and dried apple, may be even some curry. Very vinuous. Outstanding.
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Toast, a lactic character, apple and a strong chalk note. A slightly smoky and black truffle note. The lactic, butter and cream note is predominate with the fruit and chalk aspects providing diversification. With time there is a strong note of nuts (walnuts) that evolves.
Extremely good and well suited to an apéro. On the palate the wine is full but lithe, ripe but fresh. Extremely well made, classic and a nice counter point to the Substance last week which was a very different wine.
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Selosse by Roberto Petronio (Vila Viniteca - Madrid): Lemony and oaky. Mineral and chalk on the nose. Blind tasting and I guess. Mixing three vintages. Beheaded last May. Too much sharped in the mouth. Pungent and long just I remembered it. I would recommend a nice five years nap.
Alimonado y amaderado. Mineral y a tiza. A ciegas y he acertado Mezcla de tres añadas. Degollada en el mayo 14. Demasiado afilado en boca. Punzante y largo como lo recordaba. Es para dejar dormir una siesta de cinco años.
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October 2012 disgorgement. This is really complex, though it needs time and air to really show its stuff. At first it's all about really pure, focused citrus and pear fruit tinged by yeasty and mineral elements, but after it's been open for about an hour or so, the aromatics start to expand as floral, chalky, biscuit and other savoury elements develop. The palate presence is remarkable - very elegant, almost glossy in its texture, but always retaining remarkable cut and lightness.
Fete de Champagne Grand Tasting (Astor Center, NYC.): Disgorged 12-23-13, a blend of wine from 02, 03, and 04. 1.5% dosage. Classic Selosse nose - pears, lemon peel, cidery - ox, minerals, chalk, spicy, soaring, green apple, pear. Huge and gripping on the palate with apple, pear, spice, chalk, and a touch of vanilla. Great showing for the Inital. Better, IMO, than the 02 Salon I just had before this. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 18/20.
Drunk at La Ciau del Tornavento in Piedmont. (04/13 dis). Initially yellow fruit and toasted nose. With decanting spread out to reveal kaleidoscopic profile of brioche/pastry, rich fruit but with chalky minerality. Became more honeyed over time - delicious. **** (****1/2)
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Napa 1994 (@ JK): No formal notes, but this was a great bubble again. Slightly oxidized style and a great concentration. Very special and great wine. 93+ for today.
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HDH Auction (Restaurant Tru, Chicago, IL): My bottle, and from a stash of 3 that are the only Selosse I own, so I really hoped it would show well ... and it did! Assertive nose of ginger, spices, lemon, chalk and flint. Huge on the palate with that mouthfeel that only Selosse can bring - huge power and acidity but with a chalky creaminess. Spicy, lemon, nice leanness and focus. Explosive ginger, lemon citrus peel. White floral notes. Massive finish of ginger and lemon. Great showing. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.
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HDH auction tasting at Tru (Chicago, IL): Disgorged May 5, 2010. This had an intense bready nose. The attack is simply explosive with citrus and stone fruit, followed immediately by a massive wave of chalky limestone extract, to the point it dries your mouth up. The bubbles were quite light -- they completely dissipated in my glass over the space of a half-hour. A fantastic showing.
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HDH Auction (Tru - Chicago, IL): Always a treat! Peaches, lemons, limes, floral notes. Gorgeous from start to finish. I'm a fan of the nutty notes these wines have, so this was right up my alley.
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Last bottle of 1/13 disgorgement. Rockstar juice. Yellow and white fruit, mineral, subtle sherry and butterscotch notes, tight bubbles, umami effect, lots of energy here. Would have been quite the ager that I am sure but guess I'll never find out. Gluttony in a glass, love this stuff. Drank right after the '97 Salon, quite a contrast but what a 1-2 combo.
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Aromatisk og rik champagne. Gjærbakst, nøtter, smør, sitruszest og gule epler på nesa. Fyldig munnfølelse med kremet tekstur. Rik og aromatisk med flott lengde som vokser i munn.
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Astonishing. Rich, creamy, luxurious and with some air the classical oxidized tones and the signature of this producer emerge. This is one of the better Initials I have tasted as it offers a multi-faceted experience with a crisp, clear and razor sharp first impression, almost like an aged Comtes. But with some air and time in the glass the baked red apples, citrus zest and sweet brioche emerges and makes this "totally Selosse". It is a marvelous wine. Maybe not something for the faint hearted Champagne lover, but certainly for the rest of us. The palate is perfectly balanced and has a lovely structure. It is 100 % ready for drinking now and it offered one of those wine moments we seldomly experience: the perfect food and wine pairing. When combined to a creamy lobster salad a third taste emerged - a lovely creamy sensation of butterscotch(!) and creamy fudge. It is certainly an understatement that Selosse makes very food friendly wines, but this bottle was pure proof of it. (disgorged late 2010) (score is 93+)
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This was the first SElosse I got from Anselme himself. Degorged 2008, a beauty, whisky, nuts, a breeze of vanilla, honey and apricots, sometimes it reminds me to an oloroso without the oxidation notes, but this is a great burgundy with some bubbles, burgundy glas and drank it at 12-14°C, one of my favorite restaurants D'Vine in Düsseldorf guinea fowl and wagyu burger
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1/13 disgorgement. This bottle came across as much more vibrant and youthful compared to the last bottle tasted. Less oxidative but all about mineral, edge, subdued exotic spice, and restrained yellow fruit. Oxidative notes peeked through after a few hours but were simply background. This bottle was all sensory -- like you could feel each individual bubble pop on the tongue. While this does sound dramatic -- this is certainly a contemplative yet hedonistic drink, make no mistake. Best consumed at cellar temp if not a touch warmer
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Very vocal nose, and it though it screams champagne out loud, there are some very atypical components as well. Even had us fooled to think it could be some ridiculously good Cremant de Loire. Lots of yeasty bread, like opening a fresh packet of compressed bakers yeast, the kind you get in small foil-wrapped cubes. Ripe, red apples and orange zest. What got us of the track and guessing Chenin Blanc was a very distinct minerality, very much like the damp cloth and wet wool you so often find in this grape.
In the mouth the wine has a quite heavy full body, a high intensity and a high, but not the least sharp acidity. Very good length, and finishes of with a light grapefruit bitterness that I really enjoy.
This Champagne keeps impressing me!
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Aromatics of almond butter, wax and minerals. Impressive depth and concentration with nice freshness. Minerally finish. Another great Initiale. 10/26/11 disgorge.
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A Week in Osoyoos; 7/5/2014-7/11/2014 (Osoyoos, BC): Disgorged October 21, 2009. No formal notes. Fresher than the '07 disgorgement from a few days ago but slightly less complexity. Baked apple and charred lemon nose. Rich mousse. Nice acid and lengthy finish. Excellent.
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LUNCH @ CALLAS: This is the August, 2013 disgorgement. Rich butter and brioche on the nose. On the palate creamy, richly-textured with waves of ripe fruit. A great way to kick off the lunch.
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This was about as big a let-down as I've had with these wines. Was it enjoyable? Sure...but was it complex...kind of. In the end I was left feeling like there are far better grower Champagnes for 1/3 the price. At this point I think there's more hype for this wine than it deserves given the inconsistant experiences I've had with this. It's ranged from other-worldly to about as good as NV Henriot
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A Week in Osoyoos; 7/5/2014-7/11/2014 (Osoyoos, BC): Disgorged July 4, 2007. No formal notes. More oxidative than previous bottles Ive had (older disgorgement date) but in a good way. Drinking like a 1990 vintage Champagne with a richer mouthfeel and solid acidity. Not a ton of bubbles but they are very fine. Soft mousse. Drinking very well. Outstanding.
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Leiden visits lunch in The Hague: Beautiful Champagne, toasted nose with yeast, concentrated taste, citrus, minerals, long finish. Complex. Disgorged August 2013.
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Degorged May 2009. Beautiful champagne with amazing complexity. Golden color, nose of toasty bread, nougat, apples and some tropical fruit. Nicely balanced with great, long aftertaste.
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Dinner at Oscillate Wildly (Oscillate Wildly, Sydney): Disgorged 30/04/2013. Lemon, violet florals, ginger snaps and a light nuttiness that adds a layer to the nose that really appeals. The palate shows grand power, it is layered and intense with the pure vibrancy of the fruit also permitted to shine through. Would have been happy to drink this all evening!
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Have had this wine many times and this bottle was a bit disappointing. Perhaps just not enough bottle age (disgorged April 30 2013)? Some oxidative notes balanced with too much sweetness for a bit of a one dimensional result; will hold the rest of this disgorgement for a while.
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(Degorged August 2013) Golden yellow colour with an Amazing amount of fine tiny bubbles. The nose is closed down and feels youthful and mature at the same time showing browned butter, fig jam and coffee in a very intense style. Youthful palate showing oak and oxidative mature yellow apples in a well-balanced style with a nice long finish.
Matches perfectly with food at this stage and developes nicely along the dinner.
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Tear your face off acidic. Clearly a blanc de blanc, light, floral, saline, sherry/oxidation (light), I get the fuss. No dosage? Did I mention acidic? Pass me the antacids.... Love it even though I prefer blanc de noir typically.
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- Yellow gold color with small pearls and aromas of skunk, asparagus, artichoke, cut green grass and walnut and has flavours of diacetyl (butter), orange blossom, walnut and sherry with a light/medium body. Silky texture with a medium finish. degorgement 10/2012
Almond, yellow apple and stony minerality. Broad and rich with great depth. More expressive and open on day 2. 10/21/09 disgorge (I think that implies '03 base year but not sure).
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Wow, this is what this wine is like when it has been cellared for a couple of years. Tonight it is singing from the glass. The nose offers the classy and classical Selosse "oxidized" tones of red baked apples combined with minerals, citrus tones and rich toast after some aeration. The palate just adds to the nose with a brilliant texture, balanced acidity and a creamy velvety mousse. The length on the finish lasts some 35-40 seconds. Power and elegance combined in a lovely effort - with a marvelous sense of how to express an unforgettable personality. (disgorged April 2011)
Compared to the more expensive Selosse cuvées the Initiale lacks a bit of complexity in terms of deeper minerality, but also length on the finish and that extra "oohmmpf" which is so hard to put words on. Still, this is a lovely example of the house style and certainly a wine that brings joy and pleasure to the (more experienced) Champagne lover!
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Old School Cali Cab Tasting (Colicchio & Sons, New York, NY): Off the list at Colicchio & Sons (Thanks Simon!). 2008 disgorgement. Young. Oxidative style. Nose of ginger, spice, pear, cider, lemon peel, chalky and somewhat creamy. Similar on the palate with prominent ginger, cider, lemon, creamy - the finish shows ginger and lemon and the acid builds to be powerful at the end. This is very assertive and brighter than other bottles, but isn't quite as deep - not as much creamy chalk milkshake that I love so much. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 5-5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16.5-17.5/20.
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A Good rather than great bottle. Simply because it was disgorged in August 2013 and the wine was not yet together. I kinda knew that when I opened the bottle late one night a at dinner. Oh well still mighty tasty with just a hint of that Selosse Fino Sherry that we all love! Alas my only bottle! I will need to find more and store them much longer!!! :-)
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Champagne avec belle prise de mousse, perlance exra fine, belle cuvée pour amateurs, très différent des autres cuvées bues à ce jour. Toute en finesse, sans exhubérance, cuvée dégorgée le 19/05/2012 - Beau vin d'esthète, bue à l'apéritif mais doit mieux convenir à pour accompagner un plat. Je regette toutefois un manque de complexité et vais donc laisser 3/4 ans avant d'ouvrir la prochaine issue du même lot.
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Shared with J & A. This bottle was disgorged in Oct 2007. Immediate nose of oak but before we could start worrying about that, we sipped the wine which I have to say was one of the most intense champagnes I've ever tasted. Only a few Salons and a bottle of that super rare $300+ Bollinger come close in my memory. There's lemon curd and apple cider and all kinds of good flavors here, but the wine is riveting less because of the flavor than intensity, there's a maximalist depth and concentration as well as the sophisticated persistence and quality of the pin-prick bubbles that landed on one's tongue about a thousand at a time. Or so it felt. Skip the food--this is a wine for contemplation.
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Disgorged September 20, 2012. Less of hyacinths than in the beginning, more of the chalky fino notes. Big and resounding taste with powerful acidity and a tough mineral core. Great version, still youthful, next bottle in another year.
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vet inte vad som hände men jag la in en tastingnote på detta i lördags och nu är den inte kvar men detta vin var degorgerat i augsuti 2013 så det är fortafarnde ungt och det känns, det blir inte den där riktiga selossekänslan tycker jag. Man vill ha ett lite större bett i vinet än vad denna flaska hade så jag tror på att låta flaskorna ligga still ett år till.
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Disgorged August 2013. I'm not big on Champagne. I usually think it's good, but rarely exciting. But Selosse does something for me. This one tastes like a very flowery Chardonnay from Chassagne or Puligny spiked with a touch of Fino Sherry, blended in a mixer made by chalk. Colour is golden and the flavours oozing out of the glass take me in a firm grip. The taste confirms, this is just brilliant. Flavours are intense, acidity is just right, there's a smidgen of ox to it, the mousse just lathers your mouth with these lovely flavours. It put's me and K in really good spirits before dinner, works well with our serrano-wrapped cod with chanterelles and stomp of Jerusalem artichoke and potatoes. Not much left in the bottle after dinner ... Ready to drink, but will develop. Just a question of personal taste of when to pop the cork.
October, 2012 disgorgement. Light golden. Gently effervescent. Apple skin, ginger, and faint toast. Medium weight but real creaminess, bright fruit, tremendous finishing acidity and an intense mineral streak. Wow, this was an exquisite bottle that was so full of life.
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Disgorged October of 2010. Another superb bottle. Enticing yeasty bouquet that kept evolving throughout the evenings. Creamy, incredible balanced and rich on the palate. A Champagne with soul.
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disgorged Oct. 20, 2010. yellow-gold; fine, streamlined mousse; oxidative notes shifted to nutty, raw buttermilk biscuit dough, quite yeasty, creamy & complex; less about fruit & more about texture, rich & full, w/great sense of style; so distinctive.
2/15/15 same disgorgement. brilliant this evening, w/perfect effervescence, full-on & toasty, certainly that oxidative quality is there but so pure & delicious, bread dough & yeast, at a great point. (93)
rosemary-roasted pecans
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1/2013 disgorgement. Opened and tasted about four hours later. Vanilla bean, cardomom, dill, ginger, butterscotch. Sherry oxidative style. Fresh and vibrant. Definitely a choice. Probably would shine with food. This oxidative style drives my wife nuts. Me -- I like it for what it is.
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"Dette er jo Chablis med bobler!", sier kjæresten. Og hun har rett. Enorm mineralitet, østers og sjø. I munnen perfekt moden for en Initial (degog nov 11), brioche, epler. Luftig mousse med små bobler. Flott vin.
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(disgorged 07/2012) This didn't present any oxidative notes, but if there were some that others at the tasting might have observed, they weren't discussed. I found that this balanced generosity with elegance, but at the same time, seemed to lack panache. The Vouette-Sorbée Extra Brut (02/2010) served alongside it, with its spiny, tingly lime-covered rocks, was more engaging. I mention this because I tend to prefer fruit over acid in my Champers, but on this night, the V-S won out - it had the panache. Nonetheless, recommended, 12,0% abv
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Absolutely lovely, this is a perfectly mature and beautiful Initiale from Selosse. Being disgorged 29 April 2011 it delivers a very nice drinking experience. The nose offers up the rich, creamy and also oxidized tones so typical for this cuvée. There are minerals, citrus tones and also rich toast to be found if given some air. The palate is full throttle, but is also nicely balanced. The integration of this effort is superb, as is the texture. I am sure it will continue to develop yet some time, but it certainly was a treat tonight too!
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Glömde kolla deg.datum men köpt av Systembolagets nuvarande flaskor. Fet koncentrerad frukt med karamelliserade drag, riktigt vass syra. Min första Selosse. Väldigt bra men känns lite för knuten ännu. Kan nog tänka mig att det skulle kunna bli både ett och två poäng till med mer mognad.
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We started with this new years evening. Round, rich and as usual a very good wine. I had hoped for a bit more freshness and minerality. Pleasant and very nice wine.
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Disgorged 2010. Fabulous smooth, full texture, light caramel and citrus. Mature but full of vivacity. So much more to it in terms of depth, feel and complexity than just about any other Blanc de Blancs I can recall.
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May 5th 2010 disgorge. Light gold. Really powerful aromatics of florals and tropical fruit. On the palate, this comes across as an especially concentrated and rich Initial (not sure if this is '03 base year, which would explain the richness). Still maintains great balance even with the ripeness.
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WOW! vilket dundervin, redan på näsan kännar man fet frukt, aningen mogen doft och massa härlig citrus. smaken är magisk, mandel, hög syra en mousse som aldrig vill lägga sig, citrus. Geni-champagne som kan mäta sig med de stora trots att detta är en instegs-champagne. deg. oktober 12.
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On the nose Flowers, honey, sherry and some citrus On the palate A brilliant balanced wine with a hint of sweetness behind the layers of summer and citrus flavours. Very good. Deg. october 12
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Bright yellow colour. Nose with ripe yellow apples and some yellow winter apples, pear, some peach, spice, a touch of herbaceous notes, some oxidation notes, oak and some vanilla, some white flowers. Palate with green and some yellow apples, citrus, mineral with some fizzy tablet character, good concentration, definitely good acidity, and a long aftertaste with green apples. Rather young, but drinks well now, could develop, 92+ p. Disgorged 2 August 2013. Rather typical Selosse nose, but the palate is more “regular” blanc de blancs-styled and green apple-dominated than they usually are. This means that it reminds me less of a white Burgundy that the 2012 release did. But it still is a good Initial!
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Massivt gult med markant syra och härlig mousse i munnen. Klart ekad med sköna smått utvecklade toner av röda äpplen och lite citrus! Deg 20 sept 2012.
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As others have noted, improves as it warms in the glass. So go slow as complexity builds throughout. Dynamic mineral, citrus, brioche evolving in delightfully unexpected ways.
A lighter Selosse that we found difficult to pair with food. Best enjoyed solo...
disgorged Oct 20, 2010
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Celebrating a joint birthday with my wife. Amazingly muscular and intense Champagne. Some secondary, nutty notes on the nose moving to a taut, tense, powerful palate. We had a bottle of this about 4 months ago that was much 'easier,' but this one was intense, tightly wound and just stunningly powerful.
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Champagne and Sushi (Megumi, Sentosa Golf Club): This was a very good bottle of Initiale, one of the best I have had. I unfortunately did not note down the disgorgement date, but it clearly had quite a bit of age on it. Served blind, I do not think anyone had any doubts it was a Selosse. From first pour, it had a beautiful telltale nose of red apple flesh with slightly oxidative, ciderish aromas, along with wafts of manuka honey, some mandarin oranges and a sprinkle of exotic spice. Glorious stuff - a world away from the more classic aromas of the first two champagnes, but beautiful in its own style. The palate was power-packed – very rich and generous, with round and fleshy flavours of apple cider and white melons, yet it was also wonderfully structured and effortlessly balanced, having a very fresh, clean feel lent to it by nicely integrated acidity and a really fine, lively mousse. I find that this sense of cleanness and purity sometimes makes the Initiale a more enjoyable drink than either of Selosse’s grander (and more expensive) non-vintage Substance or VO Champagnes. This was no pushover though. It had real depth and breadth to it, all the way into a tremendous finish that rippled through the back-palate with a lush linger of ripe lemons in a long glide of saline mineral. Really lovely, complex stuff, and at a nice place on the night.
Beautiful nose, cider, mandarin oranges, peaches on the nose. Very perfumed. Fresh yellow white fruit, good balanced acidity and some saline on the finish. Peaches and kumquat on the palate and long lush finish.
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Elegance and complexity. Subtle at first but it keeps bringing you back for more. A few steps behind the Substance for my taste but a fantastic Champagne. At Caves Madeleine, Beaune.
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Small grower Champagne tasting with Munskänkarna, featuring some of the new generation of growers (Stockholm): Deep yellow colour. Powerful nose with ripe apples and winter apples, some citrus, some bread, nuts and cocoa powder, white flowers, oak, and discrete oxidation notes. Powerful palate with yellow apples, winter apples, citrus, peach, good acidity, long aftertaste with some green apple. Rather young, 93(+) p. An exceptionally good Initial! Disgorged in September 2012.
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Casual dinner at Home: Disgorged October 21, 2009. No formal notes. Youthful on both the nose and palate with nutty, yeasty and earthy notes along with creamy citrus and baked apples. Richness mousse and excellent acidity. Outstanding.
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Wow. Such impeccable balance. Less powerful initial nose than some, but as it warms in the glass slightly this opens up - and such length! Imagine depth of Krug, but more delicate balance lasting 30+ secs. Mid yellow already in this 2011 disgorged bottle. Not sure how it will develop - will that poise persist as secondary flavours develop? I just have no experience to be able to tell.
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Disgorged 2009/10/21. Honey-gold colour, brioche, toasted hazelnuts, dried orange peel, Meyer lemon curd, pie crust, cooked apples, and a hint of sherry. Fantastic, fine bead, great texture and length - well over a minute-long finish. Easily 95 points. A superb bottle of Champagne. Drink now-2018.
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January 2013 disgorgement. Oxidation, lemon tart, and a slight bit of honey on nose. Fine moussey bead with acidity and oxidative brioche on the palate. Well balanced for a recent disgorgement. Long finish of lemon. Given disgorgement date, probably a mix of 2007/2008/2009, according to Selosse 2009 was a great vintage.
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A Clos St Jacques kind of night. (Elite Seafood Restaurant): Brightest and most exciting Initiale I've had in awhile. Disgorged in 2007 with copious amounts of lemon tart, apple and saline with this ultra bright acidity that just screamed youthfulness, but the palate was such a nice blend of flavors that you almost salivate on the finish. Really good.
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Disgorged July, 2010. Medium yellow. Intense but short lived mousse. Caramel, light brioche nose. Moderate weight, bitter citrus fruit, some oxidation. Very good but not exciting.
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As always, the wines from Selosse exhibits a lot of red apples, a rather elegant oxidative tone and sweet medium toast. This Initial, disgorged in April 2011 is no exception. The very typical Selosse nose is accompanied by a superb palate with a creamy mousse and nice acidity - again building on power but with a very elegant approach.
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Blanc de Blancs smaking (Oslo): (Degorg 02.12.11 med 02,03&04) Klar, lett gyllen, dyp strågul. Rik nese med et mildt oksidativt preg. Toner av voks, harpiks og røde epler. Fyldig og massiv frukt. Epledreven, men gir også toner av dyp, moden gulfrukt og nøtter. Frisk, stram og presis syre. Lett sødme. Finkornet mousse. Flott lengde med epler, nøtter, voks og mineraler.
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The Champagnes of Jacques Selosse (featuring all 6 Lieux-Dits) by the Rare Wine Co. (NoMad Hotel Penthouse, New York, NY.): Disgorged 2003. Light-medium gold. Stunning nose of malt and toffee, cider, vanilla, deep and pure, rich? Some mature notes and the chalk comes out later. Palate: lots of orange peels and sweet lemon, toffee, cider and pear. This was smashing, right out of the gate, but when I got back to it, it had really faded or muted itself. When I came back, it seemed quite tired, and the rest of the group seemed to agree with this. My initial (no pun intended) score was Nose - 5-5.5/6, Palate - 6/6, Finish - 5/6, Je Ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 17-18/20. But coming back to it, it was more like a 15-16/20.
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The Champagnes of Jacques Selosse (featuring all 6 Lieux-Dits) by the Rare Wine Co. (NoMad Hotel Penthouse, New York, NY.): Disgorged 2012. Light gold. Nose of sweet pear, vanilla, creamy chalk, and lemon. A touch of soap and rosemary come out with time. Shimmering and beautiful on the hose, smelling slightly sweet with some cider-like tones. Dusty chalk aspects. Lots of apple and pear, lots of fruit, sweet, cider. Light on its feet and lively with good acid. The finish seems a little short. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 4.5/6, Je Ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 16.5/20.
This is a bubble as I have never tasted before. So complex, different, and also so beautiful. Creamy. salty minerals, beautiful brioche and oxidized impression. Same on the palate. Some melon, some rust, good tart acidity. But in fact nothing negative. Only complex, fresh and interesting. Hard to score this new experience. 94 seems to be correct.
Bearserkerfest Night 2-Chave Table (Sun Wah BBQ, Chicago IL): Nose: This is deep and extremely intriguing with classy tones of brioche, roasted nuts, flinty tones, warm honey, sweet peaches, and nectarines. There is a lushness to the fruit, but with a real sense of class to it as well.
Taste: Full bodied with medium+ acidity. Very finessed, polished, and rich with extremely balanced and deep tones of brioche, roasted nuts, flint, warm honey, and nectarines.
Overall: This was a wonderful champagne. While there is a richer quality to it, it really has a lot of finesse and class.
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Chicago Berserkerfest Dinner #2 (Sun Wah): Very forward, concentrated and lush. Lots of fat fruit along with lots of toasty, yeasty character. Excellent in its style, just not my preferred style of Champagne.
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Chicago Berserkerfest; 5/18/2013-5/19/2013 (Chicago, IL): Had a certain elegance and depth that was a beautiful juxtaposition next to the bigger and richer Dom Perignon's. This was more about finesse and style than power or richness. It's beautiful combination of pear, peas, white florals, and truffle. Great stuff.
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Very thick texture - the bottle was disgorged in the autumn of 2012. I loved the combination of beautiful autolysis and thick ripe fruit. Very often it is one or the other - not here. I am looking forward to meeting this wine again.
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Château d'Yquem tasting (Stockholm): Appearance: bright yellow, medium mousse Nose: ripe yellow apples, some peach, mineral, a hint of flowers, some oak and spice notes, somewhat white Burgundy-like. Palate: green and yellow apple, high acidity, mineral, very fresh, with a long and fresh aftertaste. Summary: some development in the nose and very fresh on the palate, a bit on the lean side for an Initial. Fully enajoyable now, but could stand more cellaring, 91 p. From a bottle disgorged October 2010.
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Nose with ripe apple, peach, perfume notes, some oak, and quite a lot of white Burgyndy feeling. Good concentration on the palate, goody, palate with green apple and yellow fruit, definitely high acidity. Generous nose, young, 92+ p. Disgorged September 2012. This is consistently been a very fine Initial, and it also is unusually approachable already now.
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Lovely exuberant bouquet with green apples, a little oak and a hint of acetone. Round flavour very reminicent of a good Speyside Whisky with peardrops, apples, a bit of vanilla. Lively mousse, nice mouthfeel and long finish. Great stuff.
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A beautiful wine, this is the latest release from Selosse, expressing the very typical full-bodied and elegant slightly oxidative house style. There is no doubt this is a Selosse, but it is not as tight as it sometimes is... The nose exhibits a lot of apples, light toast and a whiff of citrus. The palate is very nice with a brilliant acidity, vivid mousse and a creamy overall impression. It drinks very well at present.
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Quite youthful, but a really stunning wine with a core of incredibly fresh, vibrant citrus and stone fruit flavours augmented by brioche, doughy and lightly oxidative nutty and creamy elements. There's fantastic depth, focus and clarity here, and while it's incredibly primary it's thrilling to drink now. (July 2012 disgorgement.)
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When in Champagne... (L'Assiette Champenoise, Reims): Disgorged October, 2012. Light color. Tight, steely and lemony right off the bat with tight bead. So dynamic though. Picked up body, texture and intriguing strawberry notes and a twist of fresh herbs. Much better with 3 hours of air. Remarkable evolution suggesting that it is simply too young! Give it time.
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France 2013 - Côte d'Or; 4/20/2013-4/23/2013 (Beaune): Disgorged November 7, 2011. Beautiful earthy nose of charred lemons, baked apple, toast and salted caramel. Focused on the palate with lively acidity but the soft mousse and texture give the mouthfeel an elegant and finessed profile. This never seems to disappoint. Outstanding.
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Quite full on in style, rich and full of character. Ginger,lemons, biscuits but with good balancing acidity. Very good, yet not as refined as some previous bottles. (Oct 2011 Disgorgement)
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Fantastic stony minerality with lemon, brioche, and the slightest hint of mint (my wife disagrees re the mint). A very luxurious mouthfeel, with a finish that just keeps on going.
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Dégorgée in 07/2012...so, very young... nice fruit, quite full bodied with good minerality and little yeast...all in all very impressive but will still improve...
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Another Saturday night at The Papies (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): Disgorged 13 May 2011 Following on from a Selosse tasing this week where we absolutely loved this (rated 95) this , although same disgorgement date, did not strike us as high. Not sure why to be honest but this was relatively muted and not showing the elegance we saw earlier this week. Bottle variation or just a bad bottle?
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Pre-Trip Dinner #2 (Pied-á-Terre): Disgorged October 21, 2009. No formal notes. Toasty, nutty and great acidity. Not as brilliant as previous bottles but still first-rate. Excellent.
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Disgorged Oct 21, 2009. Fantastic nose showing plenty of toasty and nutty aromas layered with gala apples, tart fresh lemon juice, some ginger spice and a slight oxididative note. Very rich and complex on the palate with lots more toast, ground nuts and caramel, along with red apple skins, charred oak, crisp lemon, minerals, baked red apple, and a pleasant floral note. A nice firm bite of acidity and a long finish ending on notes of baked red apples and almonds. What a treat, rich, full bodied and plenty of firm lemon citrus to help balance this out. Excellent creamy mouth-feel. Fantastic.
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Anselme Selosse (Jacques Selosse) Legendary Dinner (Spruce Restaurant, San Francisco): Disgorged 2003. A deep golden color, much darker than the other disgorgements, caramel, creme brulee, deep complex nose; complex, more yeasty than the 2012 disgorgement but fine bubbles, very nice finish. Retains much acid even as it gains the richness of age. This definitely comes across as fully mature and the elder of the bunch, despite the fact that it is 2 years younger than the oldest disgorgement. 95
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Anselme Selosse (Jacques Selosse) Legendary Dinner (Spruce Restaurant, San Francisco): Disgorged in 2012. Color is light yellow-gold; aromatic, complex, very distinct granny smith apple nose, clean, fresh, slight yeast but definitely not the defining characteristic; palate is clean, fresh, apples, tart (green apples); long finish. This is superb today and has much room for improvement with a bit of age. 94-95
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The Champagnes of Jacques Selosse (Roberson Wine, South Ken, London): Disgorged 13May11. 100% Chardonnay, <5g/l dosage 12% Alc. Light in colour, pale straw. Toasty nose probably as toasty as Selosse champagnes get. Ripe apple light spice on the nose too. A lot of activity on the palate , a touch of a faint popping candy feel if we try to place this. Full of life, rich, round and intense. Very long finish. Very vinous champagne . Superb and of great value. Only criticism we would add especially vs the rest of the Selosse champagnes is that it lost its energy after 30mins while the rest sort of continued to evolve non stop. Still a very good 94-95
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Incredible bubbles. Enticing yeasty bouquet that evolves just as each sip of this extraordinary Champagne does. Creamy, sublimely balanced and rich on the palate. Do not drink this in a Champagne glass or you will miss the beauty of this wine as it evolves in your glass. A Champagne with soul.
Disgorged October 2010
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disg 12/2011. tasted just below cellar temp in a burgundy stem.
deep golden yellow hue. nose of beeswax, a hint of citrus intermingled with red fruit, peach pit (?), a touch of white flower and a deep cut of chalky minerals. on the palate this is rich and round bursting with fruit but with nice cut from the acid and a mineral finish.
this is great champagne. it juxtaposes so much i like about champagne. the freshness of young wines with the hint of oxidation and richness you get with aged bottles. it has the minerality and cut of its BdB lineage but with a depth of fruit that rivals good BdN.
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A stunning bottle. Typical Selosse oxidative notes. Touch of oak, honey, orange and lemon. There's even a fine note of fresh butter and from time to time a whiff of coconut (but nothing sweet or heavy). Lots of depth and complexity. Full and rich yet vibrant. As usual, the effervescence picked up with more air and time. Subtle bitters on the finish. Disgorged Feb, 2009.
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Disgorged October 21, 2009. Yellow color. Aromas of cream, roasted nuts, vanilla, baked apple and hints of caramel. Rich texture, creamy; grapefruit, vanilla cream, toasted almond and melon qualities. Lengthy finish. Would like to spend an evening following this. 92-93 pts for me, 94-95 for Domino.
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Opened by Allred. October 2009 disgorgement. This was a grand cru blanc des blancs. Medium yellow color. Crisp. Steely character. Notes of citrus, lemon curds and roasted nuts. High bead. Very pretty wine with a long finish. 96 points.
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Fantastic champagne. Flavour notes don't do it justice - "lemons and apples" would make it sound boring and fruity. It is serious, complex and weighty. Will certainly improve with age as well.
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Mar. 2009 Disg. It is interesting to see how the initial oxidative note that i described in my 2009 TN is now even more pronounced. The color is more intense and the overall impression is more power. As this bottle had a chance to air for several hours it became much smoother and the sherry notes got replaced with cleaner flavors and much more minerally notes. The last few glasses were definitely the finest. Time to consume.
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With a very wide range of spices on the palate, somewhat like a complex whitewine. A nice champagne but could one not buy a good bottle of whitewine instead? Disgorged september 2012
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Disgorged September 2012. Twenty minutes in the decanter (won't do next time, quickly lost too much of its mousse) Ripe fruits, orange and lemon rind, apple soda, hyacinths, walnut, chalky manzanilla, white burgundy. Rich taste, high ripe acidity, friendly mousse. Multi-layered and harmonious - an exceptional version of Initial, still very young. A mix of vintages 05, 06, 07.
Selosse tasting (AuZone, Stockholm): Rich yellow colour. Nose with mineral, almond, some perfume notes that contribute to an impression of marzipan, ripe yellow apples and other ripe fruit including peach, some citrus, some honey, flowery. Rather fruity and elegant. Powerful palate with ripe yelow fruit including apples and citrus, noticeably spicy, a hint of bitterness, rather high acidity. Disgorged 4 October 2007.
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Oxidative, sherry notes and persistent intensity. This particular bottle seemed to lack some freshness and transparency. Recall being more impressed on previous occasions.
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For me this wine was not that well balanced, It was almost like two wines in one. A first with nice champagne notes with very strong toasted notes. However, the second part of the taste was almost like citrus water that was for me to piercing.
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Acker BYO 2012 (Tribeca Grill, Tribeca, NY): (I have 'Disgorged 7/10 down, but I am not at all sure of that). Light yellow-green. Chalk, minerals, crushed shells. White dust and flowers. The nose radiates this powdery feel that I cannot describe well. Very different from any wine I have ever had. On the palate: very chalky and powdery yet creamy. I could lose myself in this palate and in this wine in general. Where was I? Oh yes, Chalky, dusty, driven and laser-like. Potent. Minerals and tight lemon. A singular wine, austere and focused yet full and round somehow. As I am just getting into Champagne, this wine was an epiphany for me, the perfect wine for my palate to learn from right now - complex, cerebral, austere - a thinking wine. I stand in awe. Game changer. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je Ne Sais Quoi - 2/2 = 18.5/20.
Year End Euro-Themed Lunch (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Weird floral nose (oxidation?). Sour, acidic palate. An excellent wine that could get higher score for me if it wasn't for the weirdness of the nose... Group's favorite in this flight.
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Fresh sappy lemony apply zapple with weight and body. Fresher than previous tasting. Stonefruit citrus with quartz minerality on the finish. Touch of olive oil too.
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Brian's Birthday Dinner (Buono Restaurant, Singapore): Disgorged 7 December 2009, this was yet another very good showing - it just about blew a good bottle of Pol Roger NV Reserve out of the water. Still though, fresh out of the bottle, it did seem a little younger and less developed than some of the smashing bottles of Initiale that we have had over the years, making it just that shade less impressive. Nevertheless, this was a very nice Champagne indeed. Slightly oxidative on the nose in line with Selosse's style, it showed sweet apples with a just a shade of browning on the nose, along with a touch of white meat and dulcet tones of dried flowers, honey and a string of minerality alongside. Quite a gorgeous bouquet. The palate came across as still rather young and tight. More primary than the nose, it had lots of lemony flavours on the attack supported on a base of fresh red apple notes. On day two though, the primary youth gave way to a delicious panoply of flavours on the leftover wine, with a gorgeous honeyed sweetness to its juicy apple and stone fruit notes, with meaty notes peeking out at the sides. There was lots of depth and breadth to this, yet it was beautfully balanced with good acidity and a very effervescent mousse. Lovely finish too, long and spicy and minerally, with a kiss of sweet fruit and mint along the way. Excellent stuff.
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Deg datum Maj 2009. Äpplen, lätta toner av citrus, lite jäst och bröd toner. Syran är väl integrerad med frukten och detta är en riktigt bra champagne, som jag kommer att inhandla mer av. Jag ser ingen anledning att hålla på mina kvarstående flaskor som har deg datum maj 2009.
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Disgorged October, 2009. Deep yellow. Light mousse. Fantastic nose of citrus, ginger and caramel. Medium weight with an exhilarating balance of crisp fruit and creamy, mature feel, with each sip giving a different nuance. Firm underlying acidity. This seemed more exciting and alive than other bottles I've had from this disgorgement date.
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Quite golden almost amber gold; definite aroma of aged fine burgundy, all buttery pastry, white flowers and almonds. Hugely complex, intense and impressive; very very fine bead. Rich and intense flavour continues on the palate. Has notes of fino sherry on the finish. Delicious wine.
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Caves Madeleine, Beaune. Disgorgement 2009. Deep yellow gold, energetic fine bead. Beautiful broad nose full of vitality and density, baked apple and brioche. Palate equally enticing, lovely core and fine beautifully knit finish. A fascinating experience - this was a meal in itself.
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Kelly and Kevin’s excellent adventure before WWS 2012; 11/4/2012-11/11/2012 (La Morra): A small restaurant in a small town but…. Jacques Selosse Rose for 160 euros as well as Coulée de Serrant, wow! We order the rose as a nightcap. Unfortunately sold out and he brought to us Blanc de Noirs La Cote Faron. Not knowing the price, I just ordered the initial. Disgorged in 2008, yellow fruits, quite round, sweet, peach, smoke, pink grapefruit, clove and mineral. Round sweet palate, small bubbles and nice acidity. Very enjoyable. Unfortunately he charged 160 euros, the same price as the Rose. I should have ordered La Cote Faron.
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Disgorged Feb 2008. Light golden color with dense bubbles. Citrus fruit with quite a bit of toast. Great balance between freshness and oxidation, perhaps even better with another year of bottling age, a crowd pleaser.
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Denna var degad februari 2010 och som med många 2010-degade viner från Selosse så är det riktigt bra.. Lite fetare, inte lika krispigt som V.O, lite mer "skitigt" men ett vin som är enkelt, rättframt att dricka, Fin balans, naturligtvis den oxiderade stilen från Selosse (som var dte som diskuterades, bra eller dåligt). Den är ju inte lika framträdande i Initiale som exempelvis Substance men den finns där. Tycker att Initale är ett vin som visar på vad Selosse kan, förstår att det inte är hans bästa druvor, från vingårdar längre ner på sluttningen men ändå så har vinet en koncentration som få andra viner i den här klassen kan visa
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Disgorged October, 2009. Deep yellow. Mellow, low pitched aromatics with some caramel. Full bodied, moderate to little mousse, surprisingly Krug or Bollinger-like in style. Does not have as much vibrant fruit or dynamism as other bottles of the Initiale I've had. Very good but this seems to be missing something.
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The Selosse Initial has a well deserved reputation and is an incredibly stunning BdB. In fact, I have no doubt that this is one of the best NV BdB's in all of champagne. However, the flavors are very rich, deep, and complex, which could be off putting to someone used to light/aperatif BdB's. Personally I love the Selosse style, it is the Krug Grande Cuvee of BdB's to a certain extent. It has deep flavors of honey, caramel, biscuits, and spices along with wonderful minerality. There is also a certain saltiness that makes everything just pop once it hits the palate. Even though this is costly at roughly $130 per bottle, it is worth the price of admission and is a better value than the Selosse Substance which can approach $300.
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Grower Champagne for Third Thursday (Willamette Wine Storage): The nose has a savory depth that I've never experienced in Champagne before. The savory aromas remind me of a beef and mushroom sauce while notes of spritzy apples show lightness underneath it all. The bubbles and texture are fantastic delivering lightness on contact. It remains fine in texture while the savory notes suggested on the nose settle in with weight on the back of the palate. Apple flavors linger with the savory notes and gentle acid. All of the components have great length.
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This might be the best NV Champagne I’ve had? (together with Krug) Brilliant stuff! Disgorgement was done May 5:th 2010. It’s a lovely developed Champagne, light yellow color, loads of yellow golden apples, and perfect creamy mousse and acidity. Chalk and some oil, bread and yeast. Fresh with the cleanest fruit. A stunning Champagne.
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Magnifique robe or, bulles très fines, nez de brioche beurrée. En bouche, extrêmement vineux, belle persistance, puissant. A boire ou à garder. Bu avant Bollinger Grande Année 1999...
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Clean & fresh yet big and full at the same time. Really delicious, well balanced champagne with a superb finish that is a joy to drink. Each sip demanded another and before we knew it the bottle was gone!
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Yellow colour with an amazing amount of fine tiny bubbles exploding in the glass. The nose is very fruity with a nice mixture of oak that ends up in caramelized tones of anise and vanilla. The palate is full of tannines and intensive taste in a wonderful combination. It all transforms into a long and wonderful feeling of perfection.
As always, there is a wonderful experience to drink Selosse. Even so his simpler variations!
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Disgorged 20. October 2006; very deep and complex and full of flavour; "white burgundy with bubbles"; expressive and powerfull; harmonious and in perfect balance; it tasted of ripe apples, honey and orange and the finish was very, very long. Luckily I have quite a few bottles left which I will drink over the next 5 to 10 years. This wine certainly improves with ageing, adding additional flavours and complexity. Not cheap but certainly worth it´s money. Don´t drink too cold, 14 to 16 celsius is fine and open the bottle 1 to 2 hours before to give it some air.
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Disgorged October, 2009. Full yellow. Toastier and more mature Champagne aromas than prior bottles. Full, fairly sweet and a prominent oak component. I wasn't crazy about this. Not as dynamic and alive as usual, but then again, I've had them closer to their disgorgement dates.
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Uncorked for four hours, served chilled. Color: Medium to Dark Yellow. Nose: Golden Apple, Cinnamon, Toast, Lemon, Floral notes. Palate: see nose. Finish: Medium. Acidity: Medium to High. Alcohol: 12.5 % well integrated. Full bodied mouthfeel with initial toast and citrus. Mid-palate adds cinnamon transitioning into a finish with golden apple and floral notes. Gets even better with age, 7/2009 disgorgement. 92-93 points.
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Clear golden yellow. Intense nose of brioche, lemon cream, mineral and butterscotch. Very intense rich dry yeasty flavours and a long, long dry finish. A very rich low or maybe zero dosage Champagne.
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WineFanatic Champagne Offline (Vancouver, BC): Disgorged October 21, 2009. Light golden colour. Very yeasty and autolytic on the nose with earthy and complex aromas of creamy citrus, red apple and nuts. This really attractive and intense profile carries onto the palate with ripe and rich flavours of red apple, nuts, minerality and lemon cream. The mouthfeel is rich and creamy with muscular acidity and amazing depth. Very well balanced with a long minerally finish. This is drinking very well now. Outstanding.
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lovely, complex Champagne from Jacques Selosse.. initial nose of butterscotch and caramel followed by smells of hops, banana and lemons. Lovely ripe apple flavour with a cream soda lining and some mixed nuts thrown into the mix.
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Drank in medium-sized white wine glasses. Light silvery bronze color. Very light moderate pinprick laid back bubbles. Nose is vanilla ice cream, very light-toasted brioche, soft soapy element .... really soft but complex. Palate is very soft and languid and laid back perfectly made with nuanced hazelnut and white Chinese Lam Ba Hang almonds and great acidic balance. I'm impressed. Seems a low dosage. This was a recent gift from Terence.....thank you, it's very impressive.
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This young Selosse Initial is supposedly based primarily on the 2002 vintage and is an incredible blanc de blanc champagne. This is very rich and incredibly powerful with wonderful minerality and depth that is enhanced by the oak. To me this is a bit more fresh and lively than the slightly more complex Substance. Also, while this does not quite have the vivacity and precision of the V.O., it is so good that I would purchase this over all but the most specail vintage blanc de blancs.
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Disgorged 20 October 2010. Loads of Avize appleyness together with a certain spiciness from the oak. Very high concentration of fruit. Delicious acidity and long aftertaste. What else?
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Some greeness, oak, white pears, and some longans on the nose. Rich, savoury, white pears, peaches, and red apples and asparagus on the finish. Don't get the soury green apples/lemons for this style which tends to appeal more to me than the 98 krug served beside it.
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My Birthday Celebration (Kingyo, Marina Square): This was beautiful. Last bottle in the cellar, disgorged in July 2009, and it was probably one of the best bottles of Initiale that I have had so far. The table was split between this and the 1998 Krug on the same flight. My vote went marginally for the Krug, but I can see why at least half of us preferred this. It had a typically expressive Selosse note, with white meat and umami accents floating around a core of lovely ripe red apple notes and some macadamia nut aromas. Super-expressive and really attractive. The palate, as would be expected, was deep, powerful and compelling, with red apples galore on the attack kissed by some macadamia and walnuts. Really yummy fruit here, with a fleshy, ripe, muscular suppleness that was ever so different from the lithe, elegant 1998 Krug. It is not to say that this was brutish or clumsy in any way though - as always, it was beautifully balanced, in fact rather better balanced than a few other bottles of Initiale I have had, with the tad bit of time in the bottle lending the wine a nice sense of integration between its fresh acidity, creamy mousse and reservoirs of powerful white fruited notes. The finish was lovely too, with a long line of mineral and a touch of earth fringed with a little suggestion of vanilla bean. With time, and especially when paired with a juicy piece of scallop sashimi, some playful notes of cinamon and cloves, some nutmeg maybe, starting floating out. Really enjoyable - this was a hedonistic champagne, especially when compared to the far more serious Krug. At a nice place now, although I felt the bottle would have benefitted even more from another year or two in the cellar. A lesson that Selosse wines really do need a few years after disgorgement before serving.
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Light golden colour. As soon as the cork pops the nose hits you straight in the face. Nose of green apple with some ginger, white flowers and peach. Plenty of gala apple on the palate once it gets some air, along with peach, hazelnut, some brioche and plenty of minerals coming in towards the finish and lingering. Long finish, good acidity, great mouthfeel. This was still young and a bit tight, getting better and better with time in the glass. Would love to try this again with 3-5 years more age on it.
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Despite this being the entry level Selosse offering, Initiale is an extremely special blanc de blanc. This has wonderful open minerality, depth and complexity. However, the ripe "in your face" flavors are really what makes this champagne one of most exhilarating in the entire region. The flavors include ripe peaches, apricots, poached pears, demented red apple (almost over ripe), oranges, tangerines, honeydew melon, bright citrus, grapefruit, candied red berries, biscuits, honey, caramel, toffee, toast, vanilla cream, cashews, walnuts, crushed rocks, a touch of salt, mushrooms, coffee, and a medly of spices from cinnamon to nutmeg. This champagne slaps you silly. Already open and ready to drink, do not miss this experience.
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( disgorged April 2009) I'm a big Selosse fan and love this wine. Nice yeasty, apple, citrus, complex aromas. Rich, creamy palate with nice depth and lovely finish.
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Bubbly usually not my thing but this was one bottle I enjoyed. Quite dense, good minerality with a hint of star anise i thought. Driking ok but still on the young side i thought
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Degad Juli 2010. Av någon anledning har Selosse lyckats extra bra med de 2010 degade. Först något sluten men sedan öppnar en väldigt mineralig Initiale upp sig. Har naturligtvis de typiska tonerna men mer i bakgrunden och miniraliteten i den hör är väldigt exceptionell. Vinet är fetare än en V.O men har lite samma krispa ton. Bra mousse och syra som tillsammans skapar en av de bättre yngre Initiale jag druckit.
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Very special on the nose with a mixed combination of minerals and oaks and stones. On the palate the tannines are though and shows that it needs some more years in the cellar. (Dégorgement date 2011-04-29)
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Alcohol :: 12% Light golden. As usual, this Champagne is tight as a rock when served with flute, so I decided to change to bigger glass, Bordeaux. Now I got clearly picture of the aromas spectrum: Very intense aromas of green apple, peaches in the core surrounded by smoke, yeast, ginger and white floral. Rich entry with good concentration of ripe white fruits, green apple, peaches, lime as well as mineral at the background for better complexity and depth. Good grip and energy here that driving the powerful mid palate toward the intense, juicy long finish with excellent persistence. As good as this, it lacks a little bit of tension and finesse from VO.
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(disgorged 10/10) Distinctive Selosse: slightly oxidative with green and white fruits, nuts, and mineral. Dry. The bottles were popped soon before tasting; this should open up with airtime and/or age.
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Wines Through the Decades (Jade Palace, Forum Galleria): Always a treat. This bottle was disgorged in 6 July 2009. Popped and poured, this was a bit tight on the nose and needed some time to open up before it showed a typical assertive nose of yeast, slightly oxidative apple scents, with lemons and yellow plum and strong doses of Chinese pears touched by a nice earthy minerality. Distinctive and attractive in very Selosse fashion. The palate came across as pretty rich. Low in number of bubbles yet showing a fine mousse, it had a creamy, almost oily texture to its attack, with flavours of browning apples, lemons and plums moving into a midpalate with so much bite that it seemed almost structured as it moved into a grippy, minerally finish with just a hint of biscuit emerging with time. Great power and intensity, wonderful length, lots of depth, but somehow a tad less lively than the best examples of the wine that I have had in the past. Still though, a Champagne of quality and character - I thought this was a tad better than the Krug MV that we had alongside. Still very young, so it may improve with time in the bottle.
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Beautiful complex nose on hot caramelized apples, nougat, yellow fruits and hazelnut along with a hint of saltiness. Its a powerful champagne that is both large and sharp on the palate. The finish is very long and the oxydaiton of the wine is totally under control. The dosage can not be felt which is great. This domaine's reputation is justified. Disgorged on 20/10/2010.
Le nez développe des arômes de pomme chaude caramélisée, de nougat, de fruits jaunes et de noisette avec également quelque chose de salin. C'est complexe. En bouche, le vin est puissant, ample, droit et vineux. La finale est très longue et l'oxydation du vin est modérée... Le dosage est imperceptible. Vraiment superbe... La réputation du domaine est justifiée! dégorgement : 20/10/2010
18/20
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Disgorged April 29, 2011. Brass metallic hue. Complex nose with golden notes of apple must, lemon zest, wheat dough, almond cookies, dried fruits, sherry, nougat, hyacinths and a big old white-washed limestone house wall. Taste is rich and full, almost completely dry, with a super-fine mousse and a very cleansing mineral finish. A fine hint of oxydation appears on day 2. There's so much pleasure and fascination in a glass of Selosse - our first choice when it comes to champagne. This new version surely has got what it takes. Drink now, or give it two years to develop even more depth of flavour.
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Bottle disgorgement date June 2011. A deep yellow gold. Looking at the colour, one would have guessed an old vintage. Fine mousse. On the nose, sherry, hazelnuts, yeast notes and orange peel. Quite big, poured this into a larger glass, and it started opening up more. Tastes like an old chardonnay. Vibrant acidity, brut, excellent length on the finish, 30 seconds or more. Not your normal champagne. Makes you imagine you're sitting in a leather armchair in a club with a jazz band playing.
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Bright pop, good flanged cork, amber color, fine and strong bead of bubbles. The nose was a hint of orange and musk. The taste was very dry with the dominant flavors of leather and cedar wood, raw wheat kernels. Not your usual champagne. The finish was very long with wood and lemon peel sitting on the tongue for 30 seconds. The flavor was more pronounced in a Riedel style rounded bottom flute than a v-bottomed flute. Also, as the chill disappeared, the flavors became markedly more pronounced, as one would expect, so temperature can be used to up or down the intensity of the wood and leather. Drink only after your bored with good champagne and don't mind spending the money. The wine also tastes young so this one can cellar for many years.
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This is a lovely and very compelling champagne if you care for efforts with a lot of body and texture. The nose reveals fresh apples and a lot of lime and lemon zest but there is also an elegant tone of light toast and subtly roasted almonds. This is a powerhouse: no Blanc de Blanc I have tasted before has behaved like this... The mousse is vibrant and somewhat edgy, telling the taster about the youth of this effort. Though I think this drinks perfectly right now, especially given some aeration, it will not hurt to save a bottle or two for a few years. Disgorged April 29, 2011.
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Turning 50; a few 1961s (Scott & Kates; Redwood City, CA): This was fabulous. Focused and racy with a laser like beam of citrus and stones that cut through the palate. Hints of dough and yeast with very fine, pin point bubbles and a lengthy, mouth watering finish.
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Champagne Tasting (Waterford): 100% Char with 100% new oak. 36 to 60 months on the lees. Perfumed nose that keeps evolving floral focus, bready and rich. Palate equally floral and sweet. Finish goes on and on. Impressive. Not the typical Champagne but something I enjoy. Probably third time I have had this but the most enjoyable so far.
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Disgorged 10 March 2009. Medium yellow color with abundant, fine bead. Aromas of toast, vanilla, apple, and caramel. Palate has a strong ginger component with toasted nuts and caramel joining the ginger, apple, and pear fruit elements. The finish is a bit coarse and medium-long. This could integrate in the future, but seems to be marked (negatively) by the oak treatment, which makes it a coarse, masculine style that I do not prefer. Drink or hold.
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Härlig doft. Tropisk frukt och gula äpplen. Nybakat bröd och mandelmassa. Efter ett tag dyker hyacinterna upp. Smaken är ännu bättre än doften. Mycket fyllig utan att bli det minsta klumpig med perfekt avvägd syra och ett härligt långt och torrt slut.
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This bottle disgorged in October 2002 and professionally stored until a couple of months ago. Medium straw with a steady stream of medium sized bubbles which faded a touch in glass. A note here about the cork (IDEAL) which is still flexible and mushroom shaped at this point. Some real care and thought has gone into this choice which would be one of the highest quality corks I've seen anywhere on any bottle of wine. The bouquet is relatively simple but powerfully redolent of spice and spice derived compounds. Lightish clove, cinnamon maybe, ginger powder and an oxidative character of window putty. There is a whiff of lemon zest from time to time. On the palate this is medium-bodied but thickly textured and rounded with the initial flavours reflecting those of the palate. The moussse is well integrated, quite cushiony and balances the decent acidity well. Spices dominate the palate and although there is a whiff of sherry occasionally this remains relatively fresh and almost unchanged from the last batch of this I tasted about three years ago. It is persistent and the weight suggests remaining fruit, but I wonder if this has not been stunted by the oak treatment to the point that it will never develop further. Sui generis.
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Threw in a raspberry.. this is as good a bottle of Selosse as i have had. Clearly a lot of bottoe age - cork was a real buggeer to get out. Rich and yeasty, robust and very tasty. Love it.
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Disgorged October 4, 2007. Initially strong mousse. Complex nose with apples, oranges, golden lemons, nuts, sesame seeds, light toast and a sherry-like cask oxydation, No hyacinth notes anymore. Rich, smooth taste with citrus acidity. Slighty grapefruit/oak-bitter finish. Very chalky mineral aftertaste with obvious fino notes. The bubbles fade quite quickly in the glass, then it drinks like a good maturing white burgundy. Lovely, but it seems to be time to drink up now.
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Miscellaneous Notes from France; 11/5/2011-11/11/2011 (Paris and Burgundy): July, 2010 disgorgement. Light color. Active small bubbles. Upon smelling the wine, my first reaction was "My goodness, this wine is so alive!". Citrus, ginger and just a touch of caramel. Medium weight, the flavors are dominated by ginger and then finish with high acidity and crushed stone. Fascinating, riveting wine.
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Degorge 2007. Full dark lemon yellow in the glass with nice mousse and bubbles. The attack is cool with apple and lemon as it expands on the palate. Fairly full, well balanced, and easy to drink. Not too yeasty. Seems right now but also young. The finish is wonderful, where the bubbles disappear and the length of the wine makes its mark. Really lovely stuff.
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There seems to be some bottle variation. I had the wine earlier this year ( same disgorgement) and loved the wine. This wine had some nice yeast and oxidative aromas, but the wood seemed a little to overbearing to me on the palate..It just seemed out of balance to me. Perhaps because I decanted, but thought the wine could handle it after reading the CT notes.
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My first Selosse. This was a pleasant surprise. For a blanc de blanc this is a very rich champagne, but it certainly does not feel too heavy. I really loved the flavors in this which included a hefty dose of fall spices along with what I would call demented apple flavors. It was alll tied together with nice acidity. Although this is a young wine, it does not taste that young to me and I am not sure how this will age in the long run. It doesn't really matter though since it tastes great right now. I can't wait to try the VO and the Substance.
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Pale yellow with fine bubbles. Lovely aromas of citrus and apple with a little spice. Lightness of being on the palate with a little yeast and minimal nutty oxidative quality. More spice flavors as it warmed up. Harmonious and delicious.
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1st experience with Selosse - Youthful, tightly wound,felt like a spring was going to pop out of the glass - tons of kinetic energy - brioche, yeast, mineralization, slate. Excellent crisp lemon citrus and acidity with a long extremely pleasing finish. A wine that will be remembered. "to new friends"!
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Unexpected Lunch (Les Amis - Shaw Centre): Alcohol :: 12% Light golden in color, very bright with very fine beads that slowly flow in the glass that last till the end of the lunch. The nose show lots of white floral scents and pure white fruits that is lightly honey coated with light oxidative notes: nut and yeast across the aromas spectrum. With time, it developed and evolved into more ripe yellow fruits, melon and some green herbs complexity too. I'm amazed of how approachable it was, at least compare to the last bottle. Not fully open for business, but it show good sense of balance between the acid and fruits that carry out by the very fine moose. Not as good punch or tension than the previous bottle, this is slightly loose. Similar to the nose, the flavors spectrum changed from white fruits to yellow fruits with herbs that underpinned by the acidity and mineral backbone. Finish is good but not long, but this is delicious nevertheless, especially paired with the Truffle and Caviar dishes. Buy - Maybe - Yes.
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Remarkable nose, reminiscent of a vin jaune, to open. Smoked nuts, hazelnuts, lime meringue all merge together along with a remarkable viscosity and acidity that make this seem like a more complete version of Krug's Grand Cuvee (yes, I know that the blend is totally different)....Superb wine. Disgorged 10/'09
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One of the more unusual and most expressive champagnes I have tasted. Yeasty nose- lots of over ripe, fallen apple flavors. The level of oxidized flavor in this was right on the edge of being over the top, and would have been concerning had this wine not been so balanced. Crisply acidic and young- the minerality in this was reminiscent of a top German Riesling. Really special stuff-I can't wait to try some higher level cuvees.
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Excellent - very fine bubbles, hint of apple pear and lime, extremely lengthy acid spine. Definitely a cut above the standard NVs, and has the bones to develop for probably 5+ years to come.
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July 2008 dégorgement; mostly a 2002 base. A medium-sized mousse is visible through a medium intense yellow core with a greenish tinge. The nose is medium-plus intense from a medium-sized Burgundy(!) glass. Expansive notes of apply fruit have a slightly oxidative edge to it and are complemented by enormous autolytic expression. Aside from notes of Ritz crackers, toast and dough there are also mossy notes and some green herbs, which reinforces the impression of slight evolution. After 20 minutes in the glass a fresh mushroom note asserts itself.This Champagne is (of course) medium-minus bodied and nervously styled, with pronounced acidity. It is however quite balanced, with pronounced flavour intensity and while slightly monolithic on the mid-palate, some added complexity in the form of aforementioned mushrooms. Said fungi also pop up on the 30 second finish. Don’t get me wrong, this is a young-ish wine which can develop for at least five more years, but it’s a great drink right now. 90 points for this showing and possibly two extra for those with patience and a cold cellar .....TN Mike de Lange
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NY Eve’s Eve wines: Alcohol :: 12% Disgorged - Nov-2009. Tight, super tight shows yeasty, fresh brioche, melon, touch honey and oxidative style. Very young and tight that, very light palate but with good length, depth and underlying substance to age and show. Decanted for 2.5hrs, the wine is slow gaining better weight and depth when it started to unfold more and display more fruits with aromas of green apple, yeasty, honey and nut. Great freshness with sweet entry, superb lively, structure, very good depth with green apple, red apple and grapefruits, touch of perfume white floral too with underlying sweetness and persistent finish that refuse to let go. painfully young and tight. Very dry and clean with immense purity. A entry Cuvee that can fight a lots of flagship of others producer, this is Selosse. Buy - Yes.
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New Year Eve's Eve Dinner (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck): Disgorged in December 2009 and decanted for 1-2 hours. Unmistakably a Champagne and a turbo-charged one for that matter. Yeasty and very powerful on the palate. Young as expected and I would love to drink this very aged. Not exactly my "glass of wine" but there's no doubt about its greatness.
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Welcoming Salil to Singapore (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck, Paragon): Solid stuff as always. Dec 2009 disgorgement, so it was quickly poured into the decanter, sacrificing bubbles for taste. Turned out to be the right decision too - the small pour that Dave took fresh out from the bottle was super tight. 2.5 hours later, and served in proper white wine glasses it showed a deep, deep nose of yeast, bread, rich red apples, earth, white meat and a touch of toast - could almost be a top-class white Burg. The palate showed beautiful balance and defintion, with clean, clear cherry tones and sweet red apples all singing wonderful from the attack. This was at once substantial, deep and lingering, with a deep minerality that gave the champagne such a wonderful depth and intensity. Amazing stuff - amongst the best bottles I have had so far. A good pairing with the truffle noodles, it was unsual, but refreshing to end the meal with a Champagne instead of starting with one.
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Disgorged December 2009; decanted over an hour, and really impressive stuff - a seamless combination of rich apple, pear and red fruited flavours accented by freshly-baked brioche, yeast and some marmalade and oxidative elements, and a chalky minerally core beneath. Very rich, but really nicely balanced with bright acids and refreshing effervescence, finishing with tremendous length. Fantastic Champagne.
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Medium yellow. More subdued on the nose than previous bottles with chalk and caramel. Bright in the mouth with fresh orange, excellent acidity, moderate dosage and wonderfully creamy feel. A tad more oxidative quality than I've noticed before, which may relate to this being a 2008 disgorgement. Wonderful Champagne, always a great treat.
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The Other Great French Blancs: Champagne and Sauternes (Wink Restaurant, Austin, Texas): I would have thought this the front-runner in a group of top Blanc de Blancs, but this was either a bit-off bottle or a “controversial style” bubbly. Some tasters thought it over-ripe and possibly oxidized, others that it was expansive, interesting, even “cool.” It had a straw nose, what one taster described as “unfiltered sake,” along with some cantaloupe, was big and rich, of fruit and botrytis flavors, including cantaloupe and honeydew, lychee, banana, almonds, hazelnut, and, even, brandy. One unimpressed taster found it tasted like grappa at the finish. Those that liked this style loved it, and those that didn’t, well, they let it finish last in this flight. Although this is labeled a brut, it is a brut blanc de blancs as the Initiale is all chardonnay.
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Really good as always. 09 disgorg date. Had the 5 high end sparkling wines from Mumm Napa the next day and thye tasted like water compared this this beauty.
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I had a cold... But a few comments. The colour was dense. And the nose full body. Could tell by the face of my friends that the flavours were diverse and intense. Drank in a wine glass and could detect some oxidation. Will need to try again when I don't have a cold...
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Rich and nutty on the nose with notes of fresh orchard fruits mixing it up with almonds and hazelnuts. Dense in the mouth and behaving a little like a Cote de Beaune white (even mirroring a slight oxidative character). There’s a fine bead and long length of flavour.
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Some bottle varation in these, have found some of them a bit flat with a very fine mousse. This one was singing though, rich and full blend, no sharp edges, nice fruit.
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26 Mars 2009 - Selosse rules the world of $100+ blanc de blancs. I love this wine; I love his style. This could have stood further time on the cork, but was totally vibrant and delicious. More Selosse champagne, mom. Pleeeeeease...
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Tok Hong's 40th (Infuzi, Biopolis): Another first class bottle. Still young, this was disgorged on 6 July 2008, so it really took a bit of time in a white wine glass to open up. Lovely nose showed a whole range of smells that just developed with time, from white flowers, to damp cotton wool, ripe red apples, a little oxidative style at the edges, a bit of white meat, some nuttiness. Very serious, and quite lovely. Palate was really fresh, watering the sides of the mouth with lots of ripe lemon flavours, some preserved limes and slightly oxidative specks again, just hinting of apple cider and muscat juice. Lots of power, plenty of depth, just lacked a little in terms of breadth of flavours across the mid-palate without the benefit of food I thought. I am nitpicking though. This was a really solid Champagne. Amazingly persisitent finish as well, bone dry, and just going on and on and on in the mouth, swirling in gentle circles of lemon zest and zingy acid with little inflections of ferrous mineral. I thought it was darn good when had on its owned, but when the food came, this was just an absolutely incredible pairing with a seared blue-fin tuna dish. Quite, quite perfect really, with the acidity on the wine cutting through the fat of the tuna, and the flavours on both ends just resounding in the mouth. A real treat.
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Disgorged on Nov 8, 2007. Decanted 30mn. Stunning nose. More oxidative than the previous bottle. Walnut, mineral and lemon with a light oak touch. As usual very vinous, powerful but elegant thanks to the acidity and its mineral spine. Very long finish. A champagne meant for food.
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Disgorged October 2009. Bought from a store with temp of 70 degrees which might be a reason why this bottle was more evolved than I would have anticipated. Color was pure liquid gold. I poured it in both a champagne flute (for the wifey) and in a chard glass (for myself). The bubbles in both glasses were aggressive. We drank this wine over a period of 3 hours. Early on the citric fruit was dominant but in balance with yellow/green fruits. As time passed this champagne become more vinous with butterscotch, yellow/green fruits which were in balance with the minerality of this wine. It went extremely well with the chicken and basmati rice we had for dinner. Actually, my wife who probably has a better palate than I thought this wine went better with food than any champagne she had tried to date. Me on the hand am sold on this producer!!
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Lemon/straw yellow color with fine, abundant bead. Aromas of lime, lemon, vanilla bean, and a hint of custard. On the palate, the oak shows with vanilla bean and hints of nutmeg. The lemon-lime fruit is joined by yellow and green apple with a stony quality below and some of the sweeter graham-like notes I associate with Oger. Yellow flowers also complement the palate. the finish is medium-long. At this point, the wine is not fully integrated and shows a clash between the chardonnay fruit and the oak influence. The fruit material here is impressive and this should improve in the bottle. Disgorged 10 March 2009. Hold.
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spectacular. layered over the baked apples come a boquet of fragrant flowers that are breathtaking. lots of life in the bubbles and wonderful in the mouth and on the finish. gimme more.
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Served slightly too warm. But toasted, yeasty and bold on the nose. Delicious, needs a steak. Brooding yet light. A "ninja". Ok, that is just silly. I'd drink more.
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A bit too yeasty at first which blew off quickly, nice light gold colour, very nice nutty and fruity flavours, although the mousse could have a been better.
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Light gold color. Very lively mousse with fine bubbles. Aromas of pears, hazelnut, baked bread and apples. Rich, highly extracted fruit in the mouth with great structure, depth and length. Actually a little tight at first but opened up after decanting and about 30 minutes of air. Complex and pure, this is a truly unique Champagne that both challenges the senses and is delicious to drink. Still very young.
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Well, we found it on a list for a great price so what choice did we have but to drink it again?!? February, 2009 disgorgement. Again, so full of life, lightness, and flavor. This was only slightly different from the previous bottle in showing a little less citrus and being more creamy. Superb.
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Great showing. Laser like profile, powderish lime, iodine, anis, yet full body. Wow, one can't get over this huge profile. Fantastic, tiny yet powerful bubbles and delicious pairing with russian caviar.
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Faintly oxidative aromatics of fresh bread, butterscotch, baked apple and toasted nuts but in the mouth it's incredibly fresh, streamlined and elegant with bright effervescence, rich white fruited and baked apple flavours over minerals and yeasty elements with really good acidity keeping it very precise. Lovely.
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Even with this young disgorgement this is quite the beautiful NV Selosse. This had rather frisky bubbles and we lost precious nectar as it overflowed. A wine worth every $$$. March 2009 disgorge date.
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Med Initale gäller, lagra ett par år och den här flaskan är inget undantag. Färgen har börjat bli lite mörkare, blommor , friska äpplen och citrus i doften men också lite nötter och honung. Lite vek mousse men inget som stör. Lång eftersmak. Kan lagras ytterligare men om jag hade några i källaren vet jag inte om jag skulle ha tålamod
Deg 0ktober 2006
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The color insists that the wine will be a warm and generous flavor. The scent gives away the concentration of the chardonay. From beginning to finish on the pallet the wine is round but remains light on it's feet. It fills your mouth with a very elegant, warm and intense flavor of the chardonay lifted by the yeast. The wine is not only an expression of the excellence of the fruit but the extraordinary capability of the producer.
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Disgorged May 2006. Gorgeous marzipan and honey aromas and flavors with good acidity. Very good in an oxidative style. This bottle killed with raw oysters.
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Lyfter verkligen med ett par år på nacken. Blomdoften känns direk, vinteräpplen, något citrus, finns även en del nötter och choklad, Mognadstoner i smaken, krämig textur vilken ger lite associationer till grädde. Växer under kvällen. Bra syra. Kan ligga ett gäng år till och gotta till sig.
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i didn't check the disgorgement, but i'll presume the same as my last note, since the same person brought it to this tasting, too. however...this bottle was not in the same class as the previously tasted...by far. this seemed somewhat muted, oxidized (i know!), with almost no bubbles/mousse. i'll call it listless. bummer!
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Very mineral and winey, tastes like 2000 Chablis. Lean but good fruit, slightly oxidated/mature in its style. Definitely best with food, preferably oysters or shellfish. Excellent stuff but best with a top meal.
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Wow, it really took a long time for this beauty to open up despite it's age. This wine has spent more than 7 years in the bottle after degorgement (29 Octobre 2002). Definitely a nice way to open up the celebrations for the New Year.... N.B. Bottle label says Brut but the outer package suggests Initiale. Mons. Selosse must have had a larger inventory of "old" bottle labels than cardboard boxes back in 2003.
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Really though with high acidity that will take long to ease up. At the same time a lot of oak that helps balance the acidity. Very good from the start, but will surely gain from cellaring.
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Disgorged March, 2009. Perfume fills the room. Red berry, citrus, yeast. Dynamic and vibrant yet with some creaminess as well. Dosage seemed lower than a bottle we had that was disgorged a few years ago. Fabulous, exciting wine to smell and taste. Others might prefer a little more age on this, but it is so good now, why wait?
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This is not a champagne is a poetry,fabulous probably one of the best champagne nobn vintage I have ever tried. Open leave it breath for few minutes1/2 an hour,smell is extraordinary the taste is a mix of fantastic flavour long lasting Do not miss it.
Lorenzo
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February '08 disgorgement. Yeast and lilies on nose. Great mouthfeel and acidity. Butter, strawberry, coconut and tangerine on palate with long mineral finish. Preferred to both the Rose and Substance which I found to be too oxidative.
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Disgorged May 2006. Selosse definitely has bottle variation between the disgorge dates. This one had a reasonable amount of acidity and lots of bubbles that the previous bottle lacked.
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Wow! Terrific. Really deep oak influenced notes, great depth of fruit, nutty minerality. Just flat out great champagne and for my palate up there with Krug as best NV around.
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Disgorged February 17, 2009. Normally I'd recommend this wine be layed down for at least a few years in the cellar but Brad Baker relayed this recent disgorgement is drinking really well early on so I decided to open a bottle.
Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with light, steady and fine beading. Absolutely stunning nose of cinnamon, potpourri, mixed fruits and a bit of earthiness. Full flavors of yellow pears, yellow apples and a dash of sherry on the medium to long finish. Bright acidity, full bodied. Drink now then lay down for the medium term.
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Tasting Group Dinner - Miscellaneous (Heidi's, Minneapolis): Disgorged 3/09. Delicious lemon/citrus, apple, and toasty flavors. Lightly oxidative. Lively and energetic on the palate, with intense flavors that build to a toasty, crisp finish. Really tasty.
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Another Wednesday at Heidi's: Interesting nose of citrus fruit (orange) and mineral with some oxidative notes. In the mouth this shows as light-bodied but with good flavor. A decent start to the meal.
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3/09 disgorgement. This is a beautiful wine. Nice mousse. Floral nose. Great balance. Rich, creamy, great mouthfeel. Long finish...I need to get more of this wine
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Lunch at Goto. 2008 disgorgement. This lacked a bit of the weight of the last bottle I tried, which had the benefit of a year or so more bottle-age after disgorgement. Still, a very serious and seriously good Champagne, went pretty well with most of the Japanese Kaiseki menu as well. Golden yellow colour. Tiny bubbles, but very, steady, gently persistent bead. Just gorgeous on the nose. Very expressive, with pinpricks of incense, flowers and spice dotted a whole ton of steely, slatey mineral and dry earth. With time, bready, yeasty notes, along with red apples, a touch of sour cherries and ripe lemons came out. A bit clenched on the palate at first, but it really fanned out like the nose with some time to show ripe lemons, red apples slightly browning, and whole layers of minerally flavour undergirding the whole palate. Nice feel in the mouth too - creamy, moussy and beautifully textured, with superb fresh balance guiding the wine into a long, sliding fnish that just glided across the palate into a longish tail of mineral and yeast. 92-93 at the moment. Needs some time.
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Medium gold color; This bottle was not as good as previous bottles- it seemed low acid and rather sweet on the finish. May 2006 disgorgement. Interesting bottle variation with this one - all were from the same disgorgement.
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Mar 09 disgorgement. A blast of sour pears & plums with a hint of oxidation and a finish of a GC Chablis with bubbles -lots of structure and complexity, great tension. Chewy and fairly acidic unique and intriguing, not cheap but very tasty.
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Wow! This is my first Selosse and hopefully not my last. Just incedibly elegant and balanced with the most delicate bead I can remember. Mayabe DP had that and I just was not paying attention. Apples/Pears and some bread/brioche but all in balance and neither too sweet/nor too acidic and no fade to the flavors, just chiselled in place perfectly until the end of the bottle. I just wish it were cheaper.
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Color: Golden yellow(varm). Nose: First bit of dark bread(only first serving) after a little tic. in the glass fresh green apples and pears. Mousse: Tiny elegant bobbles(stayed liked that thru the whole bottle). Taste: Complex, fresh green apples and pears - long after taste yummi !
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Goodbye tasting for Michael (Michaels appartment): Disgorged 10/2008. Light yellow color. Intense aromas of apple juice, yellow plums, caramel, roasted oak, wheat bread and a bit of sherry flor-yeast. On the palate it is very primary at first, with loads of fat yellow plums and lemon soda. Buttery and caramel notes on the midpalate before the almond bitterness on the finish. Very nice mousse and lively, refreshing acidity. Overall great experience.
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Intense and yeasty nose with hint of flor (sherry), green apple and marzipan. The bubbles are fine and elegant and although it is a little bit restrictive it does show yeast and green apple with a burning acidity. A decent length with some almonds and plums in the end but also a little bit iron coming forward. Was a little confunded by this but I really enjoyed it. Would definately have been better given more time in the glas.
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Grower's Champagne, Grand Cru Burg and Grosses Gewach Riesling (Artisan Cellars, Palais Renaisance / Jade Palace, Forum Galleria): Just gorgeous. Beautiful nose, extremely unique, with subtle hints of white musk, violets and lavender and a touch of fragrant soap suds - almost like walking through a Body Shop outlet, but all very restrained and controlled. Underneath the perfumed scents, there was tons of depth, with sour plum, some squid ink (I did say unique!), some meaty, chicken-like flavours, minerally limestone, earth and oyster shell. A touch Chablis-like in this aspect. Lots of hidden depth on the palate too. A bit tight when it started, but certainly round and full, with lots of power already evident. With time, flavours of apple, more musk and flowers - rose I thought - came through, and more umami chicken meat tones. I found this to be a very complete wine, with a lovely balance between freshness and weight, and between fruity and savoury characters, and a seamless feel from the nose to the palate and into the beautiful finish that had an almost salty savouriness paired with dry, minerally tones. Very addictive - I could easily down a bottle of this by myself over a nice meal.
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My rating is lower than what i would have given it the first time (94). Disapointment due to partly my own mistake (served to chilled), we still had some Pierre Peter N.V. in the other glass, so we gave it time and waited. Color: Golden, Mousse tight and fine. Nose: first oaky ( and i had been looking so much forward to the explosion of fresh apples and pears, that i got first time i tasted this baby), it was not and explosion, but nearly on the second glass and rest of bottle. Taste: complex and MANY inputs, more fullbody than others champagne i tasted, dont think there is much food it would not go with... I am sorry for the low rating(and this way to long note...), when this is at its best i only think (so far from what i have tryed) this N.V. is overcomed by Krug Grand Cuvée! But this time disapointed. (Disgored jan.18, 2008) and for the record bourght this 10 days after the first i tasted - in same wine store, so i reckon same disgored, but lost note on that consumption).
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Disgorged October 24, 2006. Light yellow. What a kaleidoscopic nose! Wild and unrestrained with fresh cut apple, orange, vanilla custard and spice. Very lively in the mouth with similar flavors and a touch of caramel. It does have moderate sweetness, which surprised me but worked well in terms of overall balance. The first Selosse I have tried and one of the most vibrant, memorable Champagnes I have ever had. This wine is absolutely alive; there is no better way to describe it.
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Pale gold with super fine mousse. Minerals, flowers, some orange/marmalade and a faint touch of bread on the nose. Apple, general citrus - with grapefruit finish, minerals, with a slight touch of caramel on the palate. YUM! This was a very very nice bottle of champagne -- light yet powerful and intense. This disappeared in a flash.
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Grower Champagnes at Todd's (Chateauneuf de Todd): Brightly fruited nose yet light in aroma. Concentrated fruit but an elegant feel. Notes of citrus and slight oxidation. A terrific wine that I would love to savor over a couple hours.
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EWG does Northern Rhones (Conrad's Abode): Definitely towards the leaner mineral styled Champagnes this displayed typical BdB characteristics especially after some air. Complex nose showing some buttered bread and an oxidative note later on. Clean elegant palate with lots of acidity and some minerals that really picked up some complexity with air. Now I see what all the talk is about.
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disgorged 10-24-06. easy to understand the fuss, my first taste of any example. precise, smart, clean, fresh, long finish, tight mousse, expertly balanced. i'm in love.
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G6 (Rick): Golden yellow hue. Fresh floral nose of tropical fruit with aromas of freshly baked bread. Tastes of honeydew melon, apple and caramel. Nice minerality. Perfect balance. A very delicate wine with an expansive finish that is extremely complex and elegant. What a beautiful wine. My personal WOTN and a candidate for the best Champagne I've tasted this year. Disgorged 24 Oct 2006.
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Top of the cuvee tasting and beat the crap out of all the others. Only one i really remembered - not because the other champagnes was bad - it's just that this one was so much better! It could even win ind a vintage-tasting...
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Bubblies High Tea with Alexandre Penet (Imperial Treasure Nanbei): Sugar cane and green apples.... wait.. make that a big jumbo glass of sugar cane with lemon that has been left maturing in the open air for quite a bit and just before drinking, a can of carlsberg is poured into the mix. Unique style.
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Worldwide Grenache (Boka - Chicago): Complex aromatics. Pears, biscuits and dough with a savory character. Lifted palate with a long finish. Delicious and remarkable for its decidedly savory, yet fresh character.
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Wow. This is an awesome champagne and different from the majority of the other champagne. Disgorged in July 2007. Decanted for 30mn. Powerful nose, very complex and mineral, some wood (sometimes reminded me of a good cognac). Full body, high acidity, fine bubbles, as complex on the palate as on the nose. A lot is going on there: white chocolate, citrus, apple notes, nuttiness, yeasty and a loooong finish....I could drink this every day of my life!
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All the things you hear about Anselm Selosse's wine are true. Great purity and balance. Beautiful minerality. Hints of oak, especially on the nose. A remarkable ethereal quality in the mouthfeel on the finish. Complex wine, but with bubbles and nuance. This strikes me as the kind of wine that benefits from a longer relationship. The time you spend with her, the more interesting she becomes. But she isn't at all a cheap date.
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Yale Wine Society: Riesling-a-palooza; 12/9/2008-12/10/2008 (New Haven, CT): Very classy and well integrated Champagne. As others have written, this does have a bit of an oxidative note, and it adds complexity while not detracting from the overall profile. This is quite drinkable, yet it has a lot going on that will be missed if one does not pay attention.
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Disgorged October 5, 2006. Colour is brass or perhaps sand gold metallic courtesy of Volvo Cars. A sniff, and ho ho ho, it smells like christmas! Lovely bread yeast aromas, red winter apples, orange and mandarine peels, hyacinths, walnuts, nougat and an expertly judged amount of sherry-like oxidation. The mousse is very lively when pouring, but in the mouth it's very soft and pleasant - integrated into the rich fruit with is completely dry, very apetizing. Yet this cuvée is Brut, not Extra. Delicious oxidative aromas like jura or burgundy, or iron-rich unpasteurized apple juice starting to ferment, or perhaps cider vinegar. At the same time we get intense citrus like blood oranges, notable on the back of the palate, together with loads of minerals. This is just soo good - pure health and happiness potion! Note to self: stay away from the ones that were disgorged in October 2007.
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What a wonderful wine. It had such remarkably clean lines; I kept waiting for some sharp edge of something (sweetness, astringency), but nothing was out of place. Still pretty young, it nevertheless showed great balance and had a nice cut to it. The fruit was quite pure and the flavors nicely delineated with a touch of yeastiness on the nose that I enjoyed. It lacked some of the nuanced breadth of vintage Champagne, but this was certainly one of the best NV's that I've tried.
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A nose unlike any other in Champagne. Very energetic/vibrant, like a genie escaping from a bottle - you know you're in for a treat. For a 2006 disgorgement, it seemed very mature with a few oxidative notes that added complexity, including the requisite graham cracker/brown sugar profile. But this was so much more than that. The aromas and fruit just take hold of you.
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Light yellow. Massive mousse. Nice nose of roasted wheat, fresh pear and apple juice, vanilla, and some slightly oxidized notes. Tastewise intense and seducing, fresh and pure yet unmistakeable Selosse. Very nice.
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Bacchus blindtasting (Finn's appartment): Disgorged 10/2007. Light golden yellow color. Delicious nose of grape, green and red apples, freshly baked ryebread and a fragile vanila frame. More green apples and grape in the mouth, very tight and for the moment leaving only little room for the fragile notes of yeast and ryebread. A sweet note of vanila softens the finish just a little bit. The bubbles hangs long on the palate, and together with the vanila note on the finish leaves a creamy note of caramel just at the end. Very lively acidity and good lenght. Cellar it for a while, it is too tight at the moment.
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This bottle was discourged in october 2006 so it had a bit of maturity but still with a young fresh acidity. I just love this champagne so full of yellow apples, lemon and with a touch of oak.
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Drunk at home while the Steak and ale pie was cooking. pale lemon color with tight little bubbles. bone dry with very lively bubbles in the mouth. very piercing long finish. i enjoy the selosse champers as they seem to me to be very pure expressions of champagne
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Disgorged 10/2006. A powerful nose with honey notes leading into a palate of marzipan and golden apple flavors. This had a very creamy mouthfeel. Slight mousse with small bubbles that dissipated fairly quickly. Very different and rather good. An intellectual champagne if there is such a thing. It continued to change in the glass - the best drink was the last one at a slightly warmer temperature.
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Champagne-brunch and extras (Terkels appartment): Disgorged 10/2006. Light golden color with a youthfull hue. Amazingly complex and concentrated nose with green apples, roasted oak, and subtle notes of something between herbs and licorise. Long taste in the mouth, with great fine bubbles that roll slowly over the palate and intense, fat fruit. The finish is a fat, roasted sweetness and smoke that lingers forever. This is a wine with a great complexity and personality, I'm stunned.
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PC Bottle Disgorged October 2006. Vibrant complex nose. This is a serious weighty wine. Lots of earthy, blood orange, hay and pineapple fruits in the nose. Broad mouth filling and expansive on the palate. No sweetness, but sweeter than the ultra low dosage would suggest. Oak notes notable with toastiness and oxidative style, big wine. Neat stuff.
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this one had been disgorged in Apr 2005 and 2 years seems to be a soft spot for this champagne. It was hitting on all cylinders and it's simply one of the very best non-vintage champagnes out there. It's impossible not to be captivated by the nose, and the mouthfeel is just superb, an incredible combination of fat, power but also very delicate bubbles.
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Its hard to find information about Anselme Selosse. His wines are fermented and aged in Barriques and are considered amoung the finest in Champagne. His Champagnes are all Blanc de Blancs. Malo?? Not sure. He recommends decanting. This Champagne was disgorged on Oct 24, 2006. The appearance was a light yellow with very tiny bubbles. Over time, the bubbles appeared to all but disappear in the glass leaving this wine looking like a white burgundy. On the nose it was fresh, slight hints of oak were evident, hints of alcohol and some yeast. On the palate, the bubbles were fine and delicate but persistent and fresh. Tastes like its a low dosage Champagne, with hints of yellow apple and yeast. The finish is yeasty, "sticky/starchy" with a long fresh finish. Good acidity and great length. Reminded me quite a bit of Louis Roederer's Champagnes with slight hints of oak. I think this Champagne needs a few years in the cellars to achieve its full potential.
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Disgorged October 5, 2006. Original, exciting, special - a nose like no other in champagne, but very Selosse. Yeasty, leesy, nutty oak cask profile with slightly oxidized fruit. This reminds us of Jura, Fino and Burgundy. Still young, so be patient for a couple of years.
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Burg OL in Antwerp (t'Fornuis, Antwerp): Typical showing for this wine: oxidised style (green apple), yeast, fresh nose, a bit of spices, good presence in the mouth and adequate finish. Certainly one of the best "basic" NV champagnes.
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4/24/2024 - flat wrote: 93 Points
dég.2022
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4/13/2024 - Zunga Likes this wine: 90 Points
Certainly not as good as my last bottle. Similar characteristics like dark color, but not nearly as good as I remembered in our last bottle, but that’s wine…
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4/8/2024 - TWSA Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose: white flower, honey, steel
Notes: 2.5g dosage, disgorged June 2023. Wonderfully oxidative like all other Jacques Selosse. This is like the mini version of the VO I had a couple of days ago - similar nose/feel/structure but probably less intense and precise. This is not quite ready today and needs a couple more years to gain its complexity and smoothness .
Drink: 2028+
Rating: 90
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4/5/2024 - JRockEsq Likes this wine: 95 Points
Method: tasted at the domaine (in the cellar) with Anselme; vintages '17, '16, and '15; disg. Oct. 2023
Nose: nuts, cherry, sherry
Palate: ripe lemon confit, salt, light cream, spice, mineral; long finish with light nut and minerality; full- and very vinous body; medium+ strength pinpoint mousse; medium+ acidity
Overall thoughts: Wow! So rich, interesting, and complex! The mouthfeel is incredible. Excellent wine.
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3/31/2024 - Mag357 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Disg 07, 02 base
Much more balance than the disg 08 here, brioch scents, chalky, rich and powerful, ending in a moderately long and fresh finish.
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3/31/2024 - Mag357 wrote:
disg 08, 01 base.
Brioche and lemony scents, followed by a tad too sweet mouthfeel (for my taste), good but notoutstanding depth of flavors, lacking a bit of energy in the end.
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3/31/2024 - Mag357 Likes this wine:
disg 10, base 2003
Airy scents of citrus, flowers and herbs introduce a complex champagne, with good depth of flavors and excellent textures, ending chalky and long in a very refined manner.
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3/31/2024 - Mag357 Likes this wine:
disg 2016, 10 base
Much more complex than the disg 17, rich and long. To cellar.
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3/31/2024 - Mag357 wrote:
Disg 17, base 11
Leesy and airy nose, with citrus and mineral flavors, very fine bubbles, and beautifully balanced. Not as complex as the other cuvee.
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3/24/2024 - Yuchen wrote: 97 Points
第一次喝Selosse，也太好喝了吧
略显金黄色，但不是很透亮的液体，散发着迷人的烘培过，松脆的苹果干的香气
还有很强烈的饼干和面包的香气
气泡很细但完全不浓密，朋友告知Selosse就是这样的风格，桶中二次发酵时间很长，难免就会没那么多气泡
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3/16/2024 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 95 Points
Jan 2017 disgorgement. Lovely nose with deep, rich flavors, very lightly oxidative notes, lemon, and a hint of smoke. Great acidity with more lemon on the palate, followed by minerals, toast, and bright fruit. Nice finish. This was excellent, probably one of the best Initials I've had. Complex, rich, well balanced, just a pleasure to drink!
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3/8/2024 - Michael Hung Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very much similar to what I have heard about this wine, plenty of oxidized notese and bruised apple. Best apple cider you’ll have on PnP! While the nose shows more oxidative notes, wine is still holding crisp acid on the palate. Not bad, maybe slightly underwhelmed? Or maybe appropriately whelmed. Chris was not a fan initially!
With a hour (tasting later after both this and the P2 get some air), this has transformed from being apple cidery into more tertiary, getting better and more complex with time. A very intriguing wine. 92-93+
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3/1/2024 - vvWine.ch wrote: 94 Points
(B2B aus Avize, Crament, Oger, degorigert 2021, 2g Dosage) Dunkles Gelb, wenig Perlage. Oxidative Nase, Apfelschale, Hefe, Quitte, Kräuter, Minze, nussige Noten. Im Gaumen opulent, gereift, milde Perlage, sehr weinig, druckvoll, vielleicht etwas behäbig, jedoch mit sehr langem, mineralischen Finale, endet auf salzige Mandeln. Hohe Qualität, jedoch ein Esswein, definitiv nicht zum Apéro geeignet.
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2/23/2024 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
Very recent disgorgement with NFC chip. Not quite like Selosse, fresh green apple, not quite oxidative. Very good volume. 92-93
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2/15/2024 - Zunga wrote: 100 Points
I just love Selosse. This was a 2014 disgorgement and therefore was dark in color. That being said, it didn’t miss a beat and was a wonderful example of this “entry level” Selosse if you can even say that! I’d love to buy more, but they now cost 3 to 4 times what they did 8 years ago.
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2/11/2024 - oxwombat Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened at Lung King Heen in Hong Kong. P&P and enjoyed immediately. Unsure of disgorgement date.
No extensive notes taken, but classic Initial, which means a wonderfully delightful and quaffable champagne. Consistent with the house style and a beautiful bottle to kick off the evening. Always a pleasure to drink and I know I will keep revisiting.
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2/3/2024 - Peter Spijker Likes this wine: 93 Points
A year ago I wrote that I preferred a fresher style of Champagne, but I'm not sure I guess I like everything now. This bottle, degorged in 2022, showed quite oxidative, with some ripe apple, nuts, very intense, mousse that dissipated quite quickly. Great stuff.
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2/1/2024 - ThijsV Likes this wine: 94 Points
BYOB dinner and then some; 2/1/2024-2/2/2024 (Avalon, Amsterdam): [Tasted blind] Just as great as my previous experience with this cuvee. Deep golden in color, with medium+ intensity with honey, nutty, brioche, dried yellow apple, oxidative, flint, fire stone. Medium+ acidity, long finish. 94-95+
Degorgement: 16/3/‘22. Dosage 2,5 g/l
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1/28/2024 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged August, 2016. Lively mousse. Dull yellow. Complex aromas of nuts, yeast, and citrus. Dry. Little of the Selosse oxidation but assertive bitter citrus, a pinch of herbs, and cleansing acidity. Dynamic, creamy, and changing through the last sip. Great bottle.
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1/26/2024 - RobertSchuyt Likes this wine: 97 Points
What an absolutely wonderful champagne. Disgorged in 2019. Dark in color and as so often the case initially oxidative which softened after decanting and a 45-50min wait. Then it unfolds in all its complexity; notes of hazelnut, beurre noisette, porchini, ripe lemon, chalk and on and on. Incredibly length - magic wine and thats why we like champagne so much!
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1/13/2024 - sirpat00 wrote: 95 Points
A vinous nose of dried apricot, oxidative flavors of nuts and almonds, fresh brioche and white chocolate. This is all embedded into a crisp and salty mineral base. Expansive with aeration, adding more complexity and aromas such as yeast, sunflowers and gingerbread. the On the palate Sherry-like element and more nutty aromas. A vinous density, smooth and great perlage. Didn’t catch the disgorgement date, but was a recent release. A stunner from Sélosse.
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1/13/2024 - Warinee Likes this wine: 96 Points
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1/8/2024 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Disgorged 2022/01/07. Fresh bread, white peach, candied lemon and smoky minerals on the nose. Full and rich in the mouth, with plenty of grapey vinosity and light spice. Excellent volume and presence and some citrus and chalk cut to the long finish.
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1/5/2024 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Champagne and claret (John's place, Croton): Didn't catch the disgorgement info on this, but it was delicious. Brightly fruited with a vivid mineral base beneath, and really lively acids underneath giving it a vibrant and energetic palate presence. Delicious and very easy to drink.
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12/31/2023 - RolfT wrote: 89 Points
Deg13. Totally shut down and hard to even sense that this is Selosse. Was considering if it was a fake bottle, but the provenance is sound and with some air the typical selosse notes do start to appear. But overall a weak showing tonight.
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12/30/2023 - nmmnori wrote: 89 Points
LD Farewell Gathering (Upper West Side): Team elected to decant as the bottle was shy / lean. Much darker in the decanter than one might expect for '21 disgorgement. Did no sing a particularly compelling song throughout the evening - a reminder that this particular cuvee often seems to benefit from material age.
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12/25/2023 - jamesabdavis wrote:
Disgorged November 2020.
Rich and broad nose, gorgeous lemon and apple.
Huge palate presence, rich tarte tatin with fresh lemon rind
Gorgeous creamy finish, great drive and energy, warmth. wonderful.
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12/18/2023 - thewiz Likes this wine: 94 Points
(Disgorged in October 25th 2022, base year 2016 with reserves from 2015 and 2014, 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Oger, dosage 2.5 gr/l)
Lovely oxidative note showing ripe apples, minerals and some hints of ginger, and opens up with baked bread and hazelnut in a delightful way. Intense palate showing dried green apples with a lovely lime peel bitterness on the lengthy finish.
(Best with 3-9 years extra cellaring)
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12/18/2023 - aagrawal wrote: 94 Points
Wine Dinner: Mugneret Gibourg Vertical (Zazie's, San Francisco): Disgorged Dec 2013. High intensity aromatics, oxidative as expected with some apple, a bit of white flowers, complex aromatics, biscuity but not that yeasty; richly textured but wonderful freshness and balance, nice length, a bit fresher than the nose but showing its somewhat aged character; long finish. Very nice champagne and good representation of aged Selosse. 93-94
Every time I come back to this, it seems to grow in complexity and length. Lovely champagne, still growing. 94+
Returning to this at the end: a bit of brioche, wonderful complexity and length.
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12/11/2023 - stanqwash Likes this wine: 94 Points
My first Initial. Truly shocked at how unique this was. Had to check twice to make sure it was a BdB. Such a deep, red wine character to the nose and palate. Eventually landed on the primary tasting note, which is unquestionably whisky barrel. It’s so prevalent that I’d almost be shocked if there wasn’t an ex-whiskey barrel involved (I know there wasn’t but still.) Other than that it was very balanced and tight — some soft acidity, light toast notes, some strawberry on the nose. Creamy mousse. Really a lovely bottle.
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12/2/2023 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 93 Points
[Blind] Nose immediately reads Krug or Selosse with that obvious oxidative and open style. Warm and inviting. Crisp, tight, high tension. Green apple fruit. Awesome. Treat to try one of these again. First note on one of these since 2016.
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11/17/2023 - thewiz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Middag med A+N och P+H i Sundbyberg (A+N, Sundbyberg): (Disgorged in December 2016, base year 2010 with reserves from 2009 and 2008, 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Oger)
Pleasant maturing showing candied orange zest, brioche, butter and cream in a pleasant way. Opens up with some notes of juniper as well, in a very pleasant way. Citrus acidity on the palate with a nice and smooth mid before a distinct lime zest bitterness takes over on the finish.
(Very youthful still with 7 extra years in the cellar)
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11/16/2023 - oxwombat Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened at Octavium in HK. P&P and enjoyed before dinner. Unsure of disgorgement date.
This was very consistent with the bottle I had earlier this week. Fresh, fruity and very enjoyable. More bubbles than some previous bottles, and not very oxidative though still consistent with the Selosse house style. Good acidity but not razor-sharp. I thought I could sense very slight hints of peach, which added a nice little touch to the nose. Always a treat :)
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11/13/2023 - oxwombat Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened at Izakaya Vin in Tokyo. P&P. '21 Disgorgement.
This was fantastic - not many bubbles and quite oxidative in style a la Selosse, but with a bit of air this opened up to be beautifully floral and fresh. Very enjoyable going down with a richness that was also elegantly light. Good acidity but not going for the razor-sharp linear route. Really fun and looking forward to trying again.
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11/1/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow! Deep gold color, fine bubbles, slightly reductive and oxidized but in a good way. A treat to taste.
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10/29/2023 - jviz wrote: 95 Points
2019 disgorgement. This wine is just amazing, and although it is more focused and less broad than the substance, I think it is its equal in terms of quality.
Complex nose with fresh ginger, cinnamon spice and sliced raw almond. Meyer lemon peel follows. Completely fresh and bright on the palate with great length and intensity. This is world class and I wish I could load up on it at the old prices.
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10/26/2023 - burg++23 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Disgorged in 2014, in the perfect drinking window for me, oxidative but really balanced, very persistent finish, imo better than some young Substance
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10/21/2023 - Kim Gerner wrote: 91 Points
40th anniversary tasting (L'Esprit du Vin - Axelborg): My notes from this fantastic gigantic tasting are in general extremely short (because of the many wines) but with ratings. We spent a whole day tasting and tasting quality wines.
This wine: Disgorged 2021. Very oxidative style as (almost) always with Selosse, nutty. 91+
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10/19/2023 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 96 Points
blind, disg. 2012
It is Selosse but with less pine nuts and oxidation as usually. Still fresh. Some thought it could be a younger Ulysse Collin. I love 5-10 years old Initial after disgorgement. 96
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10/3/2023 - Robert Pavlovich Likes this wine:
When I first had this last year I couldn’t stop thinking about how good it was. The freshness, vibrancy and complexity in a muscular but still elegant build. While it showed a touch more oxidative with more of a brioche note that I don’t enjoy as much, it still showed brilliantly. Wouldn’t wait on these for long. 2019 DG
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9/30/2023 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 96 Points
July 2021 disgorgement. My first Selosse and did not dissapoint. Exceptionally concentrated sweet lemon confit, toffee, brioche, muscat grape, espelette pepper. I’m not a big fan of highly oxidative champagnes but this was within my limits and drank like an aged Batard Montrachet with bubbles. Exceptional. Too bad about the price. 96/100
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9/23/2023 - palfr2 Likes this wine:
Disgorged 2021. Golden colour. The balance and intensity are top drawer. Supremely sapid and saline on the finish. There is a handful ot growers providing the complete package of palate presence, flavour intensity, salinity. Selosse is one of them but that experience is available for less coin with the others. It is my 3rd experience of this cuvee and with the strong Selosse imprint (read masterfully managed oxidative notes) this strays a lot from a prototypical Blanc de Blancs
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9/22/2023 - Philip_Bundpropperne Likes this wine: 96 Points
Rating: 4,6/5,0.
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9/14/2023 - Magnus Poulsen Likes this wine: 100 Points
Disgorged 2022
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9/12/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
France Trip: Paris, Champagne, Burgundy; 9/3/2023-9/17/2023 (Paris, Champagne, Burgundy): Light medium gold color. Split bottle between the four of us at Maufoux in Beaune. Disgorged 11-8-22, BdB, 2.5g/l. 2016 base with 2014/2015. Oxidative style, liqueur and lacquer-like, orange peel, baked fruits, apple and apricot, toast; burnt barrels, deep and complex, creamy, orange zest, so long. 93+ to 94pts.
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9/10/2023 - kstoddard Does not like this wine:
Undrinkable
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9/9/2023 - Lehto Likes this wine: 95 Points
Disgorged in 2022.
The style of Selosse is something that can really split people due to the very oxidized characters that it brings, but I just have to say that no one masters this fine balance between oxidation, freshness, complexity, mouthfeel and minerality like Selosse does. The market prices also really show this.
Insane golden color and it fills up the room completely with aromas right from opening.
Candied apple, red apple and bruised apple together with fresh citrus fruits, pickled lemon and lemon zest. A touch of peach/apricot, roasted nuts, brioche, toffee, coffee, gunpowder, ginger and crushed rocks.
As stated, the balance between acidity, freshness and minerality against the oxidation, creamy mouthfeel, power and richness creates the most insane complexity. Stunning champagne!!!
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8/27/2023 - manemis Likes this wine: 93 Points
Golden colour. Very intense and enjoyable. Would have loved to see some more length.
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8/18/2023 - LeroyHilarious Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deg 14 november 2019. Tydlig ek, mjuk, rund och fyllig. Finstämd syra. Riktigt mogen persika och kanske lite tropiska frukter och kola. Inte särskilt oxiderad i stilen. Väldigt fina små bubblor som tittar fram. Lååång len eftersmak. Påminde mycket om en väldigt bra chardonnay åt Meursault-hållet. Helt klart vinös.
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7/22/2023 - 32lakeviewwine wrote: 95 Points
disg Aug 2019. Just wow. Signature oxidative style. honey, ginger. Ethereal pairing with roasted halibut with tumeric
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7/18/2023 - thitus Likes this wine: 97 Points
Extraordinär!
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7/3/2023 - godx wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged June 2 2010. Wow brilliant bottle. If you like old champagne, you will love this. This used to be poor man’s Krug but it’s now nearly twice the price. Pride aside this is a great place and lovely balance of mature notes and still has some freshness, acidity and bubbles. Certainly not a young wine in terms of energy but this is more than alive and probably right at peak drinking for my palate. No fear in this going off a cliff but will likely slowly fade/lose energy gracefully over the next 5 years or so. At 13 years past disgorgement, one of the best Initials I can remember having. Outstanding.
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6/25/2023 - Jlafin wrote: 93 Points
Väldigt komplex, äppelmos, mogen frukt, grapefrukt, pommelo, anis, lite oxidation som inte stör. Lååång eftersmak med fantastisk beska, ceste och mogna äpplen. Deg 07/2019.
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6/23/2023 - Larslatour wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful and mature champagne
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6/16/2023 - patespo1 wrote: 93 Points
Even better on day two after opening up
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6/2/2023 - chicsucre wrote:
Medium lemon - touch of bronze
On the nose, cream and brioche, oxidated
Side by side with Largillier (personally prefers that lol)
On the palate, some raspberries and some plum, some bitterness
Not nearly as chalky as Largillier
Disgorged 5/21
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5/31/2023 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged 12 Mai 2021. Oxidative, fresh bouquet, white fruit, florals, sweet, very classically made, and this edition perhaps with a touch more older wines than usual, which I like. 93
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5/26/2023 - ThijsV Likes this wine: 94 Points
Avalon restaurant (and Oocker) (Amsterdam, NL): [Restaurant purchase] No detailed notes, tasted blind. Called champagne, but much older. Deep golden with notes of marmelade, nutty, nectarine, dried peach, yeast, bread, walnut, slight oxidative notes. My first Selosse and it did not disappoint! Just gorgeous! WOTN for me.
Disgorgement 14 May 2020
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5/21/2023 - etyc Likes this wine:
Dinner at L C
To note...
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5/17/2023 - ek49 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Simply astounding. This bottle was disgorged in 2009 and represents one of the finest Initials I have tasted. We used Bordeaux glasses, and the color was an iridescent deep golden hue. On the nose, an intoxicating scent of apricots, honey, and mineral. On the palate, the classic maderized profile of Selosse wines, with an unctuous viscosity with notes of apricots and honey notes. This was drunk with an appetizer of raw oysters and tune poke, as well as mains of black cod and chilean sea bass. Looking forward to drinking this special wine again in the future.
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5/12/2023 - finediningnyc Likes this wine: 96 Points
(Disg. 5/21) Initial is the most produced in quantity of the Selosse bottlings but it is not to be overlooked, and 2021 disgorgment is electric today with distinctive Selossien aromas of caramelized orchard fruit, roasted nuts, honeycomb and gun smoke. The palate is rich, powerful and deep with racy acids and a chalky mineral core. It has both freshness and oxidative complexity yielding a complete, balanced and utterly seamless Champagne. Always delicious and this is a killer disgorgement.
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5/12/2023 - Zunga Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark yellow color. Strong acidity and mineral structure. Always like Selosse.
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5/9/2023 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged 13 Mai 2020. Young Initial is really somewhat un-Selosse, not quite oxidative, muted, river stone, minerality. Very high in acidity, needs aging. 92-93+
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5/6/2023 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
04 April 2021 Disgorgement.
Surprisingly a bit more evolved and oxidative ( nice noble oxidation) than expected given that this was not disgorged that long ago. Impressive as always and even though it’s been quite a bit of time since we last had his wines this took us back. Rich, toasty feel, bright and energetic and with an energy on the palate that is unique. Very solid 93
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5/2/2023 - kostaslonis wrote:
Trait - d - Union Pricate dinner, by Pure Spirits (Linovatis Bistro): Slightly different than the one we had earlier this day, more oxidative, edgy, ripe fruit
palate more balanced that the nose, nice acidity, full body, edgy, carbonation, ripe to overripe citrus and stone fruit, lemon
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5/2/2023 - kostaslonis wrote:
Trait - d - Union tasting, by Pure Spirits (Warehouse assemblage): 40% 2016 , 35% 2015 , 25% 2014, this terroir gives warmer notes
The wine shows a very different style than all the champagnes from the other producers. Tight, austere but broad in the same time, citrus, quince, some oxidative notes, impressive
Palate shows the same profile as the nose, shows density, austere again, feels tight, fresh, med body, med to high acidity, long finish
Elegant, finesse, rich, balanced, not the easiest style though
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4/23/2023 - melvinyeowq wrote: 94 Points
Jason's birthday: Disgorged 2021. On another level to the disappointing Substance last month, I very much preferred this. Quite dark in colour so someone mentioned it was aged but I thought it was more a function of winemaking as it tasted very youthful. Rounded and creamy texture, some spice and hazelnut notes. Impressive how the fruit was so ripe but it still retained so much tension. Liked the depth and completeness of this.
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4/23/2023 - astroman Likes this wine: 94 Points
J's Birthday Dinner (Taste Paradise Ion): Blinded. Disgorged May 2021. Salmon in colour, rounded aroma, red apple, some pear, melon, mango, good body but would have like more tension in the palate.
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4/23/2023 - aquacongas wrote: 96 Points
not blind Selosse Keller dinner, disg. 2021
I like the Initial more and more because it is fresh and less oxidative. Lovely pinenuts. 95-96
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4/21/2023 - MWiking wrote: 95 Points
Degorgerad juni 2014
Väldigt mogen och snygg, lagom oxiderad och helt underbar precis som selosse ska vara
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4/17/2023 - Goodwine4ever wrote: 94 Points
Magnifique Champagne sur des notés typiques à Selosse soit un coté rancio, oxydatif qu'on retrouve régulièrement dans les vins jaunes du Jura. La bulle est bien fine, le vin est très élégant et hyper savoureux. Grand Champagne qui se boit trop rapidement !
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4/8/2023 - aquacongas wrote: 96 Points
blind, deg. 2019
nailed it. Typical nose to pinenuts and honey. Cracking acidity, not oxidative. Locely, some bottle aging helps. we Had 20 different BdB. this was by far the best. 96
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4/2/2023 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
2022 disgorgement. Complex aromatics of spiced apple, chalk, salty lemon and grilled nuts. Good depth and power in the mouth. Sweet and vinous at its core, chalky and chewy down the back-end. Excellent ength.
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3/25/2023 - csimm wrote: 95 Points
At Restaurant After Seven, Backstage Hotel, Zermatt, Switzerland.
Disgorged November 14, 2019.
I admittedly have a cozy little soft spot in my otherwise vapid heart for the Selosse Initial. Of course, I should have backed the truck up way before "The Insanity" happened, a couple-few years ago when the price of these wasn't through the roof (that was back when I could get Cedric Bouchard VV for like $65). I know, I know... Back when we walked uphill both ways to school in the snow and Harlan could be bought for a shiny 50-cent piece. Anyway, current sticker-shock aside, the Initial is always able to carve a nicely groomed corduroy (winter sporting in Zermatt clearly necessitated the use of a skiing term) between savory and shine.
Bruised lemon and ginger notes con you into thinking the Initial will veer into a more oxidative style, but saline and citrus zest flavors play pick-me-up on the palate and elevate the delivery into a fresher spectrum. Complexity comes with air, as yellow apple skin, unripe apricot, limestone, almond slivers, and sea spray seasonings add piquancy and vigor to the profile.
An outstanding food wine that was able to span across a plethora of fantastic meals. Add to the fact that this bottle was on the restaurant wine list for $250CHF, which is insanely "reasonable" all things considering, it made for a thumbs-up experience all the way around. 94-95 points for this bottle. I might be adding an extra point here just cuz of the whole Zermatt thing. Deduct a point if you're drinking a bottle of this in Somalia or Syria.
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3/19/2023 - Peter Spijker Likes this wine: 93 Points
Didn't note the disgorgement date, but found this to be quite oxidative (in a good way), with apricot, fine mousse, baked red apple, some orange and a persistent length. I prefer a fresher style over this, but it was great nonetheless.
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3/6/2023 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 94 Points
A private dinner with friends (Restaurant Bar du Champagne, Amsterdam, NL): Disgorged 13 April 2021. Much lighter pitch than the VO which accompanied it, floral rather than nutty but the power and concentration are similar, wonderful lift, vinous and elegant, very good resonance and length.
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2/12/2023 - drwine2001 wrote:
August, 2016 disgorgement. Burnished yellow, initially frothy. Autolytic tones and ginger on the nose without any oxidative notes. Fabulous creamy feel with flavors of bitter citrus and herb that finish in a rush of acidity and soil. Flat out great bottle and, for me, at a perfect point.
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2/12/2023 - R.H. Likes this wine:
this was humming. very good, better with an hour of air. corkage for Joe's dinner
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2/8/2023 - tonyhuang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bruised apple.
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2/8/2023 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged 26 Octobre 2006. Perfect age with enough orange fruit nuances and somewhat freshness. Vanilla and grassy. Needs a bit more power if anything. 93
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1/28/2023 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
24 Octobre 2014, Grains Nobles. In a very good spot to drink, great balance between oxidation and freshness if only slightly light on the midpalate. 93
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1/1/2023 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Disgorged 12th November 2019. Complex aromatics of baked apple, chalk, truffle, Ligurian honey and white peach. The palate is full and vinous. There's plenty of flesh, some salty preserved lemon notes and a graphite spine. It is powerful with an airy feel and length of flavour is very good.
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12/31/2022 - Ericsson Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bouteille dégorgée le 18 avril 2012 (cadeau de Tony).
Robe jaune ambrée, bulles fines mais nombreuses. Nez sur des notes de rancio, noix, amandes, la bouche est magnifique avec une très grande tenue, complexe, de beaux amers et une finale encore très longue.
Excellent, à point.
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12/23/2022 - La Sprezzatura wrote: 95 Points
disgorged April 2015.
on the nose this is more "winey" than the DP 02 and the comtes de champagne 2002 we tasted side by side.
this has some distinctive oxidative touch, which reminded me of cognac. orange zest and hints of nougat.
the perlage is very intact, this drinks nice and fresh. we enjoyed it all, even though it is more "special" than the other 2 champagnes we had. wouldn't drink this all the time, as I like more the traditional champagnes, but it was a nice experience. this is well done for sure and has a high quality.
don't have any experience on the ageing process of those selosse, but I feel like this can get better with time.
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12/22/2022 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
Tasted double blind. 2015 disgorgement. Selosse Champagnes, especially some years past disgorgement, shine bright with an unbelievable finesse and elegance, a complex aroma profile, high aromatic precision and superb balance. Still, while I see all these traits and appreciate the wines intellectually, the aroma profile is not my favorite one. Still, this wine was drinking on a 94/95pts level easily, but I wouldn‘t chase it.
TN: Medium+ expressive nose with dark red berries at the centre, some slight oxidation notes. On the palate superbly round and sharp, very linear, superb freshness, great balance and finesse with ultra fine mousse. An array of red fruit, orange rind, some spices, slight oxidation notes which I would still call a feature. But overall still a bit too much in the sherry category for my taste.
Decanting: No decanting needed.
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12/18/2022 - aquacongas wrote: 96 Points
not blind
I love Initial 3-5 years after degorgement. Apricot, honey and roasted pine nuts but acidity and freshness are dominating. Lemon tart. 96
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11/30/2022 - burg_gram_Jason Likes this wine: 94 Points
12Nov2020 disg. Less oxidative than new releases in the past from Anselm. Similar in flavor profile to Au Dessus Gros Mont, which is very high complement from my perspective. Drank out of zalto burgundy. Dare I say Guillaume's wines might already have eclipsed his father's?
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11/22/2022 - angryphoton Likes this wine: 95 Points
In a great place, very lively and fresh yet has already developed some complex secondary flavors. Aside from the usual pear, bruised apple and Meyer lemon, this also had notes of nut shells and slight oxidative flavors. What really stands out if how all these elements combined into one really harmonious whole where the wine just effortlessly glides on your palate, while at the same time having so much flavors. Disgorged July 2014.
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11/21/2022 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 95 Points
July 2014 disgorgement. Per Gilman 2006-7-8. A little development on the nose, caramel, toffee, yet a beautifully fresh bouquet. Deep and penetrating palate, gorgeous mouth and head filling. Perfect balance.
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11/21/2022 - aagrawal wrote: 95 Points
Dinner with the wine group (Cindy's Place): Disgorged 2014. Golden color; intense aromatics, orange blossom, orange marmalade, slightly nutty; palate is medium bodied, vibrant acidity, lovely mouthfeel, mature fruit, lemon peel; long finish. Vibrant and full of life, exactly as expected, with life left. 94-95
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11/13/2022 - Tony Ling Likes this wine: 95 Points
33,000 bottles made per year. Disgorged on 9 May 2017. PNP into Riedel white wine glass (“Flower” day): Deep golden to the eyes.
Salt-Preserved citrus fruits like grapefruits and lemons with peels. Oxidative style at its best that reminds me of top Jura. With time with almond and fine tea leaves and cereal notes too.
Fine boned acidity with tons of energy and minerality. Long persistent finish.
Amazing wine here! 95 points.
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11/11/2022 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged November, 2019. Light yellow, very active fine bead. Fresh with more green apple than usual. Full bodied, increasingly creamy. Flavors of Granny Smith, ginger, and soil with the support of vibrant acidity. Deep, long, and just about as dry tasting as the VO we had the other day. Fantastic and a less oxidative edition of Initial.
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11/9/2022 - carl.cornaglia@gmai.com wrote: 96 Points
One of the best champagnes I have ever had. Intense and complex flavors of brioche, apples and lemon with that Selosse oxidative character. Very expensive, but worth the price for a unique experience!
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11/8/2022 - jesper_e Likes this wine: 95 Points
Today slightly lower rating than I normally give (had it blind with many other good Champagnes).
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10/17/2022 - SurfBurg wrote: 96 Points
2019 disgorgement. Much richer, deeper, linear and more vinous than even the other bottles I've had of this, although I don't know the disgorgement date on the others. Tastes like a great mature white Burgundy with light bubbles. Loved it.
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10/16/2022 - oxidatif wrote:
Utterly delicious. Round briochy oxidative style but still linear and mineral. Not sure it's worth the $ but I'm glad I tried it
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10/15/2022 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 95 Points
2013 disgorgement. Really nice nose with lots of orchard fruit, brioche, lemon, chamomile, and minerals. Good acidity on the palate with fine mousse, more lemon and green apple notes. Long finish and lovely complexity. Excellent wine!
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9/17/2022 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
2014 base, rich and bready.
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8/26/2022 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged July, 2016. Deep yellow, good remaining mousse. Ginger, wheat, and faint bitter citrus. Medium to full bodied, moderately nutty and oxidative. This particular bottle features vanilla and savory flavors rather than fruit. Increasingly creamy feel followed by terrific acidity and stone. Best after being open for several hours.
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8/19/2022 - IDKDavid Likes this wine: 97 Points
Disgorged Dec 11th, 2014 (Likely from vintages ’07, ’08, & ’09). This has been a bucket list wine for some time now. I saw this for a great price at a restaurant on vacation so sprang for it! Absolutely beautiful deep golden color out of the bottle, and very light effervesce. At first, the nose had some buttermilk-esc bacteria funk coming through, followed by some ultra complex apple pastry notes. After about 10 minutes time, the funk blew off and underneath was an interesting nose of soft honey, cinnamon apple pie with fresh granny smith apples, tangy buttermilk cake frosting, and yeasty brioche. On the palate, the bubbles were barely there, as this was closer to a still wine, then to a typical champagne. Oxidative in style, this was soft and creamy on the palate, with honey, bruised granny smith apples, sea water, and tangy buttermilk notes which added to the mysterious complexity. Gentle mouth-feel, brilliantly complex, and a slight crispness on the finish with a touch of lemon acidity, and some faint bubbles giving some loose, relaxed structure. I just wanted to keep sipping it to understand what hidden flavors were hiding in there. Every 15 minutes, it opened up more, and new flavors emerged. I tried it colder and warmer - each method showing different flavor profiles and perspectives. All of that said, I don’t want to overhype this - It is an insanely expensive bottle of wine and ultimately, unless you’re very wealthy, this is likely overpriced due to rarity, and market hype. However, the reputation is there for a reason, and if you like champagne, if you appreciate the creativity, subtle complexity, and relevance to champagne history, this is an incredibly unique experience and wildly delicious. If you’re looking for a more budget friendly alternative, I found the Jacquesson 700 series, Disgorgment Tardifs to be similar in style, though ultimately much less complex and less magic. All in all a great memory to add to the book.
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8/9/2022 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Disgorged July 2021, this is 2013, 2014 and 2015 base. It has engaging florals, some brioche and lemon curd notes. It is biscuity and rich and finishes with refreshing salty mineral cut.
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8/7/2022 - finediningnyc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Initial is the most produced in quantity of the Selosse bottlings but it can’t be overlooked, particularly with some bottle age. 2018 disgorgment is in a great spot with distinctive Selossien aromas of caramelized stone fruit, roasted nuts, honeycomb, gun smoke and floral undertones. The palate is rich, powerful and deep with racy acids and a chalky mineral core. It has both freshness and oxidative complexity yielding a complete, balanced and seamless Champagne. Selosse perfection for me is 5-6 years post disgorgement and this is approaching that window in great fashion. Always a treat.
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8/5/2022 - BaroloRob wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful finish. Not overly oxidative.
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7/30/2022 - acheng wrote:
A 2019 disgorgement. Way young and missing the complexity I look for with a selosse. Then again, it is still most enjoyable .
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7/28/2022 - jesper_e Likes this wine: 97 Points
In my book, this is a Champagne that always deliver and Selosse (in general) is a big favorite of mine. Oxidized and funky, but in a good way.
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7/24/2022 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 95 Points
Medium nose intensity with notes of grapefruit, lemon, toast, slight honey. Deeper golden colour. High acidity. Rounded palate. Disgorged 2018
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7/24/2022 - NiklasT Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disgorged 2016, archetypal broad and long with slightly oxidized, nutty notes along with over-ripe apples and lemon zest. Great start to the oysters, but above all bullseye with foie gras on a piece of brioche. Stunning champagne in its cote de beaune style.
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6/30/2022 - thesternowl wrote:
Rhône or Nôwhere 2022 (Malcom, Nebraska): The three of us from Omaha were presented this wine upon arrival, double-blind fashion in large burgundy-style glasses. The appearance was a burnished gold color with slight visual signs of gas only when agitated. On the nose, there are signs of oxidization with a slightly cheesy and nutty thing on the nose along with some bruised apple and pear. The palate was like fireworks. Layers of fruits, nuts, spices and the creamiest of textures. At first, based on the smell and the appearance, I thought this might be a vintage Champagne, 1996 or even possibly 1990. However, after tasting it, I was compelled to shift direction as it reminded me of some of the more remarkable NV wines made in a solera-style like Bereche “Reflan d’Antan” or Selosse “Initial”. Welp…basically nailed it. How I wish this wine could be in my life more often.
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6/29/2022 - godx wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged February 2010. Similar to the previous bottle (disgorged December 2011)…drinking beautifully. Very Selosse in profile.
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6/27/2022 - godx wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged December 16, 2011. Brioche and autolytic on the nose with earthy and citrus notes on the palate. Classic Selosse oxidative character with a beautiful intensity framed with minerals and crisp acidity. This bottle is perfectly mature. Great as always.
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6/20/2022 - vespa110 wrote: 92 Points
Giallo oro, bolla fine e poco presente.
Naso frutta gialla e tropicale con cenni ossidativi.
Bocca polposa materica, fresco, bollicina leggera. Buona persistenza, molto giovane.
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5/1/2022 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
April 2021 disgorgement. It had complex aromatics of baked apple, preserved lemon, chalk and grilled nuts. It was rich and powerful, with layers of fruit and mineral. The finish is precise and very long.
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4/30/2022 - matage Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deg 2011
Wonderful on the nose with honeycomb, grilled lemon and pine nuts.
Does not quite live up to it on the palate though as I found it a bit dull and felt like it was on the decline. The acidity is there but this bottle lacked a bit of vibrance.
Glass: Zalto Bourgogne
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4/25/2022 - mye wrote:
2019 DG version. Initially medium oxidative, pretty indicative of the Selosse style. Orchard fruit, with good acidity. The structure is still present, and while air unwinds it a little, this really could use years. Tasty but more upside to come.
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4/24/2022 - aquacongas wrote: 96 Points
not blind
13-15 vintages, very balanced and reluctant, disg. 2020, pine nuts in the background but always detectable. Cracking acidity. 96
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4/22/2022 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 95 Points
2013 disgorgement. Lovely nose with citrus, grapefruit, brioche, minerals, and yeast notes. Good acidity with creamy mousse, more citrus, and minerals on the palate. Long finish that lingers. This also got better and better with air, lovely wine!
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4/19/2022 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
During a tasting dinner of the Pipette group. Served blind from the neighboring table. Was not able to see what the DG date of this was. This had beautiful richness, with lovely bruised apple notes, yet stayed frosh and precise. Medium finish. I was guessing NV Egly-Ouriet. 94+
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4/18/2022 - hajoha wrote: 91 Points
Selosse Initiale.
Gogget i 2018.
Byr på sin sedvanlige rike og oksidative stil.
Denne flasken ligger helt på grensen, men jeg vipper den innafor.
Bra kraft og kropp med god friskhet.
Høy modning i frukten.
Fin matvin dette.
God lengde. 91-92p
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4/8/2022 - Jonathanmustang Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nez rancio, pomme verte, zeste d’agrume et un brin de pâtisserie
Bouche tranchante et un brin discrète, de la grosse pomme verte, agrumes, bulle fine.
Finale pomme verte un brin discrete et sans complexité
Bien mais peu décevant et unidimensionnel. On peux vraiment trouver mieux
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3/25/2022 - Dpark8 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Incredible champagne. Disgorgement aug 2020. Still young but powerful, refined and concentrated. Pear caramelized apple, good balance of acidity. Notes of brioche
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3/23/2022 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
April '21 disgorgement. Rocking from first pour. Complex aromatics of baked apple, white peach, aniseed and bread. It is rich, vinous and sappy, with awesome density but also light on its feet. There are chalky/mineral things towards the finish and a fine bead and creamy mousse. Length is excellent.
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3/8/2022 - Vas19 wrote: 92 Points
2019 disgorgement I believe. A nice champagne, but got overwhelmed by some other bottles on the table. Not worth current prices IMO.
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2/12/2022 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
More Sherry like and oxidative than I was expecting still opened up nicely after an hour. Mostly dried herbs, citrus and some vanilla. 2020 base so way too young.
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2/6/2022 - Bullethead Likes this wine: 93 Points
Enjoyable but a bit lean palate.
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1/26/2022 - AValdes wrote: 90 Points
Really fresh and rather tasty. Not giving much more than the primary notes
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1/25/2022 - sdr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Selosse (Oceanic, Pompano Beach, Florida): The first bottle opened in the Selosse lineup immediately disabused me of the prejudiced notion I had that all Selosse is too heavy, too oxidized. This bottle was purchased some years ago so not a recent disgorgement. Fairly pale, pleasant mousse. Really quite clean and airy with plenty of citrus character and not much yeast. Nice.
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1/24/2022 - Rhonarna_Mikael wrote: 94 Points
Degorg Nov 12, 2020. A pure but young beauty. Serious and complex champagne from a top producer. Banana mellow, grilled lemon and cocoa. Drink now and hold for many years depending on your preferences.
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1/11/2022 - Vicchangus Likes this wine: 95 Points
Classic Selosse
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1/1/2022 - Charlie N Likes this wine: 96 Points
Aug. 24, 2020 disgorgement. Honeyed, toasty aromas but with great energy, fresh acidity with broad ribbons of salinity.
Deep and rich palate, nutmeg, baking spice, cinnamon, cider like qualities given a liveliness from lemon/more acid. Finish is long offering balance with savory saltiness and toffee.
An absolutely powerful wine whose enormity is pushed to sublime heights by its finesse and restraint. Case in point- there is a big line of acidity but instead of something harsh or blinding, it crackles and gives length and texture like a hot Orange amp.
The closest to this for me isn't Champagne but Corton-Charlemagne with 15+ years on it. The fine bubbles and precise-near-gripping acidity coupled with the life-giving oxygen are a kind of body double for the red-like qualities of CC or white Rioja.
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1/1/2022 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
not blind
disg. 2008, lovely aged, fresh, great acidity, roasted pine nuts, balanced, not oxidized, powerful. 95
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12/31/2021 - R_S Likes this wine:
Grüne Apfel, grüner Tee Hefe, später auch Noten von Apfelkompott, leicht oxidative Note
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12/31/2021 - eboracum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Selosse has a cult type reputation, his wines are rare finds at cavistes and are always expensive. This followed Sadi Malot's very good Coup de Foudre cuvée as apéritif and I was quite expecting some disappointment in view of the hype. Not a bit of it! This wine stood out in all respects. More complex, richer, yet more precise, and longer than its predecessor and with a caressing mouthfeel which may owe something to discreet barrel fermentation and ageing (I can find no information on this). Amongst the myriad flavours, I could detect citrus and peachy fruit, nuts, fine minerals, spice and a hint of port on the slightly oxidative finish. Excellent.
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12/31/2021 - OnWisconsin Likes this wine: 98 Points
Oak, an elegant nuttiness (almost fino Sherry-like), and candied citrus peel. Largely a savory wine.
Medium plus acid with a virtually indefinite finish.
This is everything I expected and more. The oxidization adds a lot of texture and complexity, while the acid keeps everything fresh and lean. As someone constantly disappointed with full stainless steel Chardonnay, this is a style I wish was more prevalent.
08/2020 disgorgement.
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12/21/2021 - Antoine G Likes this wine: 92 Points
Degorgée en mai 2020. Champagne consistant. Se boit avec le cerveau. Nez de foins. Fruit tres murs. Austérité. Vinosité.
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11/27/2021 - Andre Brattland wrote: 93 Points
Good maturation in the color already and the aromas follow up with this oxidative tone that lies over the yeast, bread, nut and slightly fatter honey and coffee. Full-bodied and fresh Champagne with this wonderful distinctive mouthfeel that the fine wine enthusiast loves and the wine-loving may never understand. Broad orange / yellow fruit, fermented baked goods, nuts, coffee. Deep minerality. Complex. The acid gives life and keeps healthy. Peculiar case in all its glory.
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11/26/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Return to Piemonte!; 11/25/2021-12/4/2021 (Castello di Sinio, Alba, other various locations): Selosse at a more reasonable price point which doesn’t happen all that often so fun to get to try. Opens with time and more air and as it warms up. We left it off ice the whole time and it was quite expressive by the end of lunch. Vanilla bean somewhat predominant which surprised me, but it worked.
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11/25/2021 - wjl88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Doesn't feel particularly oxidative, although it feels quite austere.
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11/20/2021 - vintage_whine wrote:
August 2, 2006 disgorgement. Mushroom wet cardboard and root beer. Warm toned, wil alcohol and acid perfectly in balance. Yes it’s an extreme style but it always maintains the right line between ripeness and precision, so that you never have to think about structure and can explore all the other crazy aromatics.
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11/19/2021 - jkoenen wrote: 95 Points
Vintages 13-14-15
Deg. 12-05-2021
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11/13/2021 - crispywine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dis 2011 april
Perfect right now.
Mature tones of toasty brioche, smokiness, ripe yellow apples, coffee, fresh lovely acidity and long aftertaste. Velvety bubbles. Amazingly had after midnight in good company. The taste still lingers in my mind.
Was afraid it was overdue, the last one a dis-10 was abit over.
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11/8/2021 - thewiz Likes this wine: 93 Points
(Base year 2014)
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11/8/2021 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Disgorged 15 April 2021.
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11/8/2021 - Sundbyberg wrote: 94 Points
Tasting: April 2021 discorgment. One of the best initials I have had. Taste like it has been stored for 10 years.
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11/6/2021 - Eric wrote:
Steve Sigmond's 50th Birthday (Minneapolis, MN): Mmm, Selosse, funky, freshly bloomed yeast on a palate that is young and explosive. CW suggests a certain marmalade character on the nose--not sure of that for me, but the citrus suggestion was a good one. Delicious and an absolute knockout with fresh, warm gougeres.
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11/6/2021 - DougLee wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged September 2013. Deep golden color, almost amber. Nose of white floral notes, biscuit, apple core, grapefruit. Layers of brisk white fruit, nubby texture, pleasing astringency, Parmesan, and granny apple on the palate. Fizz and spine aplenty but the fruit is quite on display. I’m not fond of the color but this wine showed very well otherwise.
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11/5/2021 - Kim Gerner wrote: 91 Points
Jacques Selosse horisontal tasting of 9 cuvees (Krüff): All wines were presented by Guillaume Selosse. For me the best cuvee this afternoon was 2007 Millesime, extra Brut, 94+. An unexpected no. 2 was Les Chantereines with 93+. Usually my favourite from Selosse is Les Carelles which this time ended with 92, the same as Chemin de Chalon. All these Top Four cuvees are BdB.
This wine: Notes of ripe apple, nutty and in general very tertiary. Excellent especially on the nose. 91+
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11/5/2021 - thewiz Likes this wine: 96 Points
(Disgorged in May 2010, 100% Chardonnay, base year 2004 with reserves from 2003 and 2002, dosage
gr/l)
Lovely maturing golden yellow colour with an endless stream of very fine bubbles showing in the glass. Red apples, mint chocolate and with a burnt note as it opens up in the glass. Smooth lemon citrus acidity combined with pure apples juiciness on the lovely palate with a buttery note as well. And on top of it all is the intense and lengthy finish showing a combination of herbs, lemon peel bitterness and a touch of oakiness in perfect balance..
(Perfect maturity with eleven years of post-disgorgement cellaring, but should evolve well for another decade without any hesitations!)
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10/30/2021 - vetty wrote: 94 Points
disgorged 2019. Compare to salon 07, this bottle is much more complex and mature. More oxidative and orange fruits. true to its house style.
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10/19/2021 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged April, 2015. Deep yellow, minimal mousse. Rich, creamy, and off dry. Slightly nutty with bitter citrus core and a bit of apple cider. Mature and delicious. This disgorgement has provided a lot of pleasure over the years but isn't done yet.
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10/15/2021 - thewiz Likes this wine: 93 Points
(Disgorged in December 2016, based on 2010, 2009 and 2008, 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Oger, dosage 1.5 gr/l)
Lovely golden yellow colour with a maturing nose showing herbs, cream and yellow apples and some French nougat notes in a wonderful way. Intense on the palate with a softening acidity showing lime zest and red apples in a delicious way.
(Probably best with 3-9 years of extra cellaring)
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9/26/2021 - B Paul wrote:
Disgorged July 2015. Starts out showing some oxidative notes but with air it really livens up. There’s a good mousse, with some citrus, ginger, but also some light caramel type notes. Great, and quite delicious.
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9/25/2021 - Satoshi Nakamoto Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disgorged 6/15. This is dominated by bruised apple, honey, and hazelnuts. Great acidity and richness, but it could use a lot more depth and complexity. I can see this showing being far too oxidative for many, and they're probably right, but I can't lie: it was goddamn delicious.
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9/25/2021 - champagnedoktoren wrote:
Tasting of Selosse Lieux-Dits Collection (deg. 2013 & 2019) and a few extras (Restaurant Møntergade): Deg. 2018
Deg. 2015
Deg. 2010
Tasting of Selosse Lieux-Dits Collection (deg. 2013 & 2019) and some more at Møntergade (25/09/2021).
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9/22/2021 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
Dinner with Sean (Nicolas Restaurant, Teck Lim Street, Singapore): A lovely drop. This smelt a bit fresher, less oxidative than usual - perhaps because it was fairly newly disgorged, with a very chalky, stony mineral tones to the nose, along with some stone fruit - think yellow peach - apples, and a touch of kumquat, all ringed with a little bit of spice. A really entrancing nose. The palate too felt really fresh and linear, with a spine of lemon acidity and beautiful stony mineral strecthing its way through bright expressions of green apples and limes. As always, there was plenty of power and depth to the chapmpagnem but this was wed to lovely freshness and purity. Together with a nicely fine mousse, the wine presented itself both with a delicious open, generous fullness, as well as having at the same time a really nice sense of cut and definition, with that deep mineral structure to it. Absolutely lovely - it dissapeared from the bottle very quickly.
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9/14/2021 - Raage Likes this wine:
(P.G.)
superbe vinosité digne d'un beau blanc bourguignon, une touche oxydative très subtile, des aormes pâtissiers et une bulle fine... Un style, on adore!
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9/11/2021 - berlinhotel Likes this wine: 94 Points
deg. nov2019
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9/6/2021 - Heynetty Likes this wine:
notes from memory
A: Medium (almost deep) Gold
N: Pronounced nose of marmalade , lemon, ripe red woody apples, cooked pear, hazelnuts, chalk
P: Dry, high acidity, medium alcohol, medium (+) intensity, medium body and long finish
It was lovely, of course, but I think this would be better if left to age. There are $120 bottles which taste much the same and this is twice the price. Love the oxidate style. Got a little brooding umami off this but would have like to have held it much longer for the real magic to happen. Outstanding quality as expected but its got way more to give.
Don't know disgorgement date but I probably won't be buying another of these. Too many other fine lovelies to try and Ive yet to open The Substance bottle so I'll leave that one for another year or two and see where it goes.
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8/28/2021 - RolfT wrote: 93 Points
April 2015 disgorgement. I believe this is 2009 based.
As expected still very fresh and even a bit closed still (even though the bottle was opened an hour before serving). Seemed slightly thin/watery on the mid palate. I think an additional 3-5 years storage will complete this wine. As always its a pleasure to drink Selosse Initial. 93(+)
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8/24/2021 - Hanz Likes this wine:
Disgored 09/2013
bought for €85 in Paris in 2014
Quince. Very little ammonia and acetone. Mainly apple cider.
Mouth: moussage is on the lower side. Again, very little ammonia and acetone. firm citric acidity that's not overwhelmung. Tastes like a very dry cidre.
Drinks well, nothing sticking out or annoying.
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8/12/2021 - jkoenen wrote: 96 Points
Sultry, rich, dense and impressive. In top-form at the moment.
Peaches, pasteis-de-nata, rockdust, crustaceans, yeast and almondpaste.
Magnifique!!!
Deg. 21-10-2014
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7/28/2021 - jvphoto Likes this wine: 94 Points
noted score but drank with 3 friends the evening of my birthday with no formal notes
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7/17/2021 - ChrisBohrer Likes this wine: 95 Points
Absolutely. Brilliant.
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7/3/2021 - angryphoton Likes this wine: 94 Points
Disgorged March 2010. Beautiful aromas of white orchard fruit, some nuts and also bruised apple. Acidity was quite strong considering the age of the wine, was still quite fresh. Classic Selosse oxidative style but really not that distracting. Very classy and in great drinking window now.
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6/30/2021 - godx wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged Feb 3 2010. Drank this along side a bottle of 2014 disgorgement Initial. This 2010 disgorgement bottle was a touch more complex and offered additional depth on the palate. The profiles were similar with citrus zest, oxidative notes, good richness and acidity. The younger 2014 disgorgement bottle had a bit more freshness to it, but overall my preference was for the 2010 disgorged bottle.
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6/27/2021 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
not blind, dig. 2017
Typical Selosse scent, roasted pinenuts, honey, but lovely fresh, not oxidative. Perfectly balanced. Nice drinking window for 2017 disgorged. Still on the fresh side. 95
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6/27/2021 - jviz wrote: 95 Points
This just crushed an 06 Pol Roger SWC with its depth and interest. I know these wines are not enjoyed ubiquitously but it’s not like they are WAY off the beaten path. Balanced acidity with apple notes and brioche. Comes across my palate as a clean, suave wine with layers of fruit and nuance. This bottle was a 17 DG and well worth its tariff.
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6/24/2021 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Disgorged 12th of November 2019. Super-complex with notes of hazelnut cream, tart tatin, preserved lemon, smoke and flint. It is rich, full and powerful, with gentle nuttiness and loads of green apple. There's a vinous quality and a finish that is chewy and long.
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6/19/2021 - KimHartman wrote: 96 Points
This bottle was a total killer. Best Initial for me ever! Deg 2016-12
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6/13/2021 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
9 Octobre 2019, supposedly from 2013. Rather lower acidity than expected, less yeasty too, somewhat oxidative but can't pin it as exactly so. Good moose and balance as always, however. 93
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6/13/2021 - vetty wrote: 93 Points
disgorged at 9 Oct 2019. Pronounced oxidative aroma with lots of stone fruits, pear, white flower, yeast, marmalade. Not as fresh as I thought. rich with relative low acidity.
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6/5/2021 - RolfT Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disgorged 2010
Still fresh and drinking really well
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5/29/2021 - Peter Z. Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deg 14 nov 2019
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5/27/2021 - rocknroller wrote: flawed
It's the Big LX Birthday Bash: No Holds Barred (Minikahda Club, Mpls): Sadly this one was corked. And when I say corked, I mean it was seriously corked.
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5/13/2021 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 94 Points
A very nice bottle of an aged Initial (from memory disgorged 2012). Tasted blind, thought of a good aged Bollinger RD. Quite dry, bit oxidative, nutty, nicely mouth filling and long finish.
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5/12/2021 - LB88 wrote: 93 Points
Just received 2 cases and popped one bottle. So balanced with toasted brioche and nutty flavours. Just a gorgeous bottle and can only get better over time! Will enjoy but keep some for the long haul!
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5/10/2021 - Old Claret Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delightful, as always!
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5/9/2021 - Oscaro Likes this wine: 92 Points
Korta noter från minnet
Klassiskt Selosse-doft av hyacint, ek och citrus, fortfarande ung men så njutbar redan nu. Är inte lika komplex som sina syskon men väldigt njutbar ändå.
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4/29/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Poured blind. Didn't take notes or capture the disgorge date. What I do recall was impressive. The power, structure and balance here was fantastic. The kind of Champagne that I want in my glass, and a joy to drink.
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4/29/2021 - brigcampbell wrote:
Blind: knew it was something special but what? Thought is might be a Mousse I had recently that was excellent or maybe Winston Churchill which was a real treat. Never really narrowed in on a wine other than I really like this a lot. great balance, almond notes on the notes.
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4/21/2021 - Sean Tay wrote: 93 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of toast, lemon, apple, mineral. High acidity and long finish.
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4/16/2021 - dbkitc wrote: 93 Points
(at Orto - Baltimore) 11/12/13 juice. Lovely - subtle bubbles, toasty, baked apples - excellent! (93)
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4/16/2021 - dbkitc wrote: 93 Points
(at Orto - Baltimore) Lovely - subtle bubbles, toasty, baked apples - excellent! (93)
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4/1/2021 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
2019 disgorgement; a wow champagne, vinous and powerful, lush and full bodied with loads of fruit both yellow and red and ever present mineral notes of both limestone and something darker and richer, Sherry notes abound but do not distract, yeasty dough and plenty of autolytic notes give plumpness yet acids are taught. Not a delicate wine so I would say leave this for the dry aged steak and skip the seafood.
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3/25/2021 - hprphf Likes this wine: 94 Points
2000 Lunch (Old Bazaar Kitchen): Disgorged 26 October 2006, presumably from 2000 base. So amazing, perfectly rich and concentrated, full of refreshing acidity, tangy fruit and subtle aged flavors. One of the group's favorites today. 94-95
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3/19/2021 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
2016 disgorgement, supposedly 2010 base. Surprisingly ripe, rich, orchard fruit, beautiful. 92-93
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3/15/2021 - adnorthup Likes this wine:
15May17 disgorgement, much better than the 2019 disg. Bottle. Beautiful balance of fruit, body and acid. Just a great champagne.
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3/5/2021 - Kepr wrote:
Smagt blindt:
Bobler. Ret mørk gylden farve, æblemost.
Mandler, bagværk, smeltet smør og lidt sherry/oxi-noter i næsen.
Sødmefuld, smør, lidt karamel, men frisk syre og faktisk lidt underliggende frisk æble-fornemmelse under. Virkelig pirrerne, sur-sød fornemmelse.
God længde. På den ene side kompakt men stadig frisk og let. Måske lidt tung på bagkant.
Mousse signalerer også alder.
Gætter champagne, chardonnay-baseret, 1996.
Selsosse Initial deg. 2018
#vinklubben
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2/26/2021 - @chardonoir Likes this wine:
Druva: 100% Chardonnay. Deg juli 2018.
Doften är djup, kraftig, oxiderad med inslag av mogna äpplen, kryddor, kex, mogna päron, fat och mandelmassa. Smaken är massiv med noter som bokna äpplen, grillad citron, sherry, körsbär med elegant syra, finstämd mousse och en lång eftersmak. Initial ger en fantastisk känsla av koncentrerade bokna äpplen tillsammans med en härligt krispig fräschhet. Primör fallfrukt är en självmotsägelse i den vanliga världen men i Domaine Jacques Selosse är läget annorlunda.
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2/7/2021 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 94 Points
not blind
disg. 2018
again delicious, Fresh, a bit oxidative, Lemon dominated, but vanilla and red apple. LOvely 94
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2/4/2021 - Philip Yang Likes this wine: 95 Points
I have to be generous with the score here. One of the most impressive champagnes I have tasted. This is a non vintage. I wonder how good the vintages are.
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1/31/2021 - Peter Z. Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deg Jan 2017
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1/23/2021 - robertek wrote: 94 Points
One of the better I have had with deg 16.
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1/22/2021 - Jonne Likes this wine: 96 Points
Degorgerad 2014. Härlig födelsedagskaramell. Faktiskt godismumsig med kanderade citronskal och honung men med fin syra, mineral och jästighet som håller ihop paketet. Ohemult gott.
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1/8/2021 - Antoine G wrote: 96 Points
Belle robe ambrée. Degorgé en 2008. Caractère oxydatif présent mais bien balancé par une belle mousse. Un vin crémeux et oppulent mais qui reste vif.
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1/1/2021 - Winetex Likes this wine: 92 Points
October 2006 disgorge date. A very good bottle but should have been opened a few years ago for my tastes.
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12/31/2020 - merlotsmile wrote:
NYE
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12/31/2020 - The Guzz Likes this wine:
Beast
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12/31/2020 - Schwarzer Hund Does not like this wine:
Unfortunately way too much oxidation to even taste any fruit. Had it in our cellar @55 Deg for 10 years.
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12/31/2020 - cfrances33 wrote: 92 Points
Served in a JRxRB Universal. Leaf / 1027 hPa
Disgorged 8/8/2019. Golden color. Lovely nose of bruised apple, hazelnut, orange flower water, limestone minerality. Palate carries a lot of the same notes, but with such a savory underlying saline and umami quality. Long finish. Always a pleasure, and this iteration is no exception.
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12/25/2020 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
Disgorged 5/2013; excellent bottle; fresher than expected given the disgorgement, but still lovely orchard fruits, some honeyed hazelnut, minerality, and brioche. Delicious and long finish.
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12/24/2020 - adnorthup Likes this wine: 95 Points
Disgorged 19 April 2019. I believe 11/12/13? Golden color. Classic Selosse oxidative notes, but lots of sweet bruised apple too. A real streak of acidity on the finish. This is pretty delicious.
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12/24/2020 - R_S wrote: 95 Points
Deep yellow color. Yellow apple, malt, a tick of candied orange, caramel, honey in nose. Umami, ripeness, nice acidity, focused, full and smoot, complex. A very distinct style, a great Champagne
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12/22/2020 - Massimo Limoni Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely complexity and length. Really needs time to open up though as usual.
The wine looks light gold colored. It smells like lemon, apricot, honeydew and peach blossom, but backed by minerality. It tastes like , apricots, pear, again against a strong mineral backbone, light toast and honey rounds it off. The body is medium/full (I guess partly depending on how quickly you drink). The wine has very smooth texture once open and a looooooong finish. The wine has a pleasant medium acidity.
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11/24/2020 - drwine2001 wrote:
January, 2015 disgorgement. Deep yellow color. Transient lively bead. Aromatically, it opened with bright apple and a scooch of honey, but transitioned to more cut wheat and herbs. Full bodied, low dosage, fantastic texture with increasing lactic creaminess as it goes. Just a touch of nutty, oxidative tones. The finish is chock full of acidity and soil. My god is this good.
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11/19/2020 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Greenwood (Greenwood, Highland Park, IL): Nose: The nose is wide open and expressive from the get-go as it fills the glass with roasted nuts, cider, almonds, red apples, creams, bosc pears, yellow flowers, toast, brioche, custard, and pastry notes. There is excellent depth with this showing off the oxidative notes that are expected.
Taste: The feel is Medium bodied with tart, high acidity. The acidity is youthful and zesty while the feel shows off great texture and depth with roasted nuts, cider, almonds, red apples, bosc pears, brioche, custard, toast, and some pastry notes.
Overall: Yet again I didn't get the disgorgement on this but this is a newer one. Pretty much this was as good as it always is.
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11/6/2020 - Jmwestiv Likes this wine: 96 Points
Nov 2018 disgorgement - beautiful & advanced color and flavor. People either love or hate the oxidative style - we loved it.
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10/31/2020 - LWI wrote: 89 Points
Blind. Deg 2010. Dark yellow with some brown. Big mousse that dies out rather quickly. Nuts, smoke, yellow apples which are on the verge of fermenting;big bodied, mature style, grapefruit in the finish. All agreed on the producer, but not my style.
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10/30/2020 - NickNYC Likes this wine: 96 Points
Disgorged in October 2008. Spectacular bottle that amazed a table of veteran wine aficionados. very elegant, intricate, smooth. no tertiary notes yet. A brilliant bottle which showed much improvement from the one I had a few years ago (same disgorgement date).
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10/25/2020 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
twice blind, once not blind, all3 bottles disgorged Sep 2019
we had them in between the Substance, the biggest difference is compexity. Both have the Selossian roasted pinenut but Initial a bit less intensive and is fresher (yuzu) in the finish. 2x95, 1x94
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10/25/2020 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 94 Points
twice blind, once not blind, all3 bottles disgorged Sep 2019
we had them in between the Substance, the biggest difference is compexity. Both have the Selossian roasted pinenut but Initial a bit less intensive and is fresher (yuzu) in the finish. 2x95, 1x94
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10/25/2020 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
twice blind, once not blind, all3 bottles disgorged Sep 2019
we had them in between the Substance, the biggest difference is compexity. Both have the Selossian roasted pinenut but Initial a bit less intensive and is fresher (yuzu) in the finish. 2x95, 1x94
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10/23/2020 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
1 Feb 2005 disgorgement. Rich deep gold, still a strong initial mousse that tailed off. Nose of burnt orange, light caramel and lemongrass. A little chunky on the palate, fresh still with a gentle but crisp finish.
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10/21/2020 - GrapeScott wrote: 95 Points
Disgorged 10/25/16. Dark golden hue like a Corton Charlemagne. Complex effusive nose of marzipan, Asian pear, quince and pineapple. Mouth-caressing fine mousse, mineral-tinged citrus and orchard fruit flavors with a bone dry finish. About as good as Champagne gets
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10/19/2020 - grapenomad wrote: 95 Points
“Champagne on arrival” just got bumped up to a whole other dimension. Great to start a dinner with legends. Anselme Selosse is not just a winemaker, he’s creator of a new philosophy in Champagne, one that gave way to the ‘growers’ of today. He studied in Burgundy and brought a vineyard-centric focus to Champagne during an age of big houses and little attention to viticulture. He changed the course of this region forever. In the winery, he ferments all his base wines in wood, no yeast is added (even in the tirage stage), no sediments are lost and no MLF is done. “The most important thing is not what I do but what I don’t do. For me, there is no winemaking. I am just a butler, I am not a boss.”
This is a blend of three successive years, from the Grand Crus of Avize, Cramant and Oger. Disgorged in April 2019. Rare are the wines that suck you in both on the nose and on the palate, for hours on end. The nose is marked with a walnut-apple pie deliciousness with a bit of pear marmalade in the combo. I’m getting hungry just writing this. Killer energy and balance. Trademark oxidative notes, like a quality Sherry splashed into a Puligny. Still a very shy wine at this stage, I can just wonder how crazy good it will get in the upcoming years. UF!
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10/11/2020 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
Lovely bottle; definitely oxidative, with bruised apple, toasted hazelnut, brioche and hints of honey. The palate was very lovely, vinous and deep, not as fresh as some other bottles I've had, but very tasty.
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10/10/2020 - thewiz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gourmetklubbens fyrtiosjunde middag (A+N, Sundbyberg): (Disgorged in January 2016, base year 2009 with reserves from 2008 and 2007, 100% Chardonnay)
Very nice showing tropical notes of banana, red apples and some citrus acidity and some red apples and a touch of cognac.
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9/30/2020 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
End Sep fun @ Gaston!: Lemon, white flowers, yellow fruits, wet stones. Nice acidity, with slight dryness. Refreshing. Enjoyed this tonight and should improve with more time.
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9/26/2020 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
For old times sake: Caramel and apple in the bouquet. On the palate very tasty with impressions of minerals, medicine and sherry. No more notes this time.
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9/13/2020 - GA Old World Guy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice champagne that is starting to open up after sept 2016 DG. Med high acidity with green apple, pear, and some caramel. Lovely champagne.
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9/6/2020 - french16 wrote:
Disg Oct 10,2019
Tight the first 10mn, showed amazing after decanting.
A very elegant version, perfect control between oxidative style and freshness. Classic profile with that extra freshness and elegance. Nice minerality on this disgorgement.
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8/15/2020 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged January, 2015. Deep mellow yellow, impressively lively mousse. Hay and herbs greet you. Full, creamy red apple, and a smidgen of orange peel. Low dosage, excellent, well integrated acidity, and a boatload of soil to finish. At a most enjoyable stage, which for me means that any oxidative notes are held tightly in check.
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8/13/2020 - Bisou wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful golden colour. Very well balanced with a pleasant texture and excellent fine mousse.
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8/7/2020 - diggydan wrote: 94 Points
12/1/17 disgorge. Really rich and full champagne. not much oxidative about this besides a whiff on the nose. Full white fruit flavor, great mouthfeel and sense of power. Objectively not worth my ticket price ($219 before tax!)
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7/27/2020 - NickA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aperitifs at Domaine Jacques Selosse (Avize): Blend of vintages 13/12/11 - the current release. Trademark savour but with plenty of freshness too. Very long.
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7/23/2020 - jwsmith wrote: 86 Points
Just premix acid bomb nothing to be excited about
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7/17/2020 - Jcpwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Disgorged 7/14. Very nice champagne, light on the tongue and with a wonderful mousse.
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7/10/2020 - Hobbydrickare Likes this wine: 95 Points
Till en början ganska blyg på grund av den låga temperaturen men allteftersom gradantalet steg och vinet fick luft så blommade vinet ut.
Massvis med smöööööör, kolasås (?), honungstoner och äpple (sötsyrliga granny Smith?). Känner jag lite krut också?!
Eken är len och syran är skyhög.
Wow. Vilket vin!
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7/6/2020 - Sepsis wrote: 95 Points
Deg april 15
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7/5/2020 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged Oct 2016- a pleasure to drink- as a Krug lover, this reminds me of a rambunctious NV Krug. This is in its prime with a long life ahead.
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7/1/2020 - godx wrote: 93 Points
July 2010 disgorgement. Zesty, orange peel with loads of chalky minerality. Very fresh and didn't lose a step being opened for 4 hours. Drink now and for another 4-5 hours.
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6/21/2020 - LT98 wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged 2015. Outstanding, although just a little less distinctive than the DG 2010. Nonetheless, rich, dry, yeasty - a big blanc des blancs. Full with a creamy mousse and a very long finish.
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6/20/2020 - julen789 Likes this wine: 93 Points
DG 01/2017
We gave it some air after opening and it began to express itself more generously. Gently oaky with a clear oxidative base, wax, chalk, cacao butter, fresh milk, high sapidity with sea salt; vanilla, cardamom, white pepper, star anise, black tea, chai spice mix; a lot of presence of ripe exotic fruits with freshly cut coconut, guava, mango, peach, quince, cantaloupe melon.
It’s always pleasurable to drink Selosse with several years of bottle age; this is still a young wine with a medium-high acidity for a fantastic ageing potential, but right now a pleasure to drink. Less oxidative than other bottles of Initial, but much more concentrated.
93pt
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6/14/2020 - stefad Likes this wine: 95 Points
Vin dégorgé le 18/05/2012 - Robe jaune paille, bulles évanescentes, nez sur le curry. En bouche, la texture est crémeuse, sur des arômes de curry, cuir, craie, brioche, belle persistance aromatique avec queue de paon - plus de 30 secondes. Sapide et salin. 95/100
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6/13/2020 - thewiz Likes this wine: 93 Points
(Disgorged Nov 2017, 100% Chardonnay)
Distinct yellow colour with a lovely nose showing dried fruit, marmalade and some juniper wood in a lovely way. Smooth yellow plums showing a nice acidity with a creamy mid before a nice zesty bitterness and ginger touch takes over on the lengthy finish. This is showing very well right now and will reward further cellaring to show more dried notes.
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6/10/2020 - Kim Gerner wrote: 90 Points
Typical Anselme Selosse, but even more oxidative style than usual, overripe, toast, walnut and nutty in general. Tasted at restaurant Jordnaer
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5/31/2020 - englishman's claret wrote:
Brioche, yeast, orchard fruit, not oxidative as I remember though an excellent expression of a rich style.
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5/30/2020 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nicely balanced. Rich but not heavy with brioche and ginger notes on the finish.
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5/29/2020 - french16 wrote:
Disgorged April 2015.
Very good and way less oxidative than usual. Often times, this wine needs food and this is one the few times I had the Initial with that much acidity and with very controlled oxidative notes that require almost no food.
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5/28/2020 - Sorrowless Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deg Aug 2013. Best Initial I have tried. A few years in the cellar really does wonders for this wine. A lot of nuts, caramel and sweet fruit in addition to more flowery notes. Incredibly complex with long aftertaste.
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5/23/2020 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
The grand finale for my 40th birthday celebration (Adam's, Logan Square, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose was highly aromatic and deep with it showing the classic oxidative style with almonds, toast, roasted nuts, bruised apples, spiced pears, baker's vanilla, cider, dough, and brioche.
Taste: The feel is Medium/full bodied with tart, high acidity. There was a bit of punch to the acidity, but it was beautifully integrated and seamless. There was good weight and depth to the feel with toast, red apples, almonds, roasted nuts, bruised apples, cider notes, dough, and brioche.
Overall: I wasn't able to get the disgorgement date down on this. That said, it was a wonderful and quintessential Selosse and that is all one really needs.
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5/19/2020 - Trydebull Likes this wine: 91 Points
Helblint
deg 20/12 2016 (troligtvis 11/10/09 i flaskan).
Doften ger fina äpplen, hyacint, lätt parfymig, linneskåp, försommarhonung, alphonung, solrosfrön, mariekex.
Smaken ger fin balans, lite parfymig, lätt citron men även gula äpplen.
Måste vara Selosse...
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5/2/2020 - MWiking wrote: 92 Points
Deg 24 april 2015
Not my best selosse, a bit shy.
Great wine but not selosse magic
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4/28/2020 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
Older bottle disgorged 2006; lovely nose of honeyed red apple, lilac, a hint of hazelnut, poached pear, a definite oxidative style, but delicious to me. The palate is silky with a caressing mousse that amplifies the beautiful flavors of ripe apple, honeysuckle, and peach crumble. Excellent. Wish these wines were a bit more affordable, but they are certainly delicious.
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4/23/2020 - HPringle Likes this wine: 94 Points
Disgorged 2th August 2018. Honeyed colour and initially reticent nose. Palate evolved in the glass from initial citrus to deep savoury/ umami, with dried porcini and walnuts. Delicious fridge cold, but grew into something completely wonderful at it warmed up. Very lovely- need to get some more of this!
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4/19/2020 - piyeh Likes this wine: 93 Points
The fragrance has a pear-like fragrance, and the sweet and fruity aromas of strawberries and peach, as well as roasted toast scent. The taste is very refreshing and sour, and it returns to the sweetness after entering the throat. The complex and long lingering rhythm impacts the senses repeatedly in the mouth, like drinking a vintage Montrachet with bubbles!
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4/15/2020 - Mrboudin wrote: 94 Points
deg 18
One of the best bottles i had of initial.
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4/3/2020 - robertek wrote: 92 Points
My least favorite wine of from Selosse...
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3/21/2020 - bengemarräng Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deg 2016-12-20
Good but needs time to unfold.
Very good on the nose after an hour.
Wait with this one.
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3/17/2020 - uncorked.fr Likes this wine:
Disgorged April 2019. Vinous, deep gold, slightly oxidative and delicious. The nose comes across a bit more aged than the palate, which is remarkably bright and fresh.
Aromas: applesauce, walnut, brioche, pear, toast, vanilla, hints of butterscotch, medicinal plants and ocean breeze
Flavors: green apple, pear, Meyer lemon, brioche, toasted almond, vanilla, chalk, lemon zest, hint of salt
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3/1/2020 - appel54 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Guldgul färg
Väldigt mycket rostade toner och sherry initialt på doften, efterhand mer och mer röda äpplen. Efter mer luft blir det mer och mer som en mersault med brynt smör och nötter
Intensiv och oerhört bra längd. Grym komplexitet.
Den här var deggad 2014 så den har fått några år på sig. Fantastiskt vin!
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2/20/2020 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Deg. 2018 - Rcih, decadent, very Vin Nature with loads of fallen apples and an pronounced minerality; this remains an aquired taste, but great wine, nevertheless.
#IB
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2/16/2020 - cct wrote:
I did not catch the disgorgement date
An excellent mix of freshness and just enough oxidative notes to make it interesting. Fresh and crisp, well delineated and precise.
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2/4/2020 - ffzhang Likes this wine: 94 Points
Disgorged 2019. Beautiful color and aroma. Slightly oxidative and nutty character, cut through by minerality. Complex and creamy with very fine bubbles. Delicious.
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1/31/2020 - Shiaxonna wrote: 93 Points
Degorged 2008. Golden color, intense nose and palate. A wonder of a Champagne, but will not benefit from additional cellartime. Starting to show secondary notes of ripe apples and caramel.
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1/26/2020 - R.H. Likes this wine:
jul 2018 disgorgement. always a brilliant bottle. vibrant and energetic. tightly wound still. corkage at momofuku ko.
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1/24/2020 - Jonne Likes this wine: 96 Points
Degorgerad mars 2013. Massiv. Burgundisk betong – kanderad citrus med några droppar brynt smör. Och så lite jästsvamp på det och en hint krita på slutet. Wow!
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1/11/2020 - vinkeger wrote: 94 Points
Degosjert 12 jan 2016. Rik nese, heftige oksidative toner av innskrumpede epler, kamfer, gul frukt, sjø, tang og tare. Rik stil, stor kompleksitet. Fyldig vin i munn som breier seg ut og tar plass. Ingen sparsom stil på frukten. Generøs, men med et nydelig bitt som holder alt på plass. Frukten har noen friske elementer i munn som ikke er like lette å finne på nese. Fersken og aprikos. Lang utgang.
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12/31/2019 - Superjojo57 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dégorgement 2012.
Excellent Champagne, notes finement oxydatives, large et long à la fois, typiquement Selosse, et conservait un potentiel de garde mais s'il était à son apogée.
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12/31/2019 - Miceri Likes this wine: 96 Points
Champagne of the night; degorged 2013; mid yellow; really powerful, lots of mousse, lots of taste, citrus flavours, has it all and lots of it
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12/31/2019 - LW31 Likes this wine:
May 2016 disgorgement, I believe 08/09/10 base years. This was rather open, easy but still with good depth and typical Initial notes. Perhaps a bit less energy than I would expect coming from these three vintages. Great with pizza etc. Best over next 3-4 years i would imagine.
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12/29/2019 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
5/11/17 disgorged) Delicious but oddly uncharismatic. Had all the element of Initial - a little nutty, a little slutty, poire and marmalade. But it never really grabbed me mid-drink, forcing my attention on it vs just enjoying and Selosse always does that.
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12/27/2019 - _water.into.wine_ wrote: 95 Points
Sadly I lost the disgorgement date so I am putting under NV. I think it was around 2010-12 though.
Gold to Amber. Medium to generous bubbles. Developing nose. High acidity and high intensity of flavours. Such a fresh and crisp palate. The nose is aged and if not for the bottles you would think older given the oxidative style. Lots of apples. Complex and balanced.
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12/26/2019 - ToveStina Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deg Januari 2016
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12/26/2019 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
This was an older version, disgorged in 7/2006; the color is deep gold and the nose is definitely oxidative; rich brioche, bruised apple, a hint of toasted hazelnut, floral notes; the bubbles are subtle and the palate shows a rich, vinous tone with very elegant mousse. Very enjoyable, though if you don't like oxidative notes you probably won't like this.
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12/25/2019 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dégorgement Jan 5,2017. Straw yellow color. Nuts and pain grillé on the nose. Fine mousse,mineral, with persistent long citrus aftertaste.
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12/21/2019 - thewiz Likes this wine: 93 Points
(Disgorged in December 2016, based on 2010, 2009 and 2008, 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Oger, dosage 1.5 gr/l)
Lovely golden yellow colour with an endless stream of very fine bubbles that lead way for the maturing nose showing red apples, biscuits and gingerbread. Maturing palate showing red apples acidity combined with some dried fruit and a nice finish focused on elegance rather than intensity. Lighter and more elegant than I anticipated, in a very delicious and pleasant way.
(Best with 3-9 years extra cellaring)
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12/20/2019 - matage Likes this wine: 96 Points
Degorged Jan -16
Simply amazing bottle that kept improving over 90 minutes. Notes of freshly made high quality marzipan, grilled citrus with a creamy mousse. I can't imagine it could improve beyond this and this ended up as probably one of my top 6 champagnes so far.
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12/18/2019 - Bluespolo wrote: 93 Points
Naso ricco e complesso, opulento. Burro alle nocciole, frutta dorata, mineralità, e spezie, tostato in sottofondo. bollicina finissima e cremosa, struttura che gioca da protagonista con una freschezza che la supporta in sinergia con la sapidità minerale. Finale di notevole persistenza
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12/18/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged July, 2015. Medium yellow and still quite lively bead. Freshly cut red apple and ginger. Really dynamic, zesty, and creamy at the same time. More citric on the palate. Superb bottle. I tend to favor about this amount of age in these wines, although some bottles have been more oxidative at a similar stage post-disgorgement.
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12/16/2019 - Trydebull Likes this wine: 92 Points
Helblint Gothenburg 191119.
Deg 2017 92++
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12/14/2019 - ubercuvee wrote:
2012 disgorgement. Volatile and heavily over oaked
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12/3/2019 - Raizes Likes this wine: 93 Points
“柑橘、柠檬、甘草，矿物和少许的氧化风味，以及一点蜂蜜焦糖气息。酸度比较柔和，但能和圆润柔顺的酒质形成平衡，回味中更多微氧化的味道。
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11/24/2019 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
As usual, quite oxidative, rich, almost a little flat. Good, interesting. Disgorged 2013. At ER Caviar and Champagne Tasting
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11/17/2019 - acyso wrote: 95 Points
Inaugural mensual 17th dinner (Nico Osteria) (Chicago, IL): Disgorged March 1, 2007. I've had some problems with the older Selosse wines -- sometimes, they're too nutty and oxidative, but then you come across a bottle like this and you're back on the bandwagon. This is like carbonated, non-sweet, low-alcohol madeira. The nose is incredibly complex, with nuts, a hint of smoke, and some other sweet things. Like the nose, the palate has that same sort of complexity. There's a broadness that hides the mineral and acid skeleton structure of this wine.
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11/17/2019 - hajoha wrote: 93 Points
Selosse Initiale.
Gogget januar 16.
Nedfallsepler, moden fersken, krydder og svak søtbakst.
Akkurat innafor på oksidasjons-skalaen.
Fantastisk mousse - strålende munnfølelse.
Fullt Selosse trøkk i anslaget.
Et slagskudd av konsentrert moden frukt og livlig syre.
Holder kurven gjennom.
Meget lang elektrisk finish. 93-94p
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11/9/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote:
La Fête du Champagne Grand Tasting (Pier Sixty - New York NY): Walk around tasting. 2010 base with 09, 08. Oxidative style to an extreme.
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11/4/2019 - Trydebull Likes this wine: 92 Points
Helblint 191013 Skåne BYOB
Mörkgul i färgen
Doften ger gummistövel som försvinner. Skumbanan. Sen en parfymig ton och grön-gul banan.
Smaken - Fruktig, äpplig, hög syra, banan och syrliga karameller.
Gott. Men oförlöst. De här behöver verkligen ligga!
92+++
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11/3/2019 - englishman's claret wrote: 92 Points
Autumnal as before, but also slightly oxidative which I don't love.
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11/3/2019 - Nutty08 wrote:
Disgorged Nov 17. Only had a small pour. Impressive, linear and refined. Nice mineral character. Got crushed in no time at all.
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10/24/2019 - RolfT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Disgorged 21 Oct 2013
Has the selosse DNA for sure, but is a bit ungiving compared to the older disgorgement's I've had recently (the 12 and 07 disgorgements being the best of these). Also a bit unbalanced as there is a sweet liquer note at the same time quite austere finish.
Overall comes across a little bit too young for my taste. Same as the 13 disgorged V.O. we drank in September.
Better with an hour air after opening and a lovely champagne, really! But I've had better Selosse.
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10/12/2019 - jens.thogersen wrote: 90 Points
Gula och röda äpplen, vanilj lätt oxiderad doft. Djup gul färg.
Smaken är full av gula mogna äpplen, fyllig och full av smak. Varar väldigt länge.
Helt ok men är inte överrumplad
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10/6/2019 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
November 2017 disgorgement. There were some nutty notes to begin. With air citrus blossom, white peach and green apple came to the fore. It was layered, creamy. Complex and engaging. The finish was loaded with chalk.
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9/28/2019 - denerin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Didn't take any formal notes, but from memory: perfectly new baked bread with orange zest marmalade. Some apples and oxidative noted (sherry).. Lively, and long!! Amazing wine. Very burgundy in stile.
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9/21/2019 - bpatoc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really beatiful NV champagne. Creamy and luscious. Some nice minerality.
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9/20/2019 - Pavan wrote: 93 Points
Dégorgée Sep 2012. Surprisingly powerful, almost green acidity and good length. Golden colour
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9/7/2019 - canan wrote: 94 Points
Selosse Tasting (JH): Sherry-notes, liquor and green apples, with a touch of vanilla. Very intense and charming wine. Lots of complexity with florality, marzipan and mixed nuts. Impressive wine.
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9/7/2019 - Kim Gerner wrote: 90 Points
Jacques Selosse - semi blind horisontal and vertical tasting (14 wines) (Nordsjaelland): BdB. Disgorged 4/2015. Med+ gold colour. Slightly oxidative aromas including toffee and also notes of toast but not overwhelming.
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9/5/2019 - Billy Swan wrote:
Disgorged in August 2013. Sadly, probably the last Selosse I’ll buy unless I win the lottery. Almost six years after disgorging it is still vital if not outright youthful. Fruit is still fresh, acidity comes at you like a lazily shot arrow (a wee bit rounded but still very perky), slightly nutty tones of oxidation, like Anselme has splashed some good Sherry in a Puligny, and flowery sensations covered in chalk. Sad to see it go, but thankful to having been able to drink a few.
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8/26/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged November, 2017. Yellow, light mousse. Fresh, creamy bitter citrus flavors with little in the way of oxidative notes. Outstanding depth and length.
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8/25/2019 - Jammy Wine wrote: 88 Points
Initial in secondary phase.. Normally I rate Initial highly but this bottle, disgorged in Jan 2016 was not up to the usual level - Strangely this bottle of Initial is already maturing at a fast pace and is missing the fresh energy one would expect from a young Initial. Yellow orchard fruits, ripe lemon zest and oxidative notes of cream soda and touch of sherry. Phenol touch on the palate. Bottle variation? (88/100)
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8/24/2019 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
Disorged 05/15, not blind
After 4-5 years is for me is the best time to drink Initial. Pine nuts, honey, concentrated, refreshing, balaced, powerful. red apples. 95
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8/20/2019 - champagnedoktoren Likes this wine: 94 Points
Disgorged July 2018. Powerful champagne. Very expressive and complex aromas. Tasted alongside Marguet Shaman 14 and Egly-Ouriet Tradition and even though they were good they didn’t stand a chance against this Initial. Much more creamy and complex. Such a long finish as well. I really enjoyed this.
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8/9/2019 - Burgaddict wrote:
Degorgement May 2016. Absolutely stunning Initial, got better and better in time in bottle after opening (just leave it be for an hour). Fruit, oxidized tones and acidity combined in heavenly taste, great length.
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8/3/2019 - Patrik H Likes this wine: 92 Points
Degorged April 24 2015
On the nose: Marzipan, apple, wet stone, fudge, oxidation
On the palate: Apple, marzipan, citrus, rosewater, sherry
Long finish
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7/27/2019 - jviz Likes this wine: 96 Points
Disgorged 2017. Enjoyed a bottle at La Table de Plaisance in St. Emilion. My first time to try Selosse.
Light gold color, with fine bead. The nose is unique, doesn't really call anything I've had before to mind, except maybe krug with some age? Notes of baked apples, sourdough bread, and chalky minerals in the finish. That doesn't sound too far off the path, but this is a different kind of champagne altogether.
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7/25/2019 - khybner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice alright but not sure if this is starting to show some age (despite neing disgorged in May 2016) or if it's an off bottle.
Would have expected it a tad crisper.
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7/21/2019 - fontaine wrote: 94 Points
Debut des vacances... arrivés enfin à Combloux. Bouteille dégorgée en novembre 2013. Couleur jaune or demontrant une belle evolution. Une belle bouche cremeuse sur les pommes, les noix et les pâtisseries. Superbe fraicheur et longueur!
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7/21/2019 - the godfather wrote: 97 Points
Fire, this was one of the best champagnes I’ve tasted, secondary, beyond complex
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7/16/2019 - Raizes Likes this wine: 93 Points
柑橘、焦糖和甜香料的气息，咸芝士和微氧化带来的风味。气泡不算持久但足够细腻，酸度和酒质都显得十分温婉，可以当成非常好的干白来喝，恍惚中有一点Hermitage Marsanne的感觉。
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7/11/2019 - Jowh wrote: 93 Points
Marzipan, orange zest, mature yellow apples. Pleasant white grapefruit ending.
Gogged March 13. A very fine example of this cuvée. It needs 5-6 years to shine imho.
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7/10/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged January, 2015. Full yellow, lively mousse out of the bottle. A touch of caramel and citrus. Full bodied, fantastically creamy, dry, and long without any pronounced oxidative character. Wonderful ginger spice to complement the bitter orange fruit. A great bottle of Initial at a perfect point in its development.
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7/6/2019 - Bisou Likes this wine: 91 Points
Yellow and green bruised apples, toasted hazelnuts, charred lemon and a little nougat. A bit overhyped and very good tasting...
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6/22/2019 - tziemer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very consistent wine, always a pleasure to drink Selosse! Im in love with its elegant oxidation and length with amazing acidity!
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6/21/2019 - danielk168 Likes this wine: 91 Points
bit early in the drinking window I think, need to decant for a while and body became much more robust and more aromas appeared, but we were drinking way too fast and regret it.
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6/17/2019 - Miceri Likes this wine: 97 Points
Purchased 6 years ago; golden yellow; nice brioche; nice bready yeasty taste with good acidity, excellent mousse, really tasty; clearly improved with age
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6/15/2019 - ovenmitt wrote: 93 Points
Another from the 2017 disgorgement..... this one was on and as it should be.
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6/9/2019 - LWI wrote: 91 Points
60-års dag og blinsmaking: Blind. Deg. 2014. Sitron, noenlunde dyp, sitrondrops, svak mentol; stilig, men litt ukompleks, grei lengde.
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6/7/2019 - Vinomark wrote: 93 Points
July 2012 disgorge
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6/2/2019 - ovenmitt wrote: 88 Points
This bottle from the 2017 disgorgement seemed off. A pervasive piney-ness and strange mouthfeel. It wasn’t corked, but seemed strangely oxidized - not in the normal Selosse sense. I mention 2017 because Christina said she had a similar problem on a 17. I hope my other bottles aren’t suffering the same fate - maybe bottle time would resolve this?
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5/29/2019 - petterkalle Likes this wine: 95 Points
OMG. Very tasty, oxidized, nutty, toast..enjoyed tremendously. Deg 16.
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5/29/2019 - RolfT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deg 2009. Opened and enjoyed slowly over 1.5 hours. Bottle in fine shape, but seemed a little bit restrained compared to other degorgements Ive had. Also a little hollow on the midpalate.
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5/24/2019 - RolfT wrote:
Champagne tasting. No scores but ranked from best to worst.
1. 2000 Dom Perignon P2 - blind. classic big house prestige cuvee style. High class, but a bit generic - didnt guess Dom P.
2. Selosse Initial (deg09) - another beautiful initial, this time with almost 10 years post-deg aging which it carries effortlessly. However, some thinning in flavour. Maybe not one to save much longer.
3. 2004 Cristal - still very youthful, but has substance.
4. 2008 Dom Perignon - surprisingly accessible already!
4. 1998 Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame - deliciously mature, but on the 6. downslope - DRINK NOW
2008 Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame - very young, but accessible to some degree.
7. 2006 Taittinger Comtes - much too young, should be stored.
7. 2011 Pierre Peters Chetillons - young and rather anonymous
9. Krug Grande Cuvee (deg2003) - poorly stored
10. Ulysse Collin Rose (12 base. 18deg) - very young and complete lack of complexity.
11. 2009 Pierre Paillard Les Mottelletes - easy drinking and good value, but a tad too sweet.
12. Grande Siecle (fra start 2000'er) - Cork tainted
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5/11/2019 - Kim Gerner wrote: 89 Points
Jacques Selosse - horizontal tasting with Anselme Selosse (L'Esprit du Vin Copenhagen): Latest disgorging. Pale gold colour. Lemon, falloutapple, brioche, nutty, very oxidative style. Develops (too) fast in the glass . Medium finish. Harvested latex/more ripe grapes, fermentation in small barrels, 6 years of ageing.
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5/11/2019 - RolfT Likes this wine: 91 Points
Disgorged 13 Nov 2018 - 2012 base?
Deeper and richer and slightly more oxidative than the V.O.
After 20min in glas takes on a slightly worrying oxidated character.
Good, but too young - drink from 2022.
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5/10/2019 - Binkey wrote: 93 Points
Very nice color,you can not see the bubbles but you feel them in your tongue.Nut and citron aromas with strong acidity and long aftertaste.a unique champagne from a small producer.
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5/4/2019 - Mbad77 wrote: 91 Points
Disgorged July 2017. Rich colour and lots of larger sized bubbles, holding plenty of fizz.
Slightly oxidised but I quite like that in the right way. Lean and sharp green apple on the finish and quite dry, which for my taste means lack of richness or dosage. Seems a bit simple in some ways and seems like it’s trying to be two things rather than been very good at one. Others may well love this style (other two sharing loved it)
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4/30/2019 - NoTrollingerPlease Likes this wine: 94 Points
Best bottle (Restaurant Waldhorn, Kirchheim, Germany): Glass: Gabriel Standard
Disgorged in 2013. Nice golden color. Beautiful, precise and focused nose. Fine mousseux. On the palate very rich but focused and precise. Fine yellow fruit. Deep and complex, great mineral notes and vibrant energy and tension with an enormous pressure. Very long and fine finish. Great Champagne for sure. Amazing experience! 93-94
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4/25/2019 - AValdes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank at Acquerello in SF
Dis: 10/13
Great, deep yellow color. Not as rich as some other Initial I've had but still showed good energy.
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4/16/2019 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Disgorged 27th August. 2018. Quite a fine nose of bread, tart tatin, lemon cued and mineral. It is full in the mouth, with layers of flavour. There's fruit sweetness and a chalky dry finish.
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4/8/2019 - EskoR Likes this wine: 92 Points
deg 15
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4/5/2019 - Burgaddict wrote:
Leiden in Voorhout: Degorgement 2017. These Initial need not be kept in cellar for long, this is drinking already super now. Textbook Selosse, concentration, depth, savory, sweetness, oxidative tones.
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4/2/2019 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Comprehensive Selosse (Chicago, IL): Disgorged November 2017. Independently, this is one of my favourite "entry-level" champagnes, but coming off the flight of Lieux-dits BdBs, it's pretty obvious that this wine is a huge step down in terms of complexity and concentration. There's a mild hint of oxidation on the nose here, which is carried on the palate as well. The fruit profile is simple, with a bit of sweetness. Crisp acids, and without a doubt a well-made champagne, but this (perhaps rightly) just can't hit the highs of the other wines.
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4/1/2019 - thunberg wrote: 92 Points
100 % chardonnay, deg 09/2018, basviner 2010,11 och 12, 5 g/l.
Massiv, djup, frukt i mängder bakom en vägg av nötighet. Snyggt balanserad syra och bra längd. Mycket speciell, något svår att greppa. Jag har bara druckit Initial en gång tidigare, baserad på 10,11 och 12, deg 2016 och jag fann den mer tillgänglig än denna så kanske i en konstig fas. Gott är det.
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3/22/2019 - Barry Rothof wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged in April 2016. What a delicate nose, with lovely, gentle toasty and biscuity notes. Fresh and vived on the palate with subtly nutty notes and gorgeous sparkling finesse! This Initial is a blend of vintages 2010, 2009 and 2008.
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3/18/2019 - Torchy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cederic Bouchard tasting with add-ons. (LystPå resturant Bodø): Fantastic nose. Malt and light camphor. Honey and yellow fruit. Golden in mouth. Very long
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3/18/2019 - Skaggs.1980 wrote: 92 Points
Deg. 2016
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3/10/2019 - Ms. Bubblehead Likes this wine:
Disgorged in 2014. Similar to my previous note, very fresh on the nose, yellow and white flowers, pear, lemon cream and minerals, on the palate, very complex with structured layers of fruits like raspberries pie, lemon skin, and apple cream, quite mineral and a bit yeasty, acidity was very focused and lingering. Love it.
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3/8/2019 - LWI wrote: 93 Points
Deg. 2011. Mature, hazelnuts, almost buttery on the nose, complex; Yellow apples, moderate acidity -- but enough to balance the rather heavy fruit, long, fines -- but slightly bitter finish. Not the most vibrant wine, possibly on its way down.
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3/1/2019 - pernod Likes this wine: 89 Points
Golden, clear, plenty small bubbles. Bread, red apple, yellow pear, brioche, wood nose. Red apple, brioche, honey syrup taste. Rich, full, fruity and ripe. More a food wine than an aperitif to my plebeian palate.
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2/18/2019 - EskoR Likes this wine: 94 Points
deg 13
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2/17/2019 - englishman's claret wrote: 94 Points
The nose seems to suggest that some air or more bottle age might help - slightly reticent orchard fruit. But on the palate, this shows tremendous expressiveness and life with ripe appley, pear, orchard fruit, slightly autumnal but with a bit of citrus to keep it bright. Beautiful mousse. Lovely stuff.
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1/30/2019 - RolfT wrote: 94 Points
Deg 2010. Decanted. Beautiful, fully mature Initial. Fully pleasurable and ready for business. Enjoyed slightly warmer than optimum.
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1/30/2019 - RolfT wrote: 94 Points
Deg: 16/10/2012
Wow - this is a beautiful edition of the Initial with potential for futher development. Better structure and focus/edge than the 2010 disgorgement. In hindsight we probably should have decanted this.
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1/21/2019 - KB_001 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Doft av mogna äpplen, fruktig kraftig smak. Inte så kraftig mousse (ganska länge i glaset innan provsmakning). Mycket bra vin men inte riktigt så att det passar mig.
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1/12/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Peter's BDay (Bistro Na Pasadena): Tasted blind alongside a 06 Leclapart L'Apotre and '10 Hebrart Rive Gauche Rive Droite. My #2, but #1 for the majority. Disgorged 20 July 2016, but I don't know the vintage blend. Great depth, and nice nutty oxidative notes, a hint of citrus. On the palate, excellent acidity, and great texture...a bit broader than the Leclapart, but to my palate, less so than the Hebrart. Again excellent.
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1/11/2019 - JohnnyBark wrote:
I could roll in this wine like a pig in mud. The ‘16 disgorge seems to be firing on most cylinders. Based on my grandmas rose garden 40 years ago, when they actually had a scent, this wine was the peach colored roses. Classic roses, not this hybrid crap with no character. The Initial never has the rich full palate of the lieux dits, but it’s still a pleasure bomb in a bottle. The palate and price are equally intense and becoming somewhat out of balance as I see this selling at a 30% increase in one year. Fun wine either way.
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1/3/2019 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 93 Points
The first bottle of Selosse I purchased for myself (great deal in US terms from a Zachy's sale last year for under $140). While I have tasted this and other Selosse wines before, it is something altogether different to be able to enjoy a whole bottle just among the two of us. The nose is a knock-out – so much going on. The palate is beautiful, with richness that descends gradually into a chalky note on the finish. It is just as enjoyable without the bubbles for me too. A truly lovely wine of power and grace that would elicit a higher rating (from me) if only the price were not so crazy.
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1/1/2019 - jvphoto Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic. Medium to deep gold (darker than I would have imagined) with a good stream of bubbles that accent, but not dominate the wine. Lemon cream, toasted brioche, jasmine, honey...hard to pull your nose away. Listed as Brut but seems drier. Initially a rich/nutty palate that gives way to lemon curd, honeysuckle, lime zest and je ne sais quoi crisp minerality with a light dusting of smoke.
DG Nov 2017
NYE morning with a homemade Bulgarian banitsa.
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12/31/2018 - pawa wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle of the October 2002 disgorgement. Of course it is very mature but still hugely enjoyable.
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12/30/2018 - Ellie's wine wrote:
By 2020
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12/25/2018 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 95 Points
Degorgement July 23,2015. Straw yellow color. Brioche, roasted bread on the nose. Very rich and lush palette, minerals with some lemon zest. Wow this bottle is performing much better than expected.
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12/24/2018 - Foch Likes this wine: 93 Points
Degorgerad 4 juli 2018. En smakbomb jämfört med en Philipponnat 2014 som dracks samma kväll. Bra redan nu.
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12/23/2018 - faivre_eric wrote: 95 Points
Very solid showing of Initial!
A little austère at first, very dry.
Only a little effervescence (very fine bubbles), more a wine than a Champagne.
Then as the evening went on (and warmed up) it opened up to wonderful aromas of pears, ginger and oak.
Very well balanced and structure.
Next time i will follow the recommendation and decant it.
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12/17/2018 - overkloud Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark golden in color. Orange peel, cooked apple, roasted nuts and honey on the nose and palate. it has the signature JS toasty note, complex yet elegant.
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12/14/2018 - LW31 Likes this wine:
9 November 2017 disgorgement. Really nice showing. Quite tense and nervy still but with some time in glass and a touch warmer it broadens nicely, becomes more vinous. Still very much on the yellow citrus side of spectrum. Think this disgorgement probably needs at least another 2-3 years to really show best.
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12/9/2018 - cadamson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Disgorged July 2017.
Umm, wow. Somewhat deep gold. Huge yeasty bread when popped, but quickly being a chameleon to scores of different profiles as time went on. Beautifully and lightly effervescent, really secondary to the underlying wine. A wonderful contradiction. Fresh, yet hints of interesting oxidation. Mellow, balanced flavor profile, yet ebullient. With an hour in the decanter it gets more tropical in nature, though keeps its light smokey and mineral personality. The longer it sits, more tart lemon comes out. Damn good stuff with a great personality. Next time I would not worry so much about making it last hours, as I liked it best in the first hour.
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12/8/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged January, 2015. Full yellow. Lightly effervescent. Wonderful apple and ginger aromas. Minimal but perceptible dosage. Creamy feel, deeply flavored, and poised between freshness and early secondary hints of caramel. Excellent acidic backbone. An outstanding example of Initial drunk at the optimal time post-disgorgement for my taste. Makes many a Grand Marque Champagne seem pretty insipid and lifeless.
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12/7/2018 - Gerbos Likes this wine: 94 Points
Degorgerad: dec 2016
Näsa: Bokna äpplen och saffransbröd.
Mun: bokna äpplen även här, men också en släng av stenfrukt, diskret touch av citrusfrukt, kanske inbillar jag mig detta men jag tycker mig även känna nämnda saffransbröd (med mandelmassa) i smaken i någon sekund innan den övergår till en balanserade ek. Den finns en genomgående intensitet och syra som följer varje steg av smakspektrat och binder samman de olika momenten. Det samlade intrycket är att detta inte är ett spretande vin, utan ett väl balanserat vin som utgår från de komponenter som Selosse vet att han behärskar så väl.
Det är imponerande hur snyggt detta vin är. Ett hantverk som väldigt få kan konkurrera med.
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12/5/2018 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Wasn't planning on opening this for a while longer, but...special occasion. Disgorged 16 July 2015, based on 07/08/09, I think (but have to double check). Decanted. Like a grand cru burgundy with bubbles. On the nose, some oxidative nutty notes, rich vanillin and toast, floral notes. On the palate, great acidity, bubbles supporting the nose, great richness...wow.
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11/9/2018 - B Paul wrote:
Outstanding. Last glass was the best after it had been open for 3 hours or so. Disgorged May 15, 2017.
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11/2/2018 - fontaine wrote: 94 Points
Un producteur que j’affectionne beaucoup. Sa cuvée d’entrée de gamme (si on peut vraiment dire) Initial est habituellement superbe et cette bouteille ne fait pas exception. Un parfum de fleur blanche et une bouche sur la pomme verte et la brioche. Une bouche crémeuse et fraiche dans un style moins oxydé que d’autres cuvées.
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11/1/2018 - soyhead wrote:
At Zuni Cafe
25 Oct 2016 disgorgement
Grapefruit, mineral, hazelnut and a hint of sherry. Nice, but will improve with bottle age
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10/31/2018 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged 7/23/15. Light-to-medium oxidation, with some fried plantain and butterscotch notes darting through the ripe yellow citrus and pear skin core. Bruised lemon peel, toasted almond, and faint salinity round out the attack. Medium acidity and effervescence, with some softer edges that make for a smooth finish.
More of a richer, rounder version and less of a high-toned bright yellow citrus animal. Less of a frothy and bracing acid sort as well. A bit Krug-esque in regards to the oxidation and its more serious light-bronze/coppery contour. A liquid party that leans more toward “stately” and “merrymaking” (insert proper British accent)...and less of the “off-da-hook-pahrTAY we just won the Indy 500!” type of celebratory sprayer (insert Ricky Bobby twang).
An easy drinker to be sure, pairing great with a sturgeon caviar in a whipped potato “cloud” (who even knew there was such a thing?!). Drinking well on PnP; I wouldn’t hesitate to open this now, as I personally would want to take advantage of the freshness and energy this is displaying now. Depends how you like your bubbles I suppose. If you prefer lamp oil and seltzer water, then maybe hold this for 20 years. But if you want a solid Champagne that performs with some maturity despite its youth, grab yourself a glass of this royal molten juice and go to town...err... rather, “promenade to the Thea-tah [theater]!”
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10/19/2018 - Lewerentz Likes this wine: 94 Points
See previous note. Disg 2010. Perfect now. 93-94p
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10/15/2018 - StasMedvedev.lv Does not like this wine: 96 Points
🏅Rating 96/100 (4,6⭐)
Powerful, juicy BdB. True style of the Domaine. Liquid oxidative honey.
---
Read my wine writing at stasmedvedev.lv
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10/13/2018 - Peter Z. wrote: 95 Points
deg. Jan 2017
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9/28/2018 - 1W2T Likes this wine: 93 Points
Riktigt bra!!
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9/24/2018 - m_arcon wrote: 94 Points
Disgorgement 2012. My first Selosse and I now really know (especially after the second bottle) where all the buzz is coming from. This Initial was already very nice with a high focus, having the slightly oxidative "Selosse touch" but gaining more and more freshness with air. Lemon zest, white flowers and just a bit of yeast. Rich palate with power, tension and length. A world class Champagne.
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9/24/2018 - NoTrollingerPlease Likes this wine: 94 Points
An evening with wine geeks (@Private location, Frankfurt): Glass: Gabriel Gold
Disgorged in 2012. Nice golden color. Beautiful, precise and focused nose. On the palate very rich but focused and precise. Deep and complex, great mineral notes and vibrant energy and tension. Very long and fine finish. Great Champagne for sure. Amazing experience!
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9/23/2018 - hsacks Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to the prior bottles. Disgorged 4/24/12.
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9/16/2018 - jwsmith wrote: 93 Points
This was a really great example creamy rich so good.
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9/12/2018 - mrbry83 Likes this wine:
Disgorged Oct '14. First time with the Initial, had Substance before. This is definitely much younger, but very similar in style. Nutty on the palate initially and nose was slightly tight. With some air (few hours) and warming up, got great acidic bite and the nuttiness falls to the background, but then a bit later nuttiness comes back again. Enjoyed its evolution over the evening. Bubbles were persistent throughout the evening as well.
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9/8/2018 - Lewerentz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disg 2010, usually like them young but must have got this in the perfect moment. Golden mature complex but still active and with high acid 92-93p
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9/4/2018 - mye Likes this wine:
Disgorged April 2015.
Slightly oxidative in style, with lemon zest/lime notes. Bready, toasty 'initial'ly, but with air, it gained a lot of depth and picked up notes of peach, pear, and balanced acidity. Yum.. paired really well with a number of the courses at Benu.
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9/2/2018 - Ms. Bubblehead Likes this wine:
Disgorged in 2014. Very fresh on the nose which was a bit surprising (in positive way), I guessed the disgorgement year is in 2016 based on this freshness. White flower, mint, lemon tart, and stony fruits; on the palate, deep and structured, layer of lemon pie, citrus, and almond
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8/27/2018 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Disgorged 12 January 2016, LB10116. Rich and mouthcoating, multi-faceted. Notes of apple pie, lemon, peach nectar and butterscotch.
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8/24/2018 - sh6k wrote: 96 Points
Dry sauternes. Rich. Chalky candy. Oxidative.
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8/16/2018 - KimHartman wrote: 93 Points
Deg 2016-01
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8/15/2018 - pclin wrote:
Drinking beautifully at the moment.
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8/5/2018 - gfb1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Yellow-soft golden color with some murkiness. Minerality on bouquet (some flint?) with distant hint of orange peel and honey. Nice earthy undertones with brioche. There is walnut in there and a hint of flower blossom, perhaps linden. Tiny, well distributed bubbles. Highly complex on palate, with a tiny bit of sherry, good oxidation, pastry, with some orange essence, meyer lemon, and pear or apple in there. Stays long on the tongue. This was my first Selosse; its level of complexity, balance and amazing craft left me nothing less than in awe. I tried to engage in polite conversation, yet, unable to do so, as I was totally absorbed by this wonderful creature that I had just met: sniffing, sipping, savoring; this is a wine worth the expense and demanding of appreciation.
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8/4/2018 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lemon curd, a little nutty, round and expansive, great persistence, pretty terrific.
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7/28/2018 - SGoenophile Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dinner at Bistro du Vin, Kennedy Town HK. First introduction to this Champagne. Not too bubbly but still very refreshing. Complex, multi-layered, with lots of fresh acidity, concentrated zesty fruit, toasty notes, and a touch of oak.
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7/28/2018 - jfpwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disgorged 07/08/13. Straw color. Yeasty and oxidized nose, nuts and bruised apple. Softer body than I expected with a very complex palate and a finish that keeps going. Excellent.
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7/20/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:
October, 2014 disgorgement. Medium yellow, one of the liveliest bottles of this we've had recently. Incredible minerality, creaminess, and depth.
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7/11/2018 - decaturwinedude wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged 5/14. Richer-then-expected- golden yellow color with few, steady, tiny bubbles. It has hints of an oxidative note, with some sherry and honey but such lively energy, too. There's an earthy streak in the finish amidst almonds and tart green apple. With time in the glass, it opens to reveal a kaleidescope of scents on the nose. Really interesting about an hour in. Terrific stuff. Wish I could make Selosse my house bubbles. Love the stuff.
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6/23/2018 - Burgaddict wrote:
Degorgement July 2016. This is absolutely gorgeous. A combination of sweetness, acidity, fruit, minerals and oxidative tones that is spot on. Emptied half the bottle sitting in the sunshine and enjoyed life.
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6/7/2018 - MWiking wrote: 92 Points
deg 2016 june
a bit to oxidized this time
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6/6/2018 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
2010 disgorgement at a restaurant; I love this Champagne; bruised apple, honeysuckle, a hint of toasted walnut and brioche; the palate is rich and vinous yet still delivers the energy and freshness you want from a bubbly. Finishes long and lingers.
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5/31/2018 - Patrik H Likes this wine: 91 Points
Degorged 2013
On the nose: Oxidation, sherry, floral, vanilla
On the palate: Sherry, fudge, oxidation, vanilla, red apple
Long finish
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5/30/2018 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Dinner at Sun Wah (Chicago, IL): Disgorged December 11, 2014. This wasn't the best showing of this wine. It certainly had the correct notes, but there was a slight bit of high-toned character that seemed a bit out of place. Hazelnuts and browned apples. Great acidity and intense chalkiness.
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5/22/2018 - mat600 wrote: 93 Points
Pour la fête des mères. En l'honneur de la mienne qui n'est plus avec nous pour la première année. En l'honneur de la mère de mes enfants, une compagne incroyable. Grand champagne. Vineux avec des notes de pâtisserie et sur le fruit à l'orange. Long avec des bulles fines. 93 sur 100.
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5/20/2018 - hajoha wrote: 93 Points
Gogget i 2016.
Flott intensitet med Selosses klassiske oksidative toner, uten å gå over the top.
Fresh på smak med konsentrert spenstig frukt.
Nydelig nerve her - ungdommelig.
Bra trøkk!
Lang elektrisk finish med pen modning i frukten.
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5/7/2018 - odds Likes this wine: 92 Points
I enjoyed this one alot (02-2013 dis) and I think it falls in line with the selosse palate line I recall from previous tastings. Color wise, it fell well (bright yellow/gold) on the color scheme by age of four different champagnes. It was an enjoyable visual. Floral wise, it had the pears and flowers on the nose (could not detect them all, was slightly under the weather). Nice spices on the palate, along with a good balance of the minerals. Very little/gentle oak. The wine opened up over the course of the evening. Drank better after 2 hours or so.
A good addition to a line up of aging champagnes. No rush to drink it, but its already great.
(92+ to 93)
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5/4/2018 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
“Papa” delivers always. For me one of his best wines. Fresh, not too oxidative and enough power to accompany a whole dinner. Even that I prefer at least 5 years of disgorgement with Selosse champagnes the young one convince with a great freshness. 95
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4/30/2018 - kkazaks wrote: 93 Points
2009 disgorgement
Notes taken from a glass poured after about 1.5 hours of decanting.
Medium-plus gold color. Signs of effervescence - bubbles coating the glass.
A pronounced aroma of yeast, evident from far away. Bringing the glass closer to the nose, a lemon scent with a slight acetic acid quality (slight VA) like lemon infused vinegar, then scents of lime peel, chalk, old wood, white flowers, hints of almonds and hazelnut, medium-aged cheese rind, as well as a top note of green herbal shrubbiness. So quite a complex nose,
On the palate, a tart green apple quality shows itself, as well as a light pleasant salinity. Wonderful evolution on the palate, from light-medium-bodied to a more rich quality where the cheesy lees builds body, then right at the midpalate it gets lighter again, with an oxidized Savennieres quality.
Really quite nice.
93 points.
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4/15/2018 - R.H. Likes this wine:
corkage at Pasquale Jones. Very typical -- a push and pull of richness and tension. Will hold my other for another couple yrs of bottle age. Dis 5/2016
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4/14/2018 - KimHartman wrote: 94 Points
Deg 2016-01
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4/9/2018 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Disgorged in July 2017 and made up of 2009, 2010 and 2011. It smells like tarte tatin and lemon butter. It is full, rich and chalky, with power and elegance. The fine finish shows excellent persistence.
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4/8/2018 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nicely complex. Hints of oxidation but not bothersome. Good lemon and brioche and some toast. Good energy and tension. Nicely nuanced. Consistent with previous bottles.
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4/7/2018 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 92 Points
A much cleaner profile than other bottles I have had. Jan '17 disgorgement.
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4/7/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Acker Auction - April 2018 (Marea in NYC): From the new release. This was very impressive. Lots of spice and maybe some parsley and dill and herbal and just very interesting. Quite enjoyable.
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4/7/2018 - Lewerentz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Disg 2016. I prefer these quite young. 92-93p
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4/4/2018 - BastardMontrachet Likes this wine: 92 Points
Väldigt hög syra, jättelång eftersmak, väl oxiderad och blir bara bättre med luft.
Jättegott!
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3/27/2018 - Mascarello59 wrote:
As I fail to comprehend any of the greatness attributed to this champagne (first encounter) I rest my case. To me this is all green apples with high, refreshing as it is, acidity and apple must juice with a vinous character. I can see the potenital though, but I have no idea where it will drive the wine in 10 years time. Or it may be just like black olives, you just have to learn to like them...
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3/18/2018 - the godfather wrote:
Disgorged May 13, typically epic bubbles from the master. Insane nose
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3/17/2018 - vespa110 wrote: 93 Points
Bellisimo colore oro, sboccatura 2006. Naso candito, frutta, spezie, gesso, bocca citrina, polposa e ricca con note leggere di ossidazione.
Piaciuto.
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3/12/2018 - soyhead wrote:
very nice, richness noted but seemingly less oxidative than the last bottle I had.
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2/24/2018 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Betty's BDay (Intercontinental DTLA): Disgorged 15 July 2015. I was told this is based on 08/09/10. Decanted and sat for about 15 min in decanter. Eyes-roll-back-in-your-head good. Just amazing concentration, balance, aromatic complexity. On the nose, precise and rich at the same time. Great density, and acidity is spot on. I don't know how to describe the fruit, which was so varied. Just sit back and enjoy.
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2/23/2018 - bons vinhos wrote: 95 Points
Never fails to deliver!
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2/16/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:
1978 Piemonte Dinner Showcasing Produttori Crus (Flour + Water, San Francisco): Disgorged late 2013. Full yellow, still good bead. Full bodied. Caramel and apple, dry back end with excellent stoniness. This has about as much of the oxidative quality as I find appealing and tolerable in Initial.
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1/28/2018 - Jowh wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged March 2013.
Amber color. Ripe apples. Sherry. Smoky mineral.
Strong mousse. Lively acidity. Powerful champagne.
Keeps well in the glass doesn’t fade.
More mature than expected.
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1/26/2018 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Complex combination between oxidized/caramel notes, citrus, bitter almond... all balanced by clean, racy acidity. This is both aged and fresh.
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1/19/2018 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice. Great flavors of lemon, toffee, coffee, pears. Creamy and wonderfully textured. Tiniest of bubbles. A really nice effort with great energy and verve. Good complexity balanced with nice youth.
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1/18/2018 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
Tasted at Marco Brunello's home as an appetizer.
The wine was NV, but they gave the date of degorgement on the back of the bottle: 18 April 2012.
Very fine and dense mousse, delicate and yeasty nose. Lovely, quite fresh and nice complexity.
A great start to a wonderful dinner!
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1/15/2018 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
Once again, “Initial is like a box of chocolate”. More mature expression, harmonious sweet and nutty nose displaying, baked apple, red currant, almond cookie, sweet spices and mineral. Perfectly harmonious palate, decadent sweet yellow fruit driven palate impression, fine mousse, perfect amount of acidity, strong mineral presence and a long decadent yellow fruit and mineral driven finish with a hint of almond cookie at the end. This particular bottle is similar to Substance but with more energy and freshness. Excellent showing.
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1/14/2018 - Finare Vinare wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged August 2, 2013.
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1/12/2018 - Lewerentz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disg -16 find it more interesting than one disg -09 l had couple of weeks ago. Selosse in general; he know what he is doing. 92-94p
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1/2/2018 - Italiana Likes this wine:
From 12/02 disgorgement. Very dark gold. Light mousse. Luscious oxidation. I can see why some like aged champagne.
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1/1/2018 - Biglama Likes this wine: 95 Points
veel mousse , bruisend, prachtig glas, heerlijk
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12/31/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
New Year's Eve (Healdsburg, California): Disgorged October, 2014. Light yellow. Medium body. Green apple, caramel, great soil and minerality. Not the most layered Initial at this point. Could use more time to round out.
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12/28/2017 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pale gold in color. Tiny bubbles as expected. Nose is of peeled apples, a bit of caramel, not much yeast. One of a kind. On the palate it is round. Not as acidic as most Champagnes I've tried. The texture reminds me more of DP than Krug. Good weight but with just enough acid to remain elegant. Like drinking a Meursault with bubbles with the oxidative nose of aged Jura's Savagnin. The finish is at least 50 seconds long. This is definitely unique. Excellent Champagne.
PAIRING: Osetra Caviar, creme fresh, dill, crepe [A+]
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12/26/2017 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 94 Points
Degorgement 25 July 2015. This has become so much more mature in a year. Very nice at the moment. Very mineral and fresh on the nose. On the palette, it reveals a very fine bubble that keep exploding with minerals and fruit. I got one bottle left with the same degorgement. One of the questions I stil have with Initial is if it should be opened quite young or if it ages gracefully. I tend to think it should be opened 2-3 years after degorgement.
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12/22/2017 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 95 Points
Golden yellow. Ripe, browned apple flavor. This just seems like it should finish on a tired flat note, yet it soars with crisp, juicy freshness. Very complete- one of our favorite Champagne producers
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12/16/2017 - christyler Likes this wine: 94 Points
Disgorged 2002. Has a rather oxidative color (!) - a little too golden for comfort. However, this is still incredibly fresh and vibrant. Both the oxidative and the non-oxidative crowd loved it.
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12/8/2017 - rlove wrote: 92 Points
Fresh yet bold nose of lemon, white flower, toasted nut, and ginger. Full bodied, with a voluptuous mouthfeel and big flavors of apple and a zesty minerality. This bottle (unfortunately I didn't get the disgorgement date) was open-knit, accessible, and ready to drink.
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12/7/2017 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Energetic, intense and fruit.
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11/26/2017 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
First bottle of this since having tried it in Paris; it didn't disappoint; disgorged in 5/2013 this is rich and vinous. Definitely made in an oxidative style as pointed out, but the bread, nutty, honeyed notes on the nose are fabulous. The palate is so rich and vinous with mousse that is just caressing... delicious. If this was cheaper I'd drink it weekly...
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11/23/2017 - Rob_Sutherland Likes this wine: 93 Points
2006 Disgorgement. Very mature though not sherried. All hazelnut and dark cocoa. First 5 minutes of the bottle were the best and it slipped a little over the course of 40 minutes. Still a stupendous bottle of champagne.
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11/18/2017 - enomarco Likes this wine: 95 Points
minerals, candied citrus, toasted notes. nice balnace between acidity and pure fruit in the mouth
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11/11/2017 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted in an informal setting next to several other Selosse Champagnes. Dég. 2013. A touch lighter than 2 of the lieux-dits but still one of the more powerful Champagnes. Notes of citrus, chalk, smoke, brioche, also some white flowers and mint. It's medium-full bodied with medium-high acidity and nice fine mousse. Good length. A superb Champagne that was only suffering from being served next to the lieux-dits. (94)
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11/11/2017 - Voodoo_Champagne Likes this wine:
This was tasted in Zalto Universal served at 12 degrees, nose was fresh no oxidative reminiscence, all wonderful, taste rather big and round long aftertaste. A typical Champagne with food like seafood or ham and cheese.
Needs air so a big glass, fine bubbles well integrated. Vintage 2007/2008/2009.
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10/31/2017 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wenn ich mich zwischen Initial und Substance entscheiden müßte, könnte ich es nicht. Der Initial ist eine Spur „leichtfüssiger“ und „spielerischer“. Die Zitrusfrucht dominiert die ebenfalls vorhandene Vanillekipferlnote. Die Präzision und Leichtigkeit werden durch die beißende Säure aufrechterhalten. Ich bin der Ansicht,dass 3-5 Jahre Degorgements mindestens notwendig sind, um das Potential des Initials andeuten zu können. Habe vom Vorgängermodell mehrere 1997 degorgierte Flaschen genießen dürfen. Ein Traum. 96
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10/14/2017 - Papies wrote:
2017 Piemonte trip for Thuy's 40th!; 10/12/2017-10/15/2017 (Piemonte, Italy): 16 October 2015 discorgement.
Tasted blind and the oxidative side of it made us point to a Selosse, but really thought this was one of the solera ones. A lot more evolved than we expected , more oxidative for this age. Good mineral side , ripe fruited and very bright too. We have had our ups and downs with Selosse's champagnes and this looks like a down. Will not rate this time.
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10/14/2017 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Disgorged 25th of October 2016. A really fresh bottle with intense green apple, white peach and grilled nut aromas. It is rich and full in the mouth, showing loads of sappy orchard fruit flavours. There are some bakery notes and plenty of mineral. The finish is chalky and long.
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10/13/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged December, 2013. Full yellow, subdued mousse. This starts with a fair amount of caramel but freshens to reveal bruised apple and a citric twist. Full bodied and creamy, but enlivened by excellent acidity. Very alive, constantly changing in the glass. Again, for me, this proved to be just about the optimal time to open after disgorgement. I know that others prefer it with more age and an even stronger oxidative component.
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10/8/2017 - ovenmitt wrote: 95 Points
No formal notes.... WOTN. Just fantastic. I wish I had much more if this wonderful juice.
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10/5/2017 - Sorrowless Likes this wine: 95 Points
I just love this wine. So complex, some oxidized notes (in a positive way) with an aftertaste that goes on and on.
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9/30/2017 - Drankard wrote: 93 Points
Opens with a slight oxidized note which blows off and gets more complex with air. This is more creamy textured but with a crystalline purity and vivacious energy. This wine is clean and refreshing enough to have on its own or as an aperitif. I just kept going back to this. Delicious!
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9/27/2017 - forceberry wrote: 95 Points
Disgorged in Sep 9th 2015. 12% alcohol. Total production 33,000 bottles. Served blind.
Pale golden yellow color, perhaps very slightly hazy as well. Waxy, subtle and attractive nose with slightly sweet and nuanced aromas of yellow fruits, some marzipan and crème à la vanille, a little bit of apple jam, a hint of creamy autolysis and a touch of crème brûlée. The wine is bone-dry yet broad, full-bodied and round on the palate with layered flavors of apple jam, some peach, a little bit of cookie dough autolysis, a hint of yeasty French bread and an oxidative touch of mocha. Overall the wine is high in acidity with lively and persistent mousse. The finish is steely and pretty acid-driven with complex flavors of smoke, rich dark-toned fruit, some oxidative mocha and nougat, a little bit of sweet spices and a hint of creaminess.
Even served blind, this wine stood easily much taller than the rest of the wines in a tasting of grower Champagne (apart from another Selosse wine). Compared to my previous experiences with Selosse wine, the nose here was much less oxidative and a lot more pure and crystalline with rich, complex fruit and nuanced non-fruit aromas. Of course you could easily notice that this was an oxidatively made Champagne (as opposed to one made reductively) but still this was far from the most oxidative Champagnes I've had. Lots of power, weight and depth without anything in excess. I suppose Selosse really is in a league of his own, because even when served blind everybody goes nuts about the wine. The hype is real. Worth its price at 115€, but a steal at 60€ from the cellar door - if you happen to get in, that is.
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9/27/2017 - bengemarräng Likes this wine: 93 Points
Selosse tasting, Stockholm
Disgorged 17 jan 2007. Second Selosse. Very deep, in every way. Golden yellow but had turned a bit cloudy, lost quite some pressure in the bottle too. With time, develops distinct tones of raisins and minerality accompanied with citrus. Anyhow, good acid and is in the preferable drinking span atm. Very mature wine with a long finish.
Tasted alongside Extra Brut, Substance and Rosé
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9/27/2017 - Tubulus wrote: 93 Points
First Selosse, very delicious. Certainly different from the other champagnes on the table, but not too different. Definitely a bit of oxidative/nutty note but really only a little. Picked up weight over the night. 2016 disgorgement
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9/25/2017 - lolo66 wrote: 92 Points
Champagne and Sushi (and other wine) (NYC): oxidative, but not to the point of making it the prevalent note. quite nice. a style for sure. I liked this and found it enjoyable, but preferred the Fillaine and Taittinger to this.
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9/23/2017 - MWiking wrote: 95 Points
Deg april 13
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9/18/2017 - thewiz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Middag på Sturehof (Sturehof, Stockholm): (Disgorged in January 2016)
This is lovely as always and should benefit from further cellar time. Dominated by oak and showing a maltiness in the beginning. After some time in the glass it opens up showing butterscotch in a very positive way.
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9/17/2017 - BillBell73 Likes this wine:
Disgorged 7/15. Everything's in perfect balance here - oxidation, fruit, and acid with the bubbles adding needed lightness. This is brilliant winemaking and absolutely worth the price. The Lieux-Dits are wonderful and distinct but I can't say they deliver more enjoyment than this despite being multiples of the price.
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9/5/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged October, 2013. Deep yellow, still quite a bit of frothiness. Full, somber, and rather oxidative at first, this brightened up considerably to show bitter citrus, fresh acidity, and excellent minerality to go along with its intrinsic creaminess. Dynamic bottle, excellent.
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9/5/2017 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistent notes - really nice and fresh but with that signature hint of oxidation. Walks a fine line and does it very well.
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9/4/2017 - viniferatu Likes this wine:
Disgorged September of 2010. Notes of pear liqueur, ripe citrus and flowers. Rich and polished, rather confected but also very lively. Finishes with beautiful notes of glazed fruit pastry. Super yummy and satisfying. Should have vast appeal as Champagne goes.
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9/3/2017 - LW31 Likes this wine:
October 2009 disgorgement. What a lovely wine. The best bottle of Initial I've had. It was perfectly balanced, middle-weight, mouth-filling, fresh but with characteristic Selosse notes. Held together beautifully (unlike some of his wines) over 1.5 hrs of drinking. Highly recommend.
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9/2/2017 - KimHartman wrote: 93 Points
Deg 2016-01
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8/26/2017 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had this a couple weeks ago and this bottle was better. Fresher. January 2015 disgorgement. Medium yellow color. Tiniest of bubbles. Slightly oxidative which is the intent. Not at all bothersome. Fresh and clean. Good energy and vibrancy. Lemon and yellow fruits with hints of butterscotch and some baking spice. Refined and elegant.
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8/17/2017 - RayOB wrote: 94 Points
Drank at 67
Extremely rich and deep for a champagne. I like it.
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8/15/2017 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
10-13 disgorgement. This is quite fragrant with some sweetness tied in: marzipan, cider, yeast, pears? lavender? On the palate this has great energy with a solid mousse - it's got that nutty, creamy thing - so marzipan again, along with pears and some herbal. Not the best showing I've had but still excellent. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16.5-17/20.
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8/11/2017 - matage wrote: 93 Points
2010 degorgement. Took about 30 minutes to open up fully. Fine muted mousse, creamy taste with aromas of apple tart (apple pancakes/pie?), burnt butter notes and some red grapefruit in the finish. Great bottle with a "large" taste that lingered. Went from lively to flat in about 30 minutes after 2,5-3h hours though
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8/11/2017 - EirikM wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged May 13. Consistent with previous note. Vinous, complex, good depth and power, good precision and fresh acidity. Needs air.
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8/10/2017 - appel54 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Guldgul färg, klar, pigg mousse
Doften är väldigt blommig (hyacint?), något oxiderad, citrus, min fru uttryckte skumbanan efter första sniffen
Syran är hög, runt och fylligt i munnen, väldigt bra längd med lite knäck och cola i slutet
En väldigt trevlig champagne som alltid.
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8/2/2017 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 93 Points
Jon's Birthday 2017 (Kallang Way Extra Space): Pop and poured. Drank over 1 hour.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, gold colour. Legs. Fine bubbles.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of autolytic yeast, yellow flowers, marble cake, wet stones minerality, citrus lemon-lime. Developing.
On the palate, dry, very high zesty acidity, medium- alcohol (12%), medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of taut wet stone minerality, marble cake, slight caramel, citrus lemon-lime. Very long finish.
Very good quality. Only mildly oxidative it seems to me. Great mouth-feel. Bad QPR though.
This bottle was disgorged 13 December 2013.
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7/30/2017 - fontaine wrote: 92 Points
Les beaux parents nous rejoignent en vacances et je leur fait découvrir Selosse. Dégorgée le 22 novembre 2013. La bouteille est sur les fruits blancs. Longueur moyenne, toujours crémeux et le coté oxydatif est plus prononcé que les précédentes. Comparaison difficile avec la VO bue il y a quelques jours.
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7/29/2017 - thewiz Likes this wine: 91 Points
(Disgorged in September 30th 2012, based on 2006, 2005, 2004, 100% Chardonnay)
Yellow colour with a stream of fine bubbles and a lovely notes of dried fruits, marmelade, hazelnuts and mature apples on the wonderful and creamy nose. Palate is filled with an intense and maturing taste of dried fruits and animalistic notes with a long and lasting red grapefruit peel finish. This was a wonderful and maturing bottle showing how good Selosse evolves over time. Lovely! Best with 5-15 years of extra cellaring.
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7/25/2017 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Somewhat oxidative. Closer to an aged Chardonnay vs a Champagne. Crisp and fresh all the same. Medium yellow color. The tiniest of bubbles. Some reduction. Butterscotch and carmel as the wine warms up. This is good and a specific wine.
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7/14/2017 - MWiking Likes this wine: 95 Points
vinet har blivit väldigt fylligt och antar nästan tonerna av en topp Bourgogne med angenäm ålder mer än champagne vilket jag gillar, fylligt och rikt och lång fin eftersmak, färgen nästan mörkgul. svingott hela vägen!
dekorerad april 2013
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7/9/2017 - mat600 wrote: 88 Points
Champagne avec légère oxydation, sur la pomme. Des notes légères de patisserie au citron. La longueur est moyenne. Déçu sur cette bouteille considérant le producteur. 88 sur 100.
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7/8/2017 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Supper with Futronic (Osteria Langhe, Chicago): The first to be opened, one of the last to be finished, this had the benefit of being served in a large-bowled stem. A March 2009 disgorgement showing a darker color with a soft mousse and slow, fine bead. Notes of roasted nuts, honeycomb and sauteed apple with an undertone akin to marshmallow fluff. The palate shows orchard druit and the mature roasted nutty qualities. Treating this like a mature Burgundy is the most rewarding approach, and this was for me the best example of this wine I have tasted. Very menu friendly.
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7/4/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged August, 2013. I opened this since we had a bottle disgorged in 2014 that was quite oxidative and a bit dull. This immediately had brighter aromatics with lively citrus. Much less caramel, much more bitter orange and fine minerality. This just had much more bounce and freshness. Outstanding bottle.
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7/2/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged October, 2014. Deep yellow. Low pitched, oxidative nose. Very dry caramel without much fruit. Creamy entry, mineral finish. Not fatigued but definitely on the more oxidative, less vibrant side of Initial.
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6/29/2017 - etyc Likes this wine:
Was informed that this was disgorged in 2011... Didn't come across as that oxidative as I recall of past Selosse champagnes. However, the texture & intensity on the palate was obvious, nicely balanced with great freshness amidst notes of apples, citrus & some chalk. A solid start to our dinner!
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6/28/2017 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Disgorged in Jan 2016. Oxidative nose with nuts, flint, ripe yellow fruit and lemon oil. Palate is ripe with good minerals. A good disgorgement.
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6/25/2017 - hajoha wrote: 92 Points
Gogget januar 2015.
Fresh i uttrykket.
Ren, elegant og tiltalende.
Den letteste av hans viner.
Presis og lang med fin mineralitet i finish.
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6/24/2017 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Disgorged Oct-09-14. Served in plastic flutes (so perhaps not the best tasting vehicle) to celebrate our friend's new home purchase. This bottle was much less complex than previous examples - more clean and crisp than rich and oxidative. Not sure it had enough time to open and strut its stuff.
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6/14/2017 - matt182 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disgorged 10/22/2013. As usual, great champagne, a tad leaner than i remember just out of the fridge, but gained volume, texture and depth while getting warmer. A lot of definition on the nose and palate with citrus, wild white flowers, some nuttiness and french pastry notes. Sails on and on a crystalline and saline finish. Drink or hold.
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6/5/2017 - KimHartman wrote: 93 Points
Deg 2014-05
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6/4/2017 - FYC wrote:
November 2011 disgorgement.
A bit more acidity than some previous bottles which really kicks it up a notch for me. The additional acidity balanced out the ripe fruits and oxidative profile. One of the tastiest Selosse Initials I've had.
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5/30/2017 - aagrawal wrote: 95 Points
Celebration dinner (Heirloom cafe): Light golden with excellent bubbles; highly aromatic with plenty of bruised apple, slight yeast, brioche, slight oxidation that I love; palate has excellent apple and citrus fruit, nice density; finish is long. Wonderful champagne. 95+
Day 2: Still good, but a significant drop since it was first opened yesterday. I didn't expect it to improve, but still good to note that this champagne should be opened and finished on the same day.
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5/26/2017 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Poker night - Bordeaux single blind - 00 & 03 Pavie, 98 TR, 05 LD and etc. (My house - Northern Virginia): Fresh, mineral, macadamia flour, a hint of sweetness, good concentration and complexity, medium fine abundant mousse and a clean finish.
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5/26/2017 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Wow, this was good. A copper-gold color in the glass. A big Champagne with a touch of oxidative notes along with creamy fruit. Driving acidity and a high-energy bead. Long. Got better with air. Was at its best with food.
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5/22/2017 - BillyT wrote: 92 Points
Sorry no notes. EXCELLENT. One of my go to champagne. Previous notes apply.
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5/20/2017 - Puteljen! Likes this wine: 93 Points
@restaurant PM & Vänner, Växjö, Sweden
Broad and rich with orangepeel, overripe apples, cinnamon and cloves. On the palate a bit leaner with fine mousse and good acidity. Very nice. Deg 13.08
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5/20/2017 - Sundbyberg wrote: 93 Points
My fourth time with this champagne and this time this time it is just entering its drinking window.
Mature apples, which are a bit sweet, while the acid is still quite intense and with lots of smoke. Not very oxidized yet, but this should turn out very well.
Disgorged January 12th 2016. Wait at least 2-3 years.
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5/13/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged October, 2013. Full yellow, still lively mousse. Wonderful mellow nose of toffee, ginger, and orange. Full, some oxidative notes, but terrific mix of apple and citrus, fine mineral edge. On a knife's edge between youth and maturity. I really liked it at this stage.
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5/12/2017 - Dave Canada wrote: 95 Points
Disgorged Oct. 15, 2015.
Explosive nose...this jumps out of the glass.This is certainly leaning towards the oxidative spectrum but really enticing...not over the top at all. Aromas of caramel, orange, ginger, spice, mineral, brioche, marzipan, candied lime and marzipan.
Palate is medium-full bodied with rich notes of orange creme brulee, hazelnuts, almonds, ginger, minerals, yeast, brioche, lime and sweet spices. So layered....great texture and balance.
Finish is long and jumps back and forth from bright citrus flavours to rich caramelly, oxidative notes. Such an awesome champagne.
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5/8/2017 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 92 Points
Popped open a bottle in Avize, France after a tour of the winery with Jacques. Medium bodied, with good balance and average depth. At this price point I still prefer Krug NV. Tonight I will sample the Selosse VO.
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4/16/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged August, 2013. Medium yellow, transient bubbles. Bitter orange, herbs, and a brief whiff of caramel. Full bodied, just off dry. At a very nice equipoise between retaining some vivacious citrus and rounding out into more mature Champagne flavors with the earliest hint of oxidation. Excellent and long.
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4/14/2017 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 95 Points
Weekend of food and wine; 4/13/2017-4/16/2017 (Las Vegas): Just outright amazing champagne. Jeremy Holmes note really nails it for me. Some oxidative character but very fresh and great concentration of flavor.
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4/10/2017 - thunberg wrote: 93 Points
@Champagne på Svenskt Tenn 2017
deg 1/2016, based on 2010,2011 and 2012.
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4/10/2017 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Disgorged on the 13th of May 2016. It was fresh yet complex and deep. It had the usual Selosse vinous quality and great intensity of orchard fruits. There’s plenty of mineral and a gentle thread of spice as well as a lactic, creamy feel in the mouth. It has great volume and a seriously chalky finish.
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4/8/2017 - rnellans wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged Oct 2003. Deep yellow. Quite oxidative style. Yeasty. Some citrus and spice. Rich, big on palate. Lacks freshness from previous bottle tasted a few years ago. Drink up.
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3/30/2017 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Comprehensive Jacques Selosse dinner (Source by Wolfgang Puck, Washington D.C.): Similar expression as the last bottle drank on March 1st. Ripe yellow fruit with a hint of red berries, lemon curd, dry orange peel, yeast as in hefeweizen, mead, biscotti, cinnamon and sweet spices. Fully integrated palate, medium find mousse, perfect amount of acidity and a long sweet and sour finish with a hint of mead as the end note. Really delicious.
Per David White, author of But First, Champagne.
"Dosage: ~5g/l
A blanc de blancs of three recent vintages from lower-slope vines in Avize, Oger, and Cramant. Spends 24-30 months on lees."
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3/21/2017 - rc@ughey wrote: 93 Points
Yes, please. This is a loud, brash, deep version of Champagne that is open for business and delicious.
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3/15/2017 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at Table, Donkey and Stick (Chicago, IL): Disgorged December 11, 2014. This is Initial as I like it. A heady, heavy champagne, with tons of ripe fruit and mushroom. This is dense and big, and clearly stylized too. There's tons of chalkiness here, as well as a lovely bruised green apple type of acidity. I've always been shocked at how many bottles of this stuff are made, but it also never fails to impress me, even if it is a very recent disgorgement.
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3/12/2017 - JOsgood wrote:
Another amazing bottle. This was opened and then drained quickly!
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3/10/2017 - Zunga Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good, not great. Like a premiere cru puligny Montrachet with tiny, tiny bubbles.
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3/1/2017 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Dinner with Zachys crew (Blacksalt, Washington DC): Paraphrasing Forrest Gump’s momma, “Initial is like a box of chocolate”. Even from the same batch, the expression varies significantly, i.e. some quite fresh and energetic, others at the peak and perfectly ready. One of the more “yellow/natural wine” expressions. Decadent ripe yellow fruit, a hint of red berries, OJ, sour apple, a hint of red currant, peach, cinnamon and brown sugar. Perfectly mature palate expression, once again very natural wine like feel, ripe yellow and red fruit driven palate impression, fine mousse, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a love long sweet finish. Drinking wonderfully. I didn’t check the disgorgement date but younger than 2014. Really delicious like a twenty year old Krug MV.
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2/26/2017 - Neuneuil Likes this wine: 91 Points
Apple nose. Very fine bubbles. Short to medium finish. Very good!
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2/17/2017 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Disgorged Jan-12-16. The nose was good, but served in a champagne flute so could not appreciate as much as when served in a larger glass. The bouquet really opens on these with some air time and closer to room temp. On the palate this tastes of brioche, golden apple, a bit of carmelized honey, bright acidity and fine mousse. Definitely one of my favorite champagnes.
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2/17/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Tampa Spring Break (the second); 2/17/2017-2/19/2017 (Various spots (homes, Mis en Place, Capital Grille)): We have a bottle of this sleeping in offsite storage, but my takeaway was we should definitely have more. Rivaling Krug in that ability to create a MV champagne that is excellent and interesting. Lovely toasty characteristics, but what I really liked was an almost spiciness to bubbles in the mid-palate. Still very classy and elegant. Very much enjoyed.
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2/6/2017 - Roughl wrote: 92 Points
disgorged 2013. Excellent rich and creamy. Not too oxidative. Gains complexity with time in burgundy glasses. Would drink remaining bottles in the next two years or so.
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2/3/2017 - jkoenen wrote: 91 Points
Deg. 120116
Way too young, needs a couple of years in the cellar to unfoil its depth and complexity.
Our table agreed that Initial is best drunk 3 - 5 years after degorgement.
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2/3/2017 - Edouard84 Likes this wine: 93 Points
No formal notes. Delicious as usual.
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2/3/2017 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Game dinner with friends Champagne and Northern Rhône: Just some short notes; minerals in the bouquet. On the palate good acidity, pleasant oxidized style and some ok bitterness in the finish. Beautiful wine, but this bottle impressed a bit less compared to the previous ones.
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2/2/2017 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Bordeaux dinner at Ripple with live rendition of the Star Spangled Banner (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Recent disgorgement but more marzipan/oxidative note than usual. Succulent yellow fruit, lemon curt, peach, marzipan, mineral and coriander seed. Very good concentration, sweet yellow fruit and marzipan driven palate impression, bright acidity, good mineral presence and a long sweet finish with marzipan at the end. Slightly Substancesque showing. Quite enjoyable.
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1/22/2017 - PacoHigon Likes this wine:
<Espumosos del Mundo- 2ª serie nº 4> Para mi gusto el vino de la noche. Nariz intensa, expresiva, muy bien perfilada, por momentos recuerda a un vino de Jerez, hay matices especiados, algo de frutos secos, recuerdos a naranja confitada... En boca entra bien, con la justa cremosidad, muy buena sensación de acidez, largo y evocador. ¡Grande!
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1/9/2017 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
July 20145 Disgorgement. Complex, rich and powerful. The nose has so much going on with a whiff of chalk, some brulee, a little custard apple and candied citrus. In the mouth it is deep and direct. It has so much grunt but doesnt feel heavy in the slightest. It is imposing Champagne with supreme length.
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1/5/2017 - thewiz Likes this wine: 91 Points
(Disgorged in January 12th 2016) Yellow colour with a broad nose showing yellow apples, mature banana and orange peel. Feeling exactly like a fruit salad. Palate is youthfully acidic with same flavours as on the nose with a distinct long orange peel finish. After a couple of hours it feels more integrated and shows hints of coffee. This is good, but needs more time to settle down. Best with 3-8 years extra cellaring.
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1/4/2017 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
One of the best showings. Succulent sweet yellow fruit, lemon curd, apricot, peach, biscotti, saline, mineral and sweet spices. Excellent concentration, sweet and sour decadent yellow fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and a long sweet yellow fruit and sweet spices driven finish. Really delicious showing.
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1/4/2017 - LT98 wrote: 95 Points
Disgorged October 2010. My first ever bottle of Intial, but not my last. Wow - a real show stopper. Amazing mousse and yeasty tones with a clarity and precision that is hard to beat. Hazelnuts, almonds, violets. Lots going on.
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1/1/2017 - Jowh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disgorged may 2014. The Selosse vineyards are under bio-dynamic regime and the yeasts are natural to let the wine be free to develop before the dosage, made only with fructose from grapes. All very clear. This Champagne comes—with the solera process—from a blend of three successive vintage, 45-55% from the current year, 30-35% from the year before and the remaining from the two years before. Then comes a two years and half ageing on the yeasts. So this bottle was probably vintages 09/10/11.
Lovely selosse nose. This bottle was a lot less tight than a similarly gogged a year ago. Great structure throughout. Keeps going in the mouth. Strong acidity but never close to acidic.
After about 1 hour there is a sense of overripe oranges. After 2 hours marzipan is added to the mix. Great champagne.
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1/1/2017 - Gurto wrote: 89 Points
Deg 2014
Doft: Gula, bokna äpplen, sherryoxidare drag, nötter, mandelmassa och lätt hyacinthblommigt (dock inte nära på lika intensivt som Selosse kan vara)
Smak: Ganska ljust och lätt med trevligt oxiderade drag och lite nötighet.
Bra men hade förväntat mig mer - det är inte wow på något vis som jag upplevt med Initial tidigare. Kunde ha legat till sig längre men unga flaskor har imponerat tidigare. 89+
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12/31/2016 - Billigan Likes this wine: 95 Points
My first Selosse, and it was completely en fuego. Beguiling nose: flinty, oxidative/nutty, and floral. Sensational energy and suavity on the palate, with a sweet, lingering finish. The prices are staggering, but the quality is undeniable. Happy New Year!
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12/31/2016 - hsacks Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to the 7/6/10 bottle except now in middle of peak drinking period and a touch longer on the palate and more complex.
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12/31/2016 - Karinfagerberg3 wrote: 91 Points
Gyllengul med liten ström av små bubblor. Doft domineras första dagen av multna äpplen och jäst.
Första dagen är smaken dominerad av jäst och ciderlik.
Märkte tydlig utveckling efter ett dygn i kylskåpet- vinet utvecklade sina toner av sherry, marzipan och gröna och gula äpplen.
Låååång god eftersmak med äpplen, syra, kalk och citrus, den fina moussen håller i sig hela vägen.
Nästa flaska får ligga till sig lite och luftas bättre än denna!
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12/31/2016 - DougLee wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged December 11, 2014. White golden color. Nose of yeasty baking spice, pear, almonds, white flowers, flint. Big and bready on the palate with notes of biscuit, parmesan, grapefruit, apple core, and tons of satisfying grip. Nicely acidic with nubby, massaging texture. Long finish of energizing fizz, flint, citrus, and yeasty bite. Terrific Champagne.
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12/31/2016 - DrakkarNoir Likes this wine:
Disgorged Dec 2012. 12% abv. Golden yellow. Marzipan, toast, mineral nose. Rich with residual sweetness, but retaining nice green apple like acidity. Complex.
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12/31/2016 - teemuskogberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Voimakkaan Kullan keltainen
Todella runsas paksu paahteinen tuoksu. Litsiä sitrusta
Maku paksu, kypsä, kaniin tamminen, herkullisen hedelmäinen,
Kypsän makuinen. Maku varmasti syvenee ikääntyessä, sopisi loistavasti myös rasvaisien kalaruokien, kampasilmpukoiden tai tuoreen parsan kanssa.
Osta lisää!
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12/28/2016 - KimHartman wrote: 94 Points
Deg 2014-05. Äpple, vingummin, bröd, marsipan, nötter och blommor. Lång eftersmak. En mycket bra och fruktig Initial. Den är som vanligt ganska extrem i sin stil, och det är fler än en gång under kvällen som tankarna far i väg till Jura och till torr engelsk cider.
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12/28/2016 - gilrbo Likes this wine:
Drunk over dinner with friends, together with Jacquesson 739 and Chartogne-Taillet Brut 2008. My first Selosse, from memory.
This is even more expressive and powerful on the nose, not fully on the oxidative side, but the apples are more prominent.
More body and intensity and complexity on the palate, supported by lively acidity. It worked for me. It went very well with pasta with broccoli and salsiccia, with grated pecorino cheese and black pepper on top - surprisingly it wasn't at all overwhelmed by the strong flavors of the pasta. I wouldn't drink this as aperitif, but I think it can work very well in pairings with a variety of different foods.
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12/27/2016 - David J Cooper wrote:
My friend Neecies brought this out at the end of the night after 12 or so Champagne and various still wines. I was unable to make a fair evaluation. Later Neecies told me she thought it was a bad bottle. Interesting.
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12/26/2016 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 95 Points
Degorgement Juli 23, 2015. Oh my....what a treat! This is heaven in a glass. On the nose, toasted bread, summer/tropical fruits. On the palette this explodes at first with pineapple, apple, transforming into toast, butter, nutty flavours in an impressive long finish. Very curious how this will evolve.
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12/25/2016 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Disgorged 4/29/2015 LB10415 - Wowza this was delicious tonight! The nose was intoxicating with all those bread baking smells. Just a very complex multi-dimensional champagne - buttered brioche, tart apple, toasted honey, lemon curd - just keeps unfolding. I really love this at room temp rather than very chilled - my best champagne to date!
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12/23/2016 - ggj wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged April 2015. LBl0415
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12/20/2016 - Neecies Likes this wine: 88 Points
I know how spectacular this wine can be, and this bottle was sadly missing those bright and special elements. Instead it was merely a good, mature tasting bottle of vintage bubble. Note: cork seemed compromised--it was very stuck at first then came out with barely a whimper. Disgorged 10-1-2013.
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12/19/2016 - Sean Tay wrote:
Cult champagne with sweet notes of baked red apple, yeasty and brioche.
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12/5/2016 - mye Likes this wine: 92 Points
Outstanding bottle. Slightly oxidative.. loaded with bready notes, lemon zest, dried apple. Still fairly primary, will hold next bottle.
delicious. if only it's affordable as a daily drinker :)
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12/4/2016 - appel54 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mörkgul och mogen färg
Mycket sherry, smörig och fet som bara den. Krutig vilket jag uppskattar.
Oerhört fylligt med bra längd, intensiv syra.
Totalt sett en jäkligt maffig champagne med både komplexitet, smörighet och en hel del fetma. Jag gillar verkligen den oxiderade stilen.
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12/4/2016 - karl.1480 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted blind, disgorged May 2014.
Clear, medium intensity, golden color.
Wide open right upon opening. Pronounced intensity and really complex. Bursting with honey, toast, sourdough, oak, candied nuts, bruised red apples, dried stone fruit and mushrooms. Clearly oxidative in style. Developing more nuttiness with nougat and buttered pine nuts. Really lovely nose that keeps on going the whole night.
Bone dry, medium(+) acidity and medium(+) body. Really rich and powerful on the palate showing more youthful fruit with tart lemon, crunchy yellow apple and pineapple but there's still lots of oak, butter, caramel, nuts and yeast. Pronounced intensity and really long finish.
I haven't been so impressed with the Initial before but they have been wines that were recently disgorged. Clearly these wines need some time under the cork to really loosen up. Great to drink now but will probably keep for a long time.
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12/4/2016 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Complex aromatics of lemon curd, custard apple, white peach, flint and chalk. It is full and rich with latent power and all sorts of engaging fruits, spices and geological material. It has great cut and outstanding depth and persistence. There's a huge puff of chalk to the finish.
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11/29/2016 - tcavallo Likes this wine: 95 Points
10/06 Disgorgement. This is a real stunner 10-years on. Roasty toasty nose of crusty bread and walnuts, fine bead, hugely complex palate reinforcing all the the oxidative notes but with an undercurrent of vibrant acidity, lemon curd, pastry crust, lingering finish.
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11/21/2016 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Provad på Franska Vinlistans champagneevent. En av de bästa Initial jag druckit. Basårgång 2011.
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11/21/2016 - Sundbyberg wrote: 94 Points
Tasting: Latest discorgement (I guess January 2016)
What a difference compared to previous tastings of this champagne. A lot more open and a lot more tasty. Quite a lot of oxidation and brandy notes? Great.
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11/20/2016 - CW Somm wrote:
Rich and evocative of brioche and nuts. Tropical fruit flavors are prevalent, but this wine evolves quickly in the glass and is beautifully complex.
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11/13/2016 - bacchusnyon wrote: 93 Points
2009 degorgement. Sublime.
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11/1/2016 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank it in Morrell NY wine icon by the glass event. Disgorged in 2013. Wonderful nose of oxidative yellow fruit and minerality. A great entry level selosse.
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10/20/2016 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
TTTG - The Resurrection (brief notes; blind wines) (Granby, CT): Disgorged 2009. Oxidative orange peel on the nose. Bitter orange peel, richness, but missing brightness and vibrancy. Meh.
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10/16/2016 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged January, 2015. Yellow with short lived frothiness. Orange peel aromas. Stunningly fresh and dry for Initial. In fact, when it was opened and a bit cool, had I tried it blind, I would have guessed VO, it was that mineral and almost austere. Beautiful bitter citrus, and as it opened, it added creaminess and length to its firm core. A great bottle that finished like Les Carelles, and one to try early if you don't care for the more oxidative phases of Initial.
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10/15/2016 - jkoenen wrote: 95 Points
Deg. 9-9-2015
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10/11/2016 - stenbergs Likes this wine: 94 Points
Degorgerad 24 Apr 2015.
Härlig ljust gyllengul färg.
Legat i källaren i ett år men har redan goda mognadstoner. Fantastiskt gott. Skön mousse, känns som om vinet absorberas direkt i munnen. Rejält med äpplen, förde nästan tankarna till äppelmusten jag släckt törsten med straxt innan. Även ganska mycket ek som var än mer framträdande dag 2 när jag drack sista dropparna utan bubblor. Något i smaken påminde även om en ordentligt lagrad Krug jag drack härom veckan men betydligt mer subtilt här. Glad att jag har en ny flaska på ingående.
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10/3/2016 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
Really incredible bubbly; beautiful nose with baked apple, brioche, pear, and a hint of lemon. The palate is awesome with great depth, incredibly fine bubbles and mousse, and perfect balance. One of the best Champagnes I've had without a doubt.
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10/2/2016 - BillyT wrote: 93 Points
Classic 'aged' style Champagne with microscopic bubbles down the center of a golden straw colored Champagne. Full creamy mouth feel with brioche, lemon, apricot, peach and pear, apple tart. Allot going on with a dry finish I am struggling to describe. Incredible Champagne. Very happy I have several more bottles.
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10/1/2016 - robertek wrote: 93 Points
Love it. Mature and really enjoyable with a nice complexity to it.
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10/1/2016 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
From the Pearl & Ash NYC- 10pm one bottle only sale glass list - $29 per glass. 10/9/13 disgorgement. My first experience with Selosse and very excited to try - competition for these sale glasses was intense - bottle was sold through by 10:01pm - we had to settle for splitting two glasses between 3 people. On the nose, lots of yeasty/doughy bread rising in the bowl aromas came wafting from the glass - yum! On the palate, the initial attack of acidity and bubbles was very bright with flavors of tart green apple, brioche and an oxidative note. A lot of the underlying wine character and complexity comes through the finish. Definitely want to buy some of this for the cellar now. Delicious!
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10/1/2016 - WEB,III Likes this wine: 92 Points
12/11/2014 disgorgement
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9/21/2016 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 95 Points
Recent disgorgment. Oh yeah, that's good stuff. Selosse nose: cream ox style, nutty, pear, brioche, sweet fresh fruit - some apple, maybe even a bit of peach? Really delicious on the palate - juicy, ginger, spicy orchard fruits, almond, excellent acid - zingy. The palate is superb, as is the nutty, saline and sweet fruit finish. This shows more primary and more fruit than I am used to with Selosse, but I'm not complaining. Thanks Josh! Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.
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9/14/2016 - Nicholas81 wrote: 93 Points
A very huge bouquet of oak, vanilla, lemon, citrus and flowers. The colour of the champagne was a deep yellow not unlike aged burgundy. The nose had a lot of depth and weight to it. The palate was equally heavy and somewhat similar to a burgundy. The wine also appeared to be slightly unctuous. The complexity was quite astounding with flavours of white flowers, lemon zest, citrus and grapefruit. The transition from mid palate to finish was also seamless. Had very good, focused length.
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9/10/2016 - drwine2001 wrote:
Sushi Night (Omakase, San Francisco): Disgorged August, 2013. Deep yellow, transient mousse. More caramel than usual. Also fuller than I expected with red apple and definite oxidative notes. This bottle was not as bright as Initial usually is, although maybe we didn't spend enough time with it as it was a pre-dinner aperitif on the way out. Toward the very end of the bottle, more citrus came forth, and it seemed less heavy. Still, overall, a disappointment.
And, in fact, the next morning the dregs seemed fresher still, creamy and now with a note of ginger. Ah, these Selosse wines are living, breathing things. I should know better than to write them off too soon.
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8/27/2016 - LW31 wrote:
January 2015 disgorgement. Really energetic and intense at first opening. Showed well for first 20 min but then turned very oxidative and flat. A shame.
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8/21/2016 - PJRONeill wrote: 93 Points
My first Selosse and it's clear that the fuss is justified. Great depth and complexity for a champagne disgorged in August 2013, notes of citrus and red apples with the oxidized character I've been reading about. Great presence on the palate, profound and delicious.
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8/19/2016 - Finare Vinare wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged August 2, 2013. Rich yellow and orange citrus aromas. Big and substantial, yet so easy to drink. Perfectly integrated acidity and exquisite mousse. Three years usually does it for Initial.
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8/13/2016 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged October, 2013. Deep yellow. Mellow nose, bruised apple. Full, slightly oxidative, full of lees and complexity. Outstanding length.
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8/11/2016 - abh wrote:
2008 disgorgement. Yellowing, not especially fizzy, oxidative (much more than the same disgorgement earlier in its life) but very vital still. Extremely full bodied and concentrated. A bit more like Substance than when it is young..
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8/5/2016 - BSA Likes this wine: 95 Points
Disgorged 06/2010. Dinner@Happolati. If served blind I would have guessed Substance, as I often find the Intitial to be a bit leaner and with less on offer. Not the case this time. Great mousse. Very harmonius in the mouth. Lovely mature notes, with the oak and sherry nicely integrated, and the great Initial vibrance still intact. Great bottle and prefect match to our lovely starters. 94-95p.
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8/4/2016 - varforintenu Likes this wine: 93 Points
Marvellous. As usual. NV bottled in 2012. A perfect match with Swedish roe from Kalix.
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8/3/2016 - fontaine wrote: 94 Points
Dégorgement 20 septembre 2012. Les vacances qui s'achevent... Celebrons avec Selosse ! Absolument magnifique ! Cremeux, riche, citron, pomme verte, brioche. Persistance en bouche, longue finale. Encore svp...
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7/27/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 94 Points
Disgorged 08/14
Very Selossy-style but very fresh, not that oxidative. Sometimes I don't know which I prefer more: reductive or more oaky? This time I prefer the citrus notes because for the first a Selosse without food. Strong clean finish. A nice Giant, 94-95
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7/23/2016 - aekenback wrote: 92 Points
Mature and concentrated flavors. Very high acidity that balanced the richness of the aromas. Very evident blancs des blanc character. A lot less Selosse typicity (oxidation, flowers, oak) than normal. Disgorged August 2013.
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7/18/2016 - Topper wrote: 91 Points
Big, burly champagne with some oxidative notes still lingering and it packs a punch of lemon and candy. Not for the faint of heart and will mellow out with a little more time but worth taking a peek now if you have multiples.
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7/13/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fine, complex, elegant and precise likewise. Disgorged 09/2014. Lemoncest, not that much oxidative style as usually known from Selosse, some nuts, but the freshness is dominating, Grapefruit in the Long clean finish, good length, gaining from time and air
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7/10/2016 - aagrawal wrote: 94 Points
Dinner with Kent (Zazie's, San Francisco): August 6 2013 disgorgement. Rich golden color; aromatic nose with brioche, slight Apple; palate is rich, brioche, yeast, high acid; medium-long finish. Very nice, but needs a few years to develop more. Going back and forth between this and the 2002 RD Champagne, this one had something that gave it unique character. Always fun to drink... 93-95
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7/2/2016 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 93 Points
Ten Days in Burgundy, Champagne, and Paris; 6/24/2016-7/6/2016: [Disgorged 2010]: Cleaner and more precise than the V.O. Last night, if less rich. More citrus, ripe grapefruit, than tropicals. Very honeyed on the nose still. So great to try in an earlier disgorgement.
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6/29/2016 - soyhead wrote:
nose - honey, honeysuckle, per brian pine nut
mouth - cognac, rich, slightly oxidative, nutty, anise, great complexity
23 Dec 2013 disgorgement
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6/24/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 95 Points
Disgorged Decenber 1 2011. Very creamy with plenty of lemon zest, crusty bread, stone fruit, and marscapone. More mineral driven and not as sweet as the disgorged 2014.
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6/12/2016 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 92 Points
May 2013 disgorge. A little bottle age goes a long way with the Initial as I appreciate them much more after a couple of years than upon release. Golden, creamy, light yeastiness, smooth, mellow, rounded, but with intensity. 92+
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6/10/2016 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
This is a combined note about Selosse Initial and Roederer Christal 2004. My previous note from June 2015 about the Selosse Initial was extremely enthusiastic. This evening I tasted/drank it again beside the Roederer Cristal 2004 and it was a different experience. The Selosse with beautiful almonds, marzipan and oxidized impressions. Really beautiful and great expression with some rustic flavors, beautiful acidity, minerals and great complexity. The Roederer Cristal shows a more tight and focused citrus constitution, and has a very rich bouquet with luxurious oak. On the palate tight citrus, some nuts, full bodied, but also elegant and refined. Both wines are truly great, but this evening I preferred the Cristal. Initial: 92, Cristal 95 – 96
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5/29/2016 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged December, 2014. Moderate mousse. Creamy, fresh, lively apple skin, great length, chalky finish. Vibrant and very young. A great bottle of Initial for those who dislike the oxidative notes that show up with more bottle aging.
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5/22/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 94 Points
A lot of power, nuts, honey, citrus, typical oxidative notes, more in the nose than in the palate, refreshing acidity, good balance between structure and freshness, 94+
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5/15/2016 - the godfather wrote:
Another stunning champagne from my fave producer
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5/14/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private dinner (Restaurant MOS, Amsterdam, NL): A blend of wines from Cramant, Avize and Oger, 100% Chardonnay, base vintage 2008, vin de réserve from 2007 and 2006, disgorged 29 April 2015. Deep and rich nose, vinous, warmth from the wood, spices and minerals, citrus, hint of marc; very tightly wound palate, an essence of the Côte des Blancs in a rich and ripe fashion, broad shoulders, lovely hint of evolution in the flavours; long and powerful finish.
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5/11/2016 - CamWheeler wrote: 93 Points
SLDS May 2016 - Verace Pizza: Disgorged 23/05/14. Lemon, vanilla, sea spray, toast, apple and floral notes. Beautiful palate, bright acidity and layers of fruit. Opens up further in the glass to show even more interest. Super wine.
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5/6/2016 - Dovberg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deg August -13.
My first experience with Selosse.
Melted cheese, apple pie, fresh lemon zest and clementine on the nose. Some bread and slighty oxidized character (expected more of that character).
Some maturity on the palate. Apple pie, orange juice, grape fruit and small hints of salinity.
Not sure if the wine is in a dumb phase since I expected more from this bottle. Two bottles left and I will try another bottle in a few years.
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5/2/2016 - MarcelloW wrote: 60 Points
This bottle was different than normal. I could not read the date of the disgorgement anymore. I was missing the freshness. I like Selosse Initial more when it's young.
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5/1/2016 - AtoZ wrote:
2013 disgorgement worked with grilled chicken. Really.
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4/24/2016 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged September, 2012. Deep yellow, still lively. Oxidized apple skins and caramel. Full, incredibly dry, creamy, rich, and long.
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4/18/2016 - Sheila62 Likes this wine:
This bottle is an October 21, 2009 disgorgement. What a wonderful bouquet of fruit and nuts, toasted biscuits. The palate is powerful complex, and crisp, with wonderful fruit. This is very Selosse with the oxidative notes that are perfectly balanced. Lovely
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4/9/2016 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tonight the Initiale is certainly singing from the glass, as I am used to... The Selosse typical red baked apples combined with minerals, citrus and rich dark toast are all walking along their yellow brick road singing happily. The palate adds an imposing texture, balanced acidity and a velvety subtle mousse. The length on the finish lasts some rather impressive 50 seconds. (my last bottle disgorged September 2013) (score is 93+)
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4/9/2016 - drwine2001 wrote:
A Range of Jacques Selosse Champagnes with Anselme Selosse (Avize, France): Disgorged November, 2015 and just being released. 2007/8/9 fruit. Deep yellow. Toasty, oxidative scents without maderization. Rich, long, complex, nutty, and creamy with flavors of red apple skin. Dry, mineral finish, and soil that just clings. Pretty great way to start the tasting here.
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4/2/2016 - KimHartman wrote: 94 Points
Deg 2013-08
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3/31/2016 - AtoZ wrote:
Disgorged 2002. Drank great. No funk.
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3/16/2016 - Alex H wrote: 89 Points
2 bottles of this and the former was disgorged 2013. The former had very oxidized apples and oivernight zappel feel to it. The latter was nicely chilled and showed much more tension with smoky minerals and chablis like precision
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3/9/2016 - Pacalet Likes this wine: 93 Points
disgorged 2014, light golden color, oaky nose with Selosse signature oxidativeness, which makes it rich yet its not overdone. Young yet with good structure and great acidity balance to boot, an always enjoyable champagne.
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3/3/2016 - HWG99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great champagne. Aroma was excellent with many different fruits. Pretty colour and elegant bubbles. Enjoyable with long mineral finishing
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3/2/2016 - AtoZ wrote:
Disgorged 09/13. Lovely. Not too funky at all.
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2/28/2016 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Francois's 70th Birthday Celebration - Kelly and Kevin's another excellent adventure; 2/26/2016-3/1/2016 (Paris and Bordeaux): Disgorged in December 2014. Fresh nose displaying sweet and sour ripe yellow fruits, saline, mineral and macadamia. Excellent concentration, sweet ripe yellow fruit driven palate impression, mineral, bright acidity and long finish. The oxidative note is expressed as macadamia but the overall expression is quite sweet and fresh. Drinking perfectly.
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2/19/2016 - Pavan wrote: 92 Points
Rich with good structure and remaining acidity. Golden colour and presence of oak
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2/18/2016 - Charogers Likes this wine: 90 Points
Yea it's pretty good but do you really notice it if drinking blind? Bit fuller than most maybe so again I say the balance is the sell point, but other than that, yea not worth the price perhaps
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2/14/2016 - ovenmitt wrote: 94 Points
Agree with others.... This is continuing to improve and gain complexity as it ages. Really great juice!
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2/12/2016 - Gurto wrote: 92 Points
Okänt deg.datum - bör vara kring 2012. Lite fino-toner, skumbanan, mogna äpplen, hyacinter, lite rökig mineralitet.
Fyllig och blommig champagne. Riktigt god och känns drickfärdig nu även om den nog klarar mer lagring. 92p
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2/8/2016 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Celebrating Neil's 75th & Chinese New Year (Sun Wah, Chicago): October 2009 disgorgement showing almond and a nutty, reductive quality. Baked apple fruit qualities along with a pleasant nuttiness on the palate. Medium bead with a nice finish. I'm still not sure if this is the Selosse style or if this was a bit oxidized due to storage conditions, but this just didn't really do much for me. Good but not great.
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2/6/2016 - Sundbyberg wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged 2014.
Starting to show some apples, so given an additional 2-3 years this will reach at least 93. Better than my 2012 encounter with this champagne. Then we had a bottle disgorged the same year, but putting a bottle away for 3-5 years obviously leads to an improvement.
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2/5/2016 - mjdixon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very derp and masculine
Sherry on the nise
Baked apple and complex
A complex sparkling burgundy
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2/2/2016 - Motz wrote: 94 Points
Refined and airy mousse. Appealing bouquet of terroir (chalk and clay), citrus, steel, and construction site. The wine conveys a precise purity of fruit and earth. The generous mouthfeel scintillates the entire palate, making it difficult to put the glass down. Powerful yet complex acids, long and complex finish. Exceptional!
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1/28/2016 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tonight as so many times before the Initiale is indeed singing from the glass. Red baked apples accompanied with minerals, citrus tones and rich dark toast all walks down the street hand in hand humming on the same tune. This is a powerhouse and a very particular style, yet it is just brilliantly crafted. The palate adds a lovely texture, integrated and balanced acidity as well as a fine grained and velvety mousse. The length on the finish lasts some 45+ seconds. Maybe not a Champagne for all palates, but I just love it. (disgorged September 2013)
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1/19/2016 - brittain Likes this wine: 95 Points
Hard to fault. Very long, rich and complex on both nose and palate. Disgorged 2011 and still improving compared to previous bottle. More secondary flavours but still more to come from perfect BdeB.
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1/4/2016 - JOsgood wrote: flawed
Sadly this bottle was off. It had a strong sherry note on the nose and there were hardly any bubbles in the wine. Devastating!
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1/1/2016 - Omar Khayyam wrote: 92 Points
new year's eve dinner in old Enskede (Enskede, Stockholm): Degorged January 2015, thus potentially still young, but I found this open for business, generous nose with a lot of mature and baked apples, almond pastry, some hints of fino, but really not much, more than anything great freshness. Bubbles were fine but not as fine as the pol roger cuvée Winston C. Tried at the same time.
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1/1/2016 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout with medium, steady beading. Nose of seabreeze, lime, papaya and talc. Flavors of lime, lemon and minerals. Medium to bright acidity, full bodied. Drink or hold. Purchased on receipt in the U.S. on 10/28/2009 for reference purposes.
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12/31/2015 - Zunga Likes this wine: 95 Points
Loved this wine. Disgorged in 2014. One of my favorite styles of champagne. Blanc de Blanc at its best. An elegant wine burgundy with zing.
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12/31/2015 - Finare Vinare wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged August 2, 2013.
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12/31/2015 - JOsgood wrote: 96 Points
2013 Disgorgement - Just wonderful from the moment it hit the glass. Huge nose. Golden yellow in color. The palate is rich and full. The bubbles are tight and focused. The finish is long and coating. This is a benchmark BdB.
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12/30/2015 - AtoZ wrote:
Disgorged 09 2013. Good but the prior bottle was less funky. A bit heavy on the VA for me.
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12/30/2015 - Periko Likes this wine: 94 Points
Disgorgement date 2008.
Quite different from the bottle earlier this month (d.2010). This one was more muted on nose, however after letting one glass sit for 2 hours, became opulent with caramel, toffee and citrus (lemon) aromas. Similar palate but even more mature, vinous and volume with plenty of honeyed flavors and some sherry notes. Love this with some age on it. This one is on a sweet spot if you like this type of champagne 93-94.
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12/29/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
A bit further along in it's development than I would have thought, nice fruit, some nutty flavors and marzipan are quite noticeable. Nice length and balance, not a huge Champagne but one that drinks very well right now and for the next 5 years easy.
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12/29/2015 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
Big cab dinner at Morton's - 07 Maybach, Ovid, Insignia and etc. (Morton's - Reston, VA): The degree of roast/toffee/madeira expression varies a bit in this wine, ie this bottle displays a bit of substance like oxidative note. More yellow/orange fruits than usual, peach cobbler, plum sauce, marzipan, macadamia and mineral. Sweet, sour and tart, sweet yellow fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and long sweet and sour finish. A bit more mature example. Quite enjoyable.
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12/23/2015 - Jonne Likes this wine: 92 Points
Degorgerad 23 mars 2010. Inte lika underbar som den föregående. Fast ett par års tidigare degorgering borde ju inte betyda något negativt, kanske snarare tvärtom. Nåväl en storlek mindre i smaken, både vad gäller frukten och jästtonerna men fortfarande väldigt trevlig.
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12/20/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
November, 2011 disgorgement. Light golden, tight, fine bead. Ginger, peach, and honey notes. Full bodied, some oxidative tones but terrific verve and acidity. Dynamic as usual.
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12/20/2015 - AtoZ wrote:
Disgorged 07/20/2012 Great bottle. Enjoyed with soup course. Needs food. Layers of interest.
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12/18/2015 - Italiana Likes this wine:
A fantastic bottle. Lemon, flowers, stone. Enormously lively and pleasing. Can't help but think it's way to early for this one, but I wouldn't wish to not have had this now.
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12/14/2015 - Edouard84 Likes this wine: 93 Points
First nose right after pouring is toast and grilled bread.
One minute later it opens up beautifully, but it needs at least 5mins in the glass to show its true Chardonnay character.
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12/12/2015 - Periko Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another pre-Xmas Saturday Lunch (Cal Fuster (Serrateix)): 2010 disgorgement. Very fresh and clean on nose, minerality stands out. Seems young. Very different bouquet compared to the Ogly, this one shows less (medium) acidity yet floods the palate like a silk glove with a decadent, elegant style made of white fruit and honeyed notes.
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12/12/2015 - rlove wrote: 92 Points
Fresh, vibrant nose of lemon zest, white flower, pear, and ginger. On the palate, beautiful mineral-accented pear and apple flavors with a creamy, full bodied mouthfeel. The finish is long with a hint of iodine. This reminds me of Krug Grande Cuvée—full bodied and rich, but none that trademark Selosse oxidation and complexity.
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12/12/2015 - derrock Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deg. January 2015
Beautiful light golden color. Big nose with seductive notes of baked apples, peach, mineral and chocolate. On the palate, an elegant fruitiness in the middle, showing notes of white chocolate, lemon peel, red apples and mineral around the edges. Harmoniously fading medium+ finish, dominated by minerals. Overall a very elegant, harmonious and generous wine with fine, smooth mousse. Excellent showing by the wizard of Avize!
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12/5/2015 - Charogers Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quite round. Delicious
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12/4/2015 - nitro123 wrote: 95 Points
Déliceux. gouteux. Se laisse boire tout seul. Un vin d'une grande classe, unique, équilibré, long, très long. Un très grand vin.
Dégorgement octobre 2013
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11/28/2015 - Jowh wrote: 90 Points
Typical selossy nose. Harmonious but too grapefruity ending for my preference. Disgorged February 14. Expect more so need to cellar bottles longer.
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11/26/2015 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged August 2014. Full bodied effervescent mouthfeel with low acidity. Sweet palate of creamy marscapone, vanilla, peaches, slate and a steel tinge. Definitely sweeter and more like a still wine than anticipated.
http://www.maxsatisfactionwine.com/post/134599591074
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11/21/2015 - aagrawal wrote: 95 Points
Wineberserker's offline: Tartufo Bianco (San Carlos, CA): August 2013 disgorgement. Yellow-gold; nose is incredibly aromatic with slight oxidation, yeast, biscuit, apple; palate is high acid, low alcohol, wonderful character; finish is long. Just superb, superb, superb as usual. This particular bottle could use a few years of bottle age to let the acidity settle a tad bit that doesn't take away from how this is drinking now. 95+++
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11/20/2015 - LW31 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bottle of the winter 2013 disgorgement. Vital, energetic, balanced. Sensational food wine and unlike some of his grander cuvees doesn't overwhelm or take control. Really superb and harmonious wine. Would open 20-30 min before drinking.
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11/19/2015 - Patrik H Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deg: October 5 2012
Light golden yellow
On the nose: Very significant red apple tones, yeast, vanilla, coffee and sherry.
On the palate: More riped red apples, vanilla, marzipan, some fudge and citrus. your thoughts are leaning towards Normandy and cidre.
Very well balanced
Long finish
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11/19/2015 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
Barolo gathering at Aggio (Aggio restaurant, Baltimore): David mentions a hint of chlorine and it is definitely there. Very fresh and succulent nose displaying crunch white and yellow fruits, white peach, pear, kiwi, pineapple, macadamia power, saline and strong presence of mineral. Excellent concentration, quite ripe and sweet yet pure and crunch yellow fruit driven palate impression, mineral, bright acidity and long opulent finish. For my palate, it is fresher and sweeter than Krug Grand Cuvee. It gains complexity and shows the best at the end of the night. Really drinking well.
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11/16/2015 - Charogers Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic. It's the balance that really impressed me
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11/13/2015 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
Nose: The nose is rich and deep with baked apples, brioche, biscuits, pears, mineral notes, and peaches.
Taste: Full bodied with high acidity. The feel is rich and balanced with baked apples, brioche, peaches, and biscuits.
Overall: This is a newer disgorgement and its rockin. This was on the warmer side, but it shows off all the class that one expects from Selosse.
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11/8/2015 - Jonne Likes this wine: 94 Points
Degorgerad 2003.
Drack för att fira Agges 57-årsdag. Strålande gott.
Mycket brioche och gäst i doft och smak. Stor, syrastram men ändå generös. De många åren på gästen (hö hö) märktes tydligt.
Väldigt trevligt.
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11/8/2015 - Kirk Grant wrote:
Celebrating Doug's Birthday...; 11/8/2015-11/9/2015: Color: Golden yellow
Smell: Baked apples, almond, brown sugar, and mineral notes
Taste: Poached pears, pie crust, quince, and a chalkiness persisting on the finish.
Overall: These wines are special. Complex and more oxidative in style with good acidity, vibrant fruit, and a long finish. Great with sushi. Outstanding!!
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11/7/2015 - Javachip wrote: 91 Points
San Diego WineSpectator.com Offline, 11/7/2015 (Grande Colonial Hotel (Nine Ten Restaurant), La Jolla, California): Fresh, pure, precise. Seemed like a lighter, more reticent version of the 1995 Heidsieck tasted just prior. I was impressed by the bright fruit and the minerality, while Seaquam commented on the yeastiness: "like breaking open a baguette fresh from the oven."
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11/7/2015 - KimHartman wrote: 93 Points
Deg 2013-08
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11/6/2015 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
2015 Villa d’Este Wine Symposium - Kelly and Kevin's excellent adventure; 11/3/2015-11/9/2015 (Villa D’este, Lake Como): More almond paste than usual, crunch yellow fruits, anise, apple pie and mineral. Excellent concentration, ripe crunch sweet yellow fruits, abundant bubbles, bright acidity and lovely sweet finish.
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11/5/2015 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
2015 Villa d’Este Wine Symposium - Kelly and Kevin's excellent adventure; 11/3/2015-11/9/2015 (Villa D’este, Lake Como): Pretty consistent with the bottle drank only two hours ago. Excellent sweet yellow fruits, excellent precision via bright acidity and mineral presence.
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11/5/2015 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
2015 Villa d’Este Wine Symposium - Kelly and Kevin's excellent adventure; 11/3/2015-11/9/2015 (Villa D’este, Lake Como): Decadent sweet yellow fruits, sweet spices, honey, burn sugar and limestone. Excellent concentration, succulent sweet yellow fruit drive palate impression, strong presence of mineral and acidity and lovely long sweet finish.
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11/5/2015 - aagrawal wrote: 95 Points
30-year Anniversary Champagne Tasting (The Wine Club, San Francisco): Very fresh, great intensity on the nose, green apple; balanced, fresh, great acidity; long finish. 95-96
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11/3/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Miscellaneous Notes from Italy (mostly Champagne and Nebbiolo); 10/31/2015-11/6/2015 (Piemonte and Milano): Disgorged October, 2014. Who cares that we just had it yesterday? Find a bottle, drink a bottle. This was just as appley as the last bottle disgoged one month later, but this was more gingery and a bit fresher, without the slightest hint of oxidative notes. Crisp and a delicious lunchtime treat.
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11/2/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Miscellaneous Notes from Italy (mostly Champagne and Nebbiolo); 10/31/2015-11/6/2015 (Piemonte and Milano): November, 2014 disgorgement. Light yellow. Mildly frothy. Vibrant red apple skin, faint caramel notes, moderate dosage, excellent stoniness underneath. Delicious and fresh, more ready than I imagined it would be with the recent disgorgement date.
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10/25/2015 - jerhardt wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic bottle of wine. In the richer more oxidative direction, but very fresh and complex. Despite the price, I need o be buying more of this.
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10/9/2015 - Wine_lvr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Golden in color. Nose shows oxidized apple cider with hints of espresso. Very long, powerful and mulitlayered. This is an amazing Champagne. Drink now. Bottle Deg. August 2013
Note: I am actually not a Selosse fan and I usually find the wines too oxidized. So I rather drink them close to degorgement date and then they are just fabulous as this example.
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10/4/2015 - kthornton78 wrote:
2011 disgorg. intense and complex. hazelnuts, stone fruit, green apple. nice persistence.
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10/3/2015 - aagrawal wrote: 96 Points
Dinner with Friends (San Francisco, CA): Disgorged December 2011. Deep golden color; slightly oxidative, nutty, green apple, complex, highly aromatic, slight year; palate is full bodied, ridiculously high acidity, fresh, nutty, very persistent through the midpalate; long finish. Just wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. 95-97
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10/2/2015 - The Vines That Bind Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disgorged Oct. 2013. Medium / light gold in glass. Soft nose with starfruit, cantaloupe, sweet honey, lemon spray, some chalkiness. A great blend of rich honey, nutty flavours with great dry minerals. Nice and dry. Quite complex and beautiful already. Would like to keep some of these around long term...
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9/23/2015 - dmalcolm wrote:
Brilliant as ever.
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9/22/2015 - godx wrote:
Disgorged October 21, 2009. Brilliant and in the zone.
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9/21/2015 - godx wrote:
May 2010 disgorgement. As always, this was great. Classic Selosse oxidized notes with great acid and richness. Love this stuff.
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9/21/2015 - matage wrote: 93 Points
Degorged 2011. Fine mousse and showing early signs of maturity with a long life ahead. A great bottle!
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9/20/2015 - paolonardi Likes this wine:
una goduria, agrumissimi, quell'ossidazione piacevole, il finale lungo e minerale.
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9/20/2015 - yanik61 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wonderful ...!!!
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9/18/2015 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tonight the Initiale is certainly singing from the glass. The Selosse typical and to me rather adorable red baked apples combined with minerals, citrus tones and rich dark toast all marching forward hand in hand. The palate adds a brilliant texture, balanced acidity and a velvety mousse. The length on the finish lasts some 45 seconds. All Selosse wines are made in a very distinct style, personally I really enjoy it, but it is not a wine for everyone. (disgorged September 2013)
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9/17/2015 - EirikM wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged oct 13. My first Selosse and I (too) was impressed with the combination of the richness and the finesse, the depth and the energy. I found the wine to be aromatically relatively open but also with such tension that further keeping could be rewarding. Paired very nicely with some quality cured ham, which brought out the nuttiness even more.
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9/10/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 92 Points
A wonderful complement to caviar and yet a not ready to drink on its own wine. Very fine mousse with a nose of dry ginger, yeasty notes, asian pear, apple cider, freshly grated nutmeg and background cardamom. A fully engaging front palate but with a quite firm backpalate acidity that makes for a pleasing but austere finish. This wine has a lot of life yet to live and should only get better for the next 5-10 years. May 2013 disgorgement. 92+
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8/14/2015 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This has so much going on, and all of it is beautifully balanced and nuanced. Rich, complex, full. Right in my Champagne wheelhouse.
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8/11/2015 - kenv Likes this wine: 94 Points
Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Vertical (I Trulli Restaurant, NYC): Damn, this is good! Complex & toasty. One of the few Champagnes I think I could drink several glasses of.
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8/8/2015 - Gargantua wrote:
Disg: May 2014. Bruised red delicious apple, oxidative cider-like character on nose, soy sauce; palate follows with granny smith apple intense acid. Very impressive; my very first Selosse. Feels a bit broad and unfocused but ravishing and rich--as the back label affirms, "radiant and jovial". But somehow quite serious.
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8/1/2015 - KimHartman wrote: 94 Points
Deg 2013-08
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7/23/2015 - bg2167 wrote: 94 Points
October 24th, 2006 disgorement
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7/7/2015 - Rob_Sutherland Likes this wine: 93 Points
2006 disgorgement. Still young(ish), some smoke, barest hint of sherry, lots of depth and nuance. I was worried about sitting on one so old but while maybe not as fresh as a newer one it was only different, not worse.
Remains one of my favorite champagnes.
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7/5/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged October, 2010. Full yellow. Lively beads to start. Wonderful nose and palate of freshly sliced green apple and ginger with yeasty undertone. At a really terrific equipoise between vibrant fruit and early oxidative notes. I like the Initiale at this particular age.
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6/28/2015 - MarcelloW Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is just great stuff. Cocked apples, lemon, honey. Best with food and in a big wineglass.
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6/26/2015 - Zweder wrote: 96 Points
Game dinner with friends (@ t Jachthuis): Possibly more experienced Champaign drinkers will disagree about this tasting note (or score), but I will explain. This Initial was disgorged May 22, 2014. First we had the V.O. Then the Dom Perignon 2002 and now this one. The V.O. so special. The DP 2002 so lush. And then this Initial holds the middle, but in fact complements both other two wines. Beautiful and complex bouquet with some reductive/oxidized impressions and beautiful minerals. On the palate also a bit oxidized in a beautiful way, beautiful lime acidity and enormously tasty with a great length. For most of the tasters including me, this was the winner of the evening because it combined special complexity and lushness in a beautiful way.
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6/12/2015 - MWiking wrote: 94 Points
doften är vädligt rödfruktig med rosenvatten, blommor och hallon i doften, även härlig citrus och en härlig spritsig doft jag inte kan sätta namn på
väldigt god champagne med hög syra röda och gula äpplen och återigen en liten hallonfrukt. Tycker detta vin är mästerligt. Bra. Härlig mousse.
deg 12
93-95
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6/11/2015 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 94 Points
Degorgerad oktober 2012.
Underbar fruktig doft med både hallon och jordgubbar, mandel, rosor, vanilj och en hint av oxiderade toner a la Selosse. I smaken även här lite oxiderade toner, underbar syra, vanilj, honung och lång fin eftersmak. Väldigt bra!
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6/11/2015 - Ramberg wrote: 93 Points
Deg. October 2012.
Lovely deep nose, showing Pinot Noir fruit profile , despite beeing a Bl. d Bl. wine (almost like in a red Bourgogne wine) with ripe raspberries and sweet strawberries, some peras, herbs and a touch of gunpowder and match stick.
Very attractive.
Palate is balanced, with sweetness and acidity playing in fine harmony, sweeter tropical fruits, spicy with minerals, long finish with some oak bitterness showing.
Very good bottle of bubbles, keep it for another 5 years, and you will be rewarded.
(93 – 95)
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6/11/2015 - Patrik H Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nice light golden
Deg. october 12
On the nose, roses, honey, raspbarries, buscuits, citrus, hint of oxidation.
On the palate, vanilla with a nice buttery taste, raspberries, nice acidity with a slightly hint of almond.
Long finish
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6/11/2015 - MWiking Likes this wine: 94 Points
lite olikt de tidigare flaskorna med selosse jag provat, aningen mer oxiderat i smak och doft, inget negativt men en annan ton,
deg augsuti 13.
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6/6/2015 - JOsgood wrote: 95 Points
Just spectacular - 2011 disgorgement. The best bottle of Initial that I've had to date. The nose was jumping out of the glass. The perfume is so beautiful. On the palate it was deep and penetrating. Layers of flavors with a great finish. A rich and opulent Champagne. This hit all the switches.
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6/4/2015 - RayOB Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank in Bordeaux
This really is incredible stuff. Fresh nose with lot's of yellow fruit, brioche and vanilla. Deep complex palate with a long length. If you can find this get it.
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5/23/2015 - BuzzzzOff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Toast and butter on the nose. Palate of intense farm-fresh apples and tropical fruits. At most, tiny bubbles. We think it will continue to get better, but happy as humanly possible to sip now.
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5/22/2015 - Jonne wrote: 87 Points
Degorgerad 4 oktober 2007.
Vete sjutton om den här inte var aningen korkskadad. En mycket lätt men tråkig doftslöja av våt kartong som kom och gick i glaset. Annars hyfsade syror, citrus, grönt äpple men inte så mycket mer. Inga mysiga mognadstoner. Drickbart men en klar besvikelse.
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5/22/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Late 2011 disgorgement. Yellow, mild mousse. Wonderful ginger and citrus aromatics. Medium weight but deeply flavored with tremendous acidity and fine stoniness. This held up and evolved beautifully over 3 hours and more than stood up to a wide array of dishes.
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5/19/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private dinner (Restaurant De Echoput, Hoog Soeren, Netherlands): A blend of Avize, Cramant and Oger from three consecutive (but undisclosed) vintages, disgorged 15 January 2007. Rich and vinous, mature but certainly not as oxidative as might perhaps be expected after more than eight years of post-disgorgement ageing; like a powerful and mature (but chalky) white Burgundy, a quite unique approach of the Champagne theme.
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5/17/2015 - Nanda Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decidedly toasty and doughy nose with round baked apple pie fruit. Big and toasty on the palate. There is freshness and lift, but this is a big, dense and concentrated bubbly. Excellent, a Champagne that is better with food than as an aperitif.
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5/17/2015 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Sunday Dinner at Formento's (Chicago, IL): Disgorged December 24, 2013 (they work at Christmastime?). 33,000 bottles produced each year. Extremely dense and powerful, with a nutty, bready note, and pronounced salinity. There's a huge baked apple component as well. You gotta be a fan of the style (I am). This finishes off with a fair bit of chalkiness. The last glass of this was best though. These wines truly benefit from extended air.
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5/7/2015 - thewiz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Franska Vinlistans Champagneprovning (Grappe Vinkällare): (Disgorged August 2014. Based on years 2008-2009-2010.)
Yellow color showing a filled nose of clove, roses and spices in a wonderful way. Creamy, mellow and powerful palate showing citrus, caramel and oak. Very nice long finish that lasts forever.
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4/27/2015 - carlwhat wrote:
10/2006 disg. showing signs of age. very fine and few bottles. but really great bottle.
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4/22/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged October, 2010. Deep yellow, transient mousse. Heavier with more oxidative tones and caramel than fruit. Very good but not as much wild, vivacious fruit as in other bottles.
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4/19/2015 - LWI wrote: 91 Points
Some Champagnes: (Disorged 2009). Although being a BdB it is rather heavy handed and almost some red apples, high dosage, intense wine. Honey and yellow plums, powerful, quite developed.
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4/5/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Some Wines from a Spring Trip to France; 4/4/2015-4/11/2015 (Paris and Burgundy): Disgorged May, 2011. Lush, complex, full of gingery flavors and bitter citrus, just unbelievably creamy. Superb bottle.
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4/1/2015 - fcxj wrote: 94 Points
Sweet
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3/7/2015 - frebro Likes this wine: 87 Points
Much too young. Very lively mousse initially, then dissipates surprisingily quickly - I can't recall having seven snyting like it before. It's been years since I last tasted this wine, didn't make a lasting impression then. This time, I like it better. Powerful body, heavily oaked but harmonious. Autolytic and rich. Lots of aromas that need more time to develop-bottle disgorged june 14, so I'll wait a few years until next tasting. Very promising.
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3/1/2015 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 95 Points
October 2013 disgorgement. Sharper than the 08 disgorgment had along side. Nose is spicy, brown, chalky, lemon, nuts. Just great on the palate - lemon, brown, nutty. Excellent cut but complex and rich. Spicy lemon mineral finish. A top showing for the Initiale. Like sparkling Leflaive or something. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.
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3/1/2015 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
2008 disgorgement. Quite oxidized in style on the nose: golden, cidery. Like sunshine. Sharp chalk, flint. Sweet on the palate with cidery apple and pear notes, golden, soft, citric. Very soft mousse. Appley, like calvados. Spice and lemon on the finish. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17/20.
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3/1/2015 - mnor wrote:
Deg datum 20 September 2012.
Doft av rött äpple och toner av citrus. Smaken dominerades av rött äpple med toner av citrus och bröd. Det jag noterade var att jag inte hittade några oxiderade/Oloroso toner i vinet. Förvånansvärt "ren" frukt och riktigt lång eftersmak. Riktigt, riktigt bra! Jag hade inte gissat på Selosse Brut Initiale om jag hade fått in det blint.
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2/28/2015 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 95 Points
Choucroute Garnie at Sarah and Jonathan's (Theater District, Manhattan, NYC): September 2013 disgorgement. Very oxidized style nose with apple cider, nuts, chalk, pear, orange peel. The palate is a Wow! explosive cider, pear, lemon, chalk. Perfect power and cut. The long finish has pear, chalk and lemon. Again, this wine manages to be creamy, chalky and sharp with acid at the same time. Simply destroyed the 05 Comtes poured earlier. Nose - 5-5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5-5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17-18/20.
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2/23/2015 - LoireFan wrote: 94 Points
Disg. 24 Oct 06. Really showing well now.
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2/20/2015 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 95 Points
I thought this was a real show stopper. It was very aromatic with apple, red fruit, a hint of citrus, and soil. In the mouth the wine was crisp and snapped green apple, apple skin, and a nice balancing minerality and dark soil perceptions. Really delicious
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2/15/2015 - AtoZ wrote:
Disgorged 2003. This was a touch flat for me but drank nicely. I preferred the 09 disgorgement I think. Not funky just a bit less complexity than ?I recall from other bottles. Seemed like very ripe fruit.
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2/6/2015 - AtoZ wrote:
Disgorged 10/21/2009. Drank clean and delicious. Vanilla candy. Touch of Jura. On its own after a big meal. Less funky / oxidized and more fresh in a good way I thought than a bottle recently at a restaurant disgorged 3/26/09. Storage differences?
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2/6/2015 - Darth Angelus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fairly light bodied and elegant. It still seems to be in its youth. The acids make a distinctive impression, but are not unbalanced.
Has a little complexity and some length, but not quite like the greatest champagnes.
Still, quite a good blanc de blancs, if you don't require very full-bodied champagnes.
The style seems a bit special, somehow, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is. My guess would be that it is the Selosse house style. I can't say I have tried champagnes from this house verymuch, but going from what little I have tried from my memory, I think there is a similarity.
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2/6/2015 - DanielN Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely lovely champagne with extreme minerality backed up by tremendous amounts of full citrus, green apple and roasted hazelnut. The mousse is absolutely perfect
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1/24/2015 - BilboBaggins wrote: 93 Points
February 2010 disgorgement. No formal notes taken, but very impressive. If this is the entry level of Selosse, then I can't wait to taste some of the wines further up in the hierarchy.
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1/14/2015 - christyler Likes this wine: 94 Points
01 disgorgement
Dark golden color. This had a very rich, maderized nose. Almost made me wonder if it was over the hill and/or premoxed.
However, this was sharp and precise on the palate. Very bdb and straight up delicious. Certainly at peak but not showing signs of slowing down.
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1/14/2015 - AtoZ wrote:
second wotn. Complex reminds me of 90 Comtes. Disgorged 2001.
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1/11/2015 - ovenmitt wrote: 93 Points
Agree with Douglee and Christoffer.... I can't say it any better than they have. Excellent wine for a New Years eve with friends.
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1/1/2015 - DougLee wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged 7/20/12. Popped on New Year's eve. Warm white gold color. Nose of citrus, almonds, stone, floral notes, yeastiness. Firm, almost majestic layers of biscuit, yeast, white pear, peach, and grapefruit soaring over a tensile spine of mineral and schist. Palpable, massaging texture and terrific grip counterpointing its obvious acidity. Long, brilliant finish. Absolutely beautiful and of course quite young, this has years to go.
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12/31/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
The Initiale certainly develops a lot of character if just given some rest in the cellar. Tonight it is certainly singing from the glass. The Selosse hallmarks all reveal themselves with some time in the glass. Classical red baked apples combined with minerals, citrus tones and rich toast, just adorable. The palate adds to the nose with a brilliant texture, balanced acidity and a creamy velvety mousse. The length on the finish lasts some 45 seconds. There is a lightness emerging at the back-end of the palate providing an elegant balance to the overall power. Without doubt this wine has a great personality, expressive, massive and powerful, yet balanced and elegant. (disgorged September 2012)
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12/30/2014 - winequant wrote: 93 Points
April 2013 Disgorgement - Typical Initiale. As it warmed up and took on more air over the course of a couple of hours, it started revealing notes of toffee, caramel apple, and candied lemon peel. Beautiful.
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12/25/2014 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Disgorged April, 2012. Simply stunning juice. Gorgeous golden hue. The bouquet fills the nose with an enticing yeasty aroma that stimulates the palate for the sheer brilliance it is about to experience. Finishes with great length.
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12/25/2014 - Finare Vinare wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged September 20, 2012. The hyacinths are back! Perfectly balanced oak and just a hint of fino. Great concentration & mouthfeel, firm acidity. Still youthful - this version will go for several years.
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12/24/2014 - bill00 wrote: 94 Points
Yeast, malt, honey, almond and a touch of roasted pear. Big, rich and dense. Superfine, airy mousse. Amazing velvety texture. Another great Initiale. 4/30/09 disgorge.
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12/22/2014 - KVM wrote: 88 Points
Disgorged June 2008. 😘 medium yellow, brassy. Biscuit and green apple to go with the ample mousse. Flavours follow the Nose plus malic crispness. This is fully mature and easy to like. The mousse dies quickly.
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12/20/2014 - LFCHALA Likes this wine: 95 Points
As always, spetacular
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12/9/2014 - Matt Neel Likes this wine:
2014 Acker BYO at TriBeCa Grill (TriBeCa Grill, NYC): Pale straw. Intense yeasty, mineral nose; wafts of light oxidation; briny seashell, seaweed. Palate is also intense and tongue-coating, yeast, cream; highly saline. A very fine-grained mousse leads through to a beautifully long, lingering finish. Really delicious, probably the first Selosses I've ever really enjoyed for my palate (as opposed to appreciated/admired). Terrific. (disgorged 12/2010)
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12/9/2014 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dec 2010 disgorgment. Bright nose of lemon, minerals, some herbal notes. Lemon on the palate - very tight, with minerals, chalk. Very pure and alive. Finish of lemon and spice. Delicious. Less ox in style than most bottles of Initiale I've had. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16.5-17/20.
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12/7/2014 - JOsgood wrote: 94 Points
Simply terrific. Not much in the way of nose (needed more time) but the mouthfeel and the palate experience is just fantastic. Sherry notes with a long finish.
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12/6/2014 - AV2012 wrote: 95 Points
Domaine Champagne tasting: Disgorged in 2006. Golden hues, very small amount of bubbles. Creamy, very mild hazelnut and zephyr as well as baked apple, hyacinth, rye bread. Long and balanced, like a white Burgundy. With time it starts to show aromas of mushroom and dried apple, may be even some curry. Very vinuous. Outstanding.
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12/6/2014 - paul clark wrote:
Bubbles 2014; 11/15/2014-12/19/2014 (Home): Dégorgement in Aug 2009
Toast, a lactic character, apple and a strong chalk note. A slightly smoky and black truffle note. The lactic, butter and cream note is predominate with the fruit and chalk aspects providing diversification. With time there is a strong note of nuts (walnuts) that evolves.
Extremely good and well suited to an apéro. On the palate the wine is full but lithe, ripe but fresh. Extremely well made, classic and a nice counter point to the Substance last week which was a very different wine.
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11/27/2014 - Harley1199 wrote:
Selosse by Roberto Petronio (Vila Viniteca - Madrid): Lemony and oaky. Mineral and chalk on the nose. Blind tasting and I guess. Mixing three vintages. Beheaded last May.
Too much sharped in the mouth. Pungent and long just I remembered it.
I would recommend a nice five years nap.
Alimonado y amaderado. Mineral y a tiza. A ciegas y he acertado
Mezcla de tres añadas. Degollada en el mayo 14.
Demasiado afilado en boca. Punzante y largo como lo recordaba.
Es para dejar dormir una siesta de cinco años.
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11/23/2014 - salil wrote: 94 Points
October 2012 disgorgement. This is really complex, though it needs time and air to really show its stuff. At first it's all about really pure, focused citrus and pear fruit tinged by yeasty and mineral elements, but after it's been open for about an hour or so, the aromatics start to expand as floral, chalky, biscuit and other savoury elements develop. The palate presence is remarkable - very elegant, almost glossy in its texture, but always retaining remarkable cut and lightness.
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11/19/2014 - Alex H wrote: 90 Points
Yummy white peach and nashi pear perked up with mineral lemoniness. Crisp cool and totally quaffable yet not common.
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11/15/2014 - hajoha wrote: 90 Points
Relativt lukket med noen florale toner god konsentrasjon, men blir litt spakt?
Brukbar finish.
For ungt.
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10/18/2014 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fete de Champagne Grand Tasting (Astor Center, NYC.): Disgorged 12-23-13, a blend of wine from 02, 03, and 04. 1.5% dosage. Classic Selosse nose - pears, lemon peel, cidery - ox, minerals, chalk, spicy, soaring, green apple, pear. Huge and gripping on the palate with apple, pear, spice, chalk, and a touch of vanilla. Great showing for the Inital. Better, IMO, than the 02 Salon I just had before this. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 18/20.
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10/17/2014 - thewiz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Gourmetklubbens Champagneresa; 10/16/2014-10/18/2014 (Champagne Region, France): (Tasting at Selosse)
Yellow colour with very tiny bubbles.
Oxidative tones of mature apples, plums and chocolate combined with lighter tones of minerals and citrus. After a while there's butter and oak. Powerful and nice long finish.
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10/15/2014 - MAOC wrote:
Drunk at La Ciau del Tornavento in Piedmont. (04/13 dis). Initially yellow fruit and toasted nose. With decanting spread out to reveal kaleidoscopic profile of brioche/pastry, rich fruit but with chalky minerality. Became more honeyed over time - delicious. **** (****1/2)
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10/11/2014 - KimHartman wrote: 93 Points
Deg 2012-09
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9/24/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Well that is something. Disgorged 2013.
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9/20/2014 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Napa 1994 (@ JK): No formal notes, but this was a great bubble again. Slightly oxidized style and a great concentration. Very special and great wine. 93+ for today.
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9/20/2014 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 95 Points
HDH Auction (Restaurant Tru, Chicago, IL): My bottle, and from a stash of 3 that are the only Selosse I own, so I really hoped it would show well ... and it did! Assertive nose of ginger, spices, lemon, chalk and flint. Huge on the palate with that mouthfeel that only Selosse can bring - huge power and acidity but with a chalky creaminess. Spicy, lemon, nice leanness and focus. Explosive ginger, lemon citrus peel. White floral notes. Massive finish of ginger and lemon. Great showing. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.
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9/20/2014 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
HDH auction tasting at Tru (Chicago, IL): Disgorged May 5, 2010. This had an intense bready nose. The attack is simply explosive with citrus and stone fruit, followed immediately by a massive wave of chalky limestone extract, to the point it dries your mouth up. The bubbles were quite light -- they completely dissipated in my glass over the space of a half-hour. A fantastic showing.
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9/20/2014 - tooch wrote: 92 Points
HDH Auction (Tru - Chicago, IL): Always a treat! Peaches, lemons, limes, floral notes. Gorgeous from start to finish. I'm a fan of the nutty notes these wines have, so this was right up my alley.
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9/1/2014 - BurgAndy wrote:
Last bottle of 1/13 disgorgement. Rockstar juice. Yellow and white fruit, mineral, subtle sherry and butterscotch notes, tight bubbles, umami effect, lots of energy here. Would have been quite the ager that I am sure but guess I'll never find out. Gluttony in a glass, love this stuff. Drank right after the '97 Salon, quite a contrast but what a 1-2 combo.
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9/1/2014 - heiamat.no Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aromatisk og rik champagne. Gjærbakst, nøtter, smør, sitruszest og gule epler på nesa. Fyldig munnfølelse med kremet tekstur. Rik og aromatisk med flott lengde som vokser i munn.
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8/3/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Astonishing. Rich, creamy, luxurious and with some air the classical oxidized tones and the signature of this producer emerge. This is one of the better Initials I have tasted as it offers a multi-faceted experience with a crisp, clear and razor sharp first impression, almost like an aged Comtes. But with some air and time in the glass the baked red apples, citrus zest and sweet brioche emerges and makes this "totally Selosse". It is a marvelous wine. Maybe not something for the faint hearted Champagne lover, but certainly for the rest of us. The palate is perfectly balanced and has a lovely structure. It is 100 % ready for drinking now and it offered one of those wine moments we seldomly experience: the perfect food and wine pairing. When combined to a creamy lobster salad a third taste emerged - a lovely creamy sensation of butterscotch(!) and creamy fudge. It is certainly an understatement that Selosse makes very food friendly wines, but this bottle was pure proof of it. (disgorged late 2010) (score is 93+)
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7/26/2014 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was the first SElosse I got from Anselme himself. Degorged 2008, a beauty, whisky, nuts, a breeze of vanilla, honey and apricots, sometimes it reminds me to an oloroso without the oxidation notes, but this is a great burgundy with some bubbles, burgundy glas and drank it at 12-14°C, one of my favorite restaurants D'Vine in Düsseldorf guinea fowl and wagyu burger
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7/18/2014 - KimHartman wrote: 95 Points
Deg 2012-09
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7/12/2014 - rnellans wrote: 94 Points
( disgorged 10/10)- Nice spice and yeasty notes on the nose. Nutty, oxidative style with some spice on the palate. I always love this wine.
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7/12/2014 - BurgAndy wrote:
1/13 disgorgement. This bottle came across as much more vibrant and youthful compared to the last bottle tasted. Less oxidative but all about mineral, edge, subdued exotic spice, and restrained yellow fruit. Oxidative notes peeked through after a few hours but were simply background. This bottle was all sensory -- like you could feel each individual bubble pop on the tongue. While this does sound dramatic -- this is certainly a contemplative yet hedonistic drink, make no mistake. Best consumed at cellar temp if not a touch warmer
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7/10/2014 - Lilja Likes this wine: 92 Points
¤FW - 2012 disgorgement.
Very vocal nose, and it though it screams champagne out loud, there are some very atypical components as well. Even had us fooled to think it could be some ridiculously good Cremant de Loire. Lots of yeasty bread, like opening a fresh packet of compressed bakers yeast, the kind you get in small foil-wrapped cubes. Ripe, red apples and orange zest. What got us of the track and guessing Chenin Blanc was a very distinct minerality, very much like the damp cloth and wet wool you so often find in this grape.
In the mouth the wine has a quite heavy full body, a high intensity and a high, but not the least sharp acidity. Very good length, and finishes of with a light grapefruit bitterness that I really enjoy.
This Champagne keeps impressing me!
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7/9/2014 - bill00 wrote: 94 Points
Aromatics of almond butter, wax and minerals. Impressive depth and concentration with nice freshness. Minerally finish. Another great Initiale. 10/26/11 disgorge.
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7/7/2014 - godx wrote: 92 Points
A Week in Osoyoos; 7/5/2014-7/11/2014 (Osoyoos, BC): Disgorged October 21, 2009. No formal notes. Fresher than the '07 disgorgement from a few days ago but slightly less complexity. Baked apple and charred lemon nose. Rich mousse. Nice acid and lengthy finish. Excellent.
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7/7/2014 - Barry Rothof wrote: 92 Points
LUNCH @ CALLAS: This is the August, 2013 disgorgement. Rich butter and brioche on the nose. On the palate creamy, richly-textured with waves of ripe fruit. A great way to kick off the lunch.
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7/6/2014 - Kirk Grant wrote:
(disgorged Oct 2012)
This was about as big a let-down as I've had with these wines. Was it enjoyable? Sure...but was it complex...kind of. In the end I was left feeling like there are far better grower Champagnes for 1/3 the price. At this point I think there's more hype for this wine than it deserves given the inconsistant experiences I've had with this. It's ranged from other-worldly to about as good as NV Henriot
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7/5/2014 - godx wrote: 93 Points
A Week in Osoyoos; 7/5/2014-7/11/2014 (Osoyoos, BC): Disgorged July 4, 2007. No formal notes. More oxidative than previous bottles Ive had (older disgorgement date) but in a good way. Drinking like a 1990 vintage Champagne with a richer mouthfeel and solid acidity. Not a ton of bubbles but they are very fine. Soft mousse. Drinking very well. Outstanding.
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7/4/2014 - Burgaddict wrote:
Leiden visits lunch in The Hague: Beautiful Champagne, toasted nose with yeast, concentrated taste, citrus, minerals, long finish. Complex. Disgorged August 2013.
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6/27/2014 - Sorrowless Likes this wine: 95 Points
Degorged May 2009. Beautiful champagne with amazing complexity. Golden color, nose of toasty bread, nougat, apples and some tropical fruit. Nicely balanced with great, long aftertaste.
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6/20/2014 - LFCHALA Likes this wine: 96 Points
Private Dinner (Tre Bicchieri - São Paulo - Brazil): Simply wonderful. Balanced. Amazing acidity. Anselmo Selosse is my current benchmark for champagne.
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6/14/2014 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
Dinner at Oscillate Wildly (Oscillate Wildly, Sydney): Disgorged 30/04/2013. Lemon, violet florals, ginger snaps and a light nuttiness that adds a layer to the nose that really appeals. The palate shows grand power, it is layered and intense with the pure vibrancy of the fruit also permitted to shine through. Would have been happy to drink this all evening!
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6/8/2014 - french16 wrote:
As wonderful as usual.
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6/7/2014 - WillersC wrote: 92 Points
Nov 2011 disgorgement. Rich and full with some nice complexity. Delicious but not as precise or as complex as some previous bottles
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6/1/2014 - MusignyBlanc wrote:
Have had this wine many times and this bottle was a bit disappointing. Perhaps just not enough bottle age (disgorged April 30 2013)? Some oxidative notes balanced with too much sweetness for a bit of a one dimensional result; will hold the rest of this disgorgement for a while.
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5/30/2014 - thewiz Likes this wine: 91 Points
(Degorged August 2013)
Golden yellow colour with an Amazing amount of fine tiny bubbles.
The nose is closed down and feels youthful and mature at the same time showing browned butter, fig jam and coffee in a very intense style.
Youthful palate showing oak and oxidative mature yellow apples in a well-balanced style with a nice long finish.
Matches perfectly with food at this stage and developes nicely along the dinner.
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5/25/2014 - Will Likes this wine:
Textbook Selosse with oxydative style, power, richness, length, complexity. Disgorged: 4 July 2007.
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5/24/2014 - Miceri Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light yellow; bready nose; lots of mousse, pear, yeasty taste, dry
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5/24/2014 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Light straw. Nice small bubbles. Very crisp, lemon, tart Granny Smith apples. Very good with food. Went quickly , a hit with everyone present
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5/24/2014 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tear your face off acidic. Clearly a blanc de blanc, light, floral, saline, sherry/oxidation (light), I get the fuss. No dosage? Did I mention acidic? Pass me the antacids.... Love it even though I prefer blanc de noir typically.
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5/23/2014 - jonggj wrote: 94 Points
- Yellow gold color with small pearls and aromas of skunk, asparagus, artichoke, cut green grass and walnut and has flavours of diacetyl (butter), orange blossom, walnut and sherry with a light/medium body. Silky texture with a medium finish. degorgement 10/2012
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5/17/2014 - Lilja wrote:
Just half a glass so won't rate.
Oxidized nose full of ripe apples, mushrooms and almonds.
Full bodied, high acidity, terrific length.
Good stuff, wish I had had more!
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5/16/2014 - bill00 wrote: 94 Points
Almond, yellow apple and stony minerality. Broad and rich with great depth. More expressive and open on day 2. 10/21/09 disgorge (I think that implies '03 base year but not sure).
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5/9/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow, this is what this wine is like when it has been cellared for a couple of years. Tonight it is singing from the glass. The nose offers the classy and classical Selosse "oxidized" tones of red baked apples combined with minerals, citrus tones and rich toast after some aeration. The palate just adds to the nose with a brilliant texture, balanced acidity and a creamy velvety mousse. The length on the finish lasts some 35-40 seconds. Power and elegance combined in a lovely effort - with a marvelous sense of how to express an unforgettable personality. (disgorged April 2011)
Compared to the more expensive Selosse cuvées the Initiale lacks a bit of complexity in terms of deeper minerality, but also length on the finish and that extra "oohmmpf" which is so hard to put words on. Still, this is a lovely example of the house style and certainly a wine that brings joy and pleasure to the (more experienced) Champagne lover!
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5/6/2014 - Nordin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Disgorged August 2013
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5/2/2014 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Old School Cali Cab Tasting (Colicchio & Sons, New York, NY): Off the list at Colicchio & Sons (Thanks Simon!). 2008 disgorgement. Young. Oxidative style. Nose of ginger, spice, pear, cider, lemon peel, chalky and somewhat creamy. Similar on the palate with prominent ginger, cider, lemon, creamy - the finish shows ginger and lemon and the acid builds to be powerful at the end. This is very assertive and brighter than other bottles, but isn't quite as deep - not as much creamy chalk milkshake that I love so much. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 5-5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16.5-17.5/20.
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4/23/2014 - Lord Rodney wrote: 89 Points
A Good rather than great bottle. Simply because it was disgorged in August 2013 and the wine was not yet together. I kinda knew that when I opened the bottle late one night a at dinner. Oh well still mighty tasty with just a hint of that Selosse Fino Sherry that we all love! Alas my only bottle! I will need to find more and store them much longer!!! :-)
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4/20/2014 - KimHartman wrote: 95 Points
Deg 2012-09
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4/19/2014 - stefad Likes this wine: 91 Points
Champagne avec belle prise de mousse, perlance exra fine, belle cuvée pour amateurs, très différent des autres cuvées bues à ce jour. Toute en finesse, sans exhubérance, cuvée dégorgée le 19/05/2012 - Beau vin d'esthète, bue à l'apéritif mais doit mieux convenir à pour accompagner un plat. Je regette toutefois un manque de complexité et vais donc laisser 3/4 ans avant d'ouvrir la prochaine issue du même lot.
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4/17/2014 - Neecies Likes this wine: 96 Points
Shared with J & A. This bottle was disgorged in Oct 2007.
Immediate nose of oak but before we could start worrying about that, we sipped the wine which I have to say was one of the most intense champagnes I've ever tasted. Only a few Salons and a bottle of that super rare $300+ Bollinger come close in my memory. There's lemon curd and apple cider and all kinds of good flavors here, but the wine is riveting less because of the flavor than intensity, there's a maximalist depth and concentration as well as the sophisticated persistence and quality of the pin-prick bubbles that landed on one's tongue about a thousand at a time. Or so it felt. Skip the food--this is a wine for contemplation.
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4/16/2014 - Finare Vinare wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged September 20, 2012. Less of hyacinths than in the beginning, more of the chalky fino notes. Big and resounding taste with powerful acidity and a tough mineral core. Great version, still youthful, next bottle in another year.
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4/6/2014 - MWiking Likes this wine: 94 Points
vet inte vad som hände men jag la in en tastingnote på detta i lördags och nu är den inte kvar men detta vin var degorgerat i augsuti 2013 så det är fortafarnde ungt och det känns, det blir inte den där riktiga selossekänslan tycker jag. Man vill ha ett lite större bett i vinet än vad denna flaska hade så jag tror på att låta flaskorna ligga still ett år till.
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3/31/2014 - Arbin wrote: 93 Points
Deg Aug 2013
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3/30/2014 - Billy Swan wrote:
Disgorged August 2013. I'm not big on Champagne. I usually think it's good, but rarely exciting. But Selosse does something for me. This one tastes like a very flowery Chardonnay from Chassagne or Puligny spiked with a touch of Fino Sherry, blended in a mixer made by chalk. Colour is golden and the flavours oozing out of the glass take me in a firm grip. The taste confirms, this is just brilliant. Flavours are intense, acidity is just right, there's a smidgen of ox to it, the mousse just lathers your mouth with these lovely flavours. It put's me and K in really good spirits before dinner, works well with our serrano-wrapped cod with chanterelles and stomp of Jerusalem artichoke and potatoes. Not much left in the bottle after dinner ... Ready to drink, but will develop. Just a question of personal taste of when to pop the cork.
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3/29/2014 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
2013 editon of En Primeur - Kelly and Kevin’s excellent adventure; 3/26/2014-4/1/2014 (Mostly in Bordeaux and a night in Paris): More mature example of the wine. A hint of oxidative note which is not bothersome, yellow fruits, lemon curd, coriander seeds, apple pie, honey and mineral. Small and subtle mousse, bright and sweet fruit driven palate impression, extremely bright acidity and long finish. For me, the maturity seems to vary from bottle to bottle but all are quite enjoyable.
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3/27/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
October, 2012 disgorgement. Light golden. Gently effervescent. Apple skin, ginger, and faint toast. Medium weight but real creaminess, bright fruit, tremendous finishing acidity and an intense mineral streak. Wow, this was an exquisite bottle that was so full of life.
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3/11/2014 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Disgorged October of 2010. Another superb bottle. Enticing yeasty bouquet that kept evolving throughout the evenings. Creamy, incredible balanced and rich on the palate. A Champagne with soul.
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3/7/2014 - javierbb Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dégorgé 02/06/2010
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2/15/2014 - KimHartman wrote: 93 Points
Deg 2011-05
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1/27/2014 - pigdaddy wrote: 93 Points
disgorged Oct. 20, 2010. yellow-gold; fine, streamlined mousse; oxidative notes shifted to nutty, raw buttermilk biscuit dough, quite yeasty, creamy & complex; less about fruit & more about texture, rich & full, w/great sense of style; so distinctive.
2/15/15 same disgorgement. brilliant this evening, w/perfect effervescence, full-on & toasty, certainly that oxidative quality is there but so pure & delicious, bread dough & yeast, at a great point. (93)
rosemary-roasted pecans
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1/19/2014 - BurgAndy wrote:
1/2013 disgorgement. Opened and tasted about four hours later. Vanilla bean, cardomom, dill, ginger, butterscotch. Sherry oxidative style. Fresh and vibrant. Definitely a choice. Probably would shine with food. This oxidative style drives my wife nuts. Me -- I like it for what it is.
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1/18/2014 - stiang Likes this wine: 91 Points
"Dette er jo Chablis med bobler!", sier kjæresten. Og hun har rett. Enorm mineralitet, østers og sjø. I munnen perfekt moden for en Initial (degog nov 11), brioche, epler. Luftig mousse med små bobler. Flott vin.
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1/16/2014 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
(disgorged 07/2012) This didn't present any oxidative notes, but if there were some that others at the tasting might have observed, they weren't discussed. I found that this balanced generosity with elegance, but at the same time, seemed to lack panache. The Vouette-Sorbée Extra Brut (02/2010) served alongside it, with its spiny, tingly lime-covered rocks, was more engaging. I mention this because I tend to prefer fruit over acid in my Champers, but on this night, the V-S won out - it had the panache. Nonetheless, recommended, 12,0% abv
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1/10/2014 - strawbo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice but strangely middle-of-the-road'ish compared to the Initiales I have had previously. Degorgement date 2009.
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1/3/2014 - avp wrote:
No formal note.
Interplay between the fine acidic backbone and oxidized character. Really needs some air. Decanting won't hurt. @Ludu
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1/1/2014 - RobertWinesWeLove Likes this wine: 89 Points
Lovely almost sherry-like bouquet. Big, rather mature taste but lacking a little bit of bubbles. My previus bottle was better. 3,5NJP
For more reviews of wines and information about wine see www.njconsultingimport.se
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12/31/2013 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Absolutely lovely, this is a perfectly mature and beautiful Initiale from Selosse. Being disgorged 29 April 2011 it delivers a very nice drinking experience. The nose offers up the rich, creamy and also oxidized tones so typical for this cuvée. There are minerals, citrus tones and also rich toast to be found if given some air. The palate is full throttle, but is also nicely balanced. The integration of this effort is superb, as is the texture. I am sure it will continue to develop yet some time, but it certainly was a treat tonight too!
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12/31/2013 - Gurto wrote: 91 Points
Glömde kolla deg.datum men köpt av Systembolagets nuvarande flaskor. Fet koncentrerad frukt med karamelliserade drag, riktigt vass syra. Min första Selosse. Väldigt bra men känns lite för knuten ännu. Kan nog tänka mig att det skulle kunna bli både ett och två poäng till med mer mognad.
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12/31/2013 - the godfather wrote:
Yes please. I am obsessed
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12/31/2013 - KimHartman wrote: 94 Points
Deg 2011-05
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12/31/2013 - Rubinstein wrote: 92 Points
We started with this new years evening. Round, rich and as usual a very good wine. I had hoped for a bit more freshness and minerality. Pleasant and very nice wine.
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12/30/2013 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged 2010. Fabulous smooth, full texture, light caramel and citrus. Mature but full of vivacity. So much more to it in terms of depth, feel and complexity than just about any other Blanc de Blancs I can recall.
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12/27/2013 - bill00 wrote: 94 Points
May 5th 2010 disgorge. Light gold. Really powerful aromatics of florals and tropical fruit. On the palate, this comes across as an especially concentrated and rich Initial (not sure if this is '03 base year, which would explain the richness). Still maintains great balance even with the ripeness.
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12/20/2013 - MWiking Likes this wine: 95 Points
WOW! vilket dundervin, redan på näsan kännar man fet frukt, aningen mogen doft och massa härlig citrus. smaken är magisk, mandel, hög syra en mousse som aldrig vill lägga sig, citrus. Geni-champagne som kan mäta sig med de stora trots att detta är en instegs-champagne.
deg. oktober 12.
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12/19/2013 - Patrik H Likes this wine: 94 Points
A wine from a genius.
On the nose Flowers, honey, sherry and some citrus
On the palate A brilliant balanced wine with a hint of sweetness behind the layers of summer and citrus flavours. Very good.
Deg. october 12
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12/10/2013 - OCgasman wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged in 2012. Obviously very young, but drank really great. Fantastic bouquet, succulent fruit. Loved this tonight.
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12/7/2013 - sooper65 wrote: 92 Points
Classically Selosse - yeasty, soft, all enveloping. Rich and biscuity, just not like other Champagne, and all the better for it!
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12/2/2013 - aekenback wrote: 92 Points
Underbar som alltid
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12/2/2013 - Peat Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tosca, cream, nuts, fennel and green apple. Fantastic Champagne.
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12/2/2013 - Vintomas wrote: 92 Points
Bright yellow colour. Nose with ripe yellow apples and some yellow winter apples, pear, some peach, spice, a touch of herbaceous notes, some oxidation notes, oak and some vanilla, some white flowers. Palate with green and some yellow apples, citrus, mineral with some fizzy tablet character, good concentration, definitely good acidity, and a long aftertaste with green apples. Rather young, but drinks well now, could develop, 92+ p.
Disgorged 2 August 2013.
Rather typical Selosse nose, but the palate is more “regular” blanc de blancs-styled and green apple-dominated than they usually are. This means that it reminds me less of a white Burgundy that the 2012 release did. But it still is a good Initial!
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12/2/2013 - gbgpatrik wrote: 92 Points
Massivt gult med markant syra och härlig mousse i munnen. Klart ekad med sköna smått utvecklade toner av röda äpplen och lite citrus! Deg 20 sept 2012.
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11/29/2013 - jwsmith wrote: 93 Points
Creamy zesty lingers for nearly a minute. Excellent 2010 disgorgement
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11/29/2013 - NotNYC wrote: 92 Points
Nothing says Thanksgiving like Selosse.
As others have noted, improves as it warms in the glass. So go slow as complexity builds throughout. Dynamic mineral, citrus, brioche evolving in delightfully unexpected ways.
A lighter Selosse that we found difficult to pair with food. Best enjoyed solo...
disgorged Oct 20, 2010
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11/17/2013 - Edouard84 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not as impressive as previous bottle
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11/11/2013 - Eric wrote:
Celebrating a joint birthday with my wife. Amazingly muscular and intense Champagne. Some secondary, nutty notes on the nose moving to a taut, tense, powerful palate. We had a bottle of this about 4 months ago that was much 'easier,' but this one was intense, tightly wound and just stunningly powerful.
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11/9/2013 - Alex H wrote: 87 Points
Still tasting like previous times with that oxidized red apples, citrus minerality and slightly oily texture.
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11/2/2013 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
Champagne and Sushi (Megumi, Sentosa Golf Club): This was a very good bottle of Initiale, one of the best I have had. I unfortunately did not note down the disgorgement date, but it clearly had quite a bit of age on it. Served blind, I do not think anyone had any doubts it was a Selosse. From first pour, it had a beautiful telltale nose of red apple flesh with slightly oxidative, ciderish aromas, along with wafts of manuka honey, some mandarin oranges and a sprinkle of exotic spice. Glorious stuff - a world away from the more classic aromas of the first two champagnes, but beautiful in its own style. The palate was power-packed – very rich and generous, with round and fleshy flavours of apple cider and white melons, yet it was also wonderfully structured and effortlessly balanced, having a very fresh, clean feel lent to it by nicely integrated acidity and a really fine, lively mousse. I find that this sense of cleanness and purity sometimes makes the Initiale a more enjoyable drink than either of Selosse’s grander (and more expensive) non-vintage Substance or VO Champagnes. This was no pushover though. It had real depth and breadth to it, all the way into a tremendous finish that rippled through the back-palate with a lush linger of ripe lemons in a long glide of saline mineral. Really lovely, complex stuff, and at a nice place on the night.
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11/2/2013 - Mingmong wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful nose, cider, mandarin oranges, peaches on the nose. Very perfumed. Fresh yellow white fruit, good balanced acidity and some saline on the finish. Peaches and kumquat on the palate and long lush finish.
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10/23/2013 - JOsgood wrote: 93 Points
Elegance and complexity. Subtle at first but it keeps bringing you back for more. A few steps behind the Substance for my taste but a fantastic Champagne. At Caves Madeleine, Beaune.
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10/14/2013 - Vintomas wrote: 93 Points
Small grower Champagne tasting with Munskänkarna, featuring some of the new generation of growers (Stockholm): Deep yellow colour. Powerful nose with ripe apples and winter apples, some citrus, some bread, nuts and cocoa powder, white flowers, oak, and discrete oxidation notes. Powerful palate with yellow apples, winter apples, citrus, peach, good acidity, long aftertaste with some green apple. Rather young, 93(+) p. An exceptionally good Initial!
Disgorged in September 2012.
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9/20/2013 - kthornton78 Likes this wine:
disg 10/10. gorgeous wine. dense, rich yet fresh. burgundy with bubbles as so many have stated. a wonderful drink on a wedding day.
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8/31/2013 - godx wrote: 93 Points
Casual dinner at Home: Disgorged October 21, 2009. No formal notes. Youthful on both the nose and palate with nutty, yeasty and earthy notes along with creamy citrus and baked apples. Richness mousse and excellent acidity. Outstanding.
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8/18/2013 - brittain Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow. Such impeccable balance. Less powerful initial nose than some, but as it warms in the glass slightly this opens up - and such length! Imagine depth of Krug, but more delicate balance lasting 30+ secs. Mid yellow already in this 2011 disgorged bottle. Not sure how it will develop - will that poise persist as secondary flavours develop? I just have no experience to be able to tell.
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8/11/2013 - Cheungtp wrote: 92 Points
Rich in fruity flavors, green apple, lemon grass, with some orange peel and pear juice. Nice aftertaste, clean and pure.
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8/9/2013 - futronic wrote: 95 Points
Disgorged 2009/10/21. Honey-gold colour, brioche, toasted hazelnuts, dried orange peel, Meyer lemon curd, pie crust, cooked apples, and a hint of sherry. Fantastic, fine bead, great texture and length - well over a minute-long finish. Easily 95 points. A superb bottle of Champagne. Drink now-2018.
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8/2/2013 - KimHartman wrote: 93 Points
Deg 2011-05
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7/22/2013 - Vstalam wrote: 95 Points
January 2013 disgorgement. Oxidation, lemon tart, and a slight bit of honey on nose. Fine moussey bead with acidity and oxidative brioche on the palate. Well balanced for a recent disgorgement. Long finish of lemon. Given disgorgement date, probably a mix of 2007/2008/2009, according to Selosse 2009 was a great vintage.
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7/14/2013 - Mascalese Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great bubbly from Anselme. Explosive. Rich. Long. :)
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7/10/2013 - scamhi Likes this wine:
from the 2006 disgorgement. Mature and delicious
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6/30/2013 - kleal wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged 2010. Golden in colour, quite developed. Red apples, toast, balanced acidity. long finish
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6/8/2013 - clayfu wrote:
A Clos St Jacques kind of night. (Elite Seafood Restaurant): Brightest and most exciting Initiale I've had in awhile. Disgorged in 2007 with copious amounts of lemon tart, apple and saline with this ultra bright acidity that just screamed youthfulness, but the palate was such a nice blend of flavors that you almost salivate on the finish. Really good.
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6/3/2013 - tsec1224 wrote: 90 Points
Crisp lemon and green apple with soft toasted brioche and light hint of oak
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6/1/2013 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged July, 2010. Medium yellow. Intense but short lived mousse. Caramel, light brioche nose. Moderate weight, bitter citrus fruit, some oxidation. Very good but not exciting.
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5/31/2013 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
As always, the wines from Selosse exhibits a lot of red apples, a rather elegant oxidative tone and sweet medium toast. This Initial, disgorged in April 2011 is no exception. The very typical Selosse nose is accompanied by a superb palate with a creamy mousse and nice acidity - again building on power but with a very elegant approach.
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5/30/2013 - -E- wrote: 92 Points
Blanc de Blancs smaking (Oslo): (Degorg 02.12.11 med 02,03&04) Klar, lett gyllen, dyp strågul. Rik nese med et mildt oksidativt preg. Toner av voks, harpiks og røde epler.
Fyldig og massiv frukt. Epledreven, men gir også toner av dyp, moden gulfrukt og nøtter. Frisk, stram og presis syre. Lett sødme. Finkornet mousse. Flott lengde med epler, nøtter, voks og mineraler.
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5/24/2013 - Seth Rosenberg wrote:
The Champagnes of Jacques Selosse (featuring all 6 Lieux-Dits) by the Rare Wine Co. (NoMad Hotel Penthouse, New York, NY.): Disgorged 2003. Light-medium gold. Stunning nose of malt and toffee, cider, vanilla, deep and pure, rich? Some mature notes and the chalk comes out later. Palate: lots of orange peels and sweet lemon, toffee, cider and pear. This was smashing, right out of the gate, but when I got back to it, it had really faded or muted itself. When I came back, it seemed quite tired, and the rest of the group seemed to agree with this. My initial (no pun intended) score was Nose - 5-5.5/6, Palate - 6/6, Finish - 5/6, Je Ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 17-18/20. But coming back to it, it was more like a 15-16/20.
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5/24/2013 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
The Champagnes of Jacques Selosse (featuring all 6 Lieux-Dits) by the Rare Wine Co. (NoMad Hotel Penthouse, New York, NY.): Disgorged 2012. Light gold. Nose of sweet pear, vanilla, creamy chalk, and lemon. A touch of soap and rosemary come out with time. Shimmering and beautiful on the hose, smelling slightly sweet with some cider-like tones. Dusty chalk aspects. Lots of apple and pear, lots of fruit, sweet, cider. Light on its feet and lively with good acid. The finish seems a little short. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 4.5/6, Je Ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 16.5/20.
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5/18/2013 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
This is a bubble as I have never tasted before. So complex, different, and also so beautiful. Creamy. salty minerals, beautiful brioche and oxidized impression. Same on the palate. Some melon, some rust, good tart acidity. But in fact nothing negative. Only complex, fresh and interesting. Hard to score this new experience. 94 seems to be correct.
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5/18/2013 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
Bearserkerfest Night 2-Chave Table (Sun Wah BBQ, Chicago IL): Nose: This is deep and extremely intriguing with classy tones of brioche, roasted nuts, flinty tones, warm honey, sweet peaches, and nectarines. There is a lushness to the fruit, but with a real sense of class to it as well.
Taste: Full bodied with medium+ acidity. Very finessed, polished, and rich with extremely balanced and deep tones of brioche, roasted nuts, flint, warm honey, and nectarines.
Overall: This was a wonderful champagne. While there is a richer quality to it, it really has a lot of finesse and class.
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5/18/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Chicago Berserkerfest Dinner #2 (Sun Wah): Very forward, concentrated and lush. Lots of fat fruit along with lots of toasty, yeasty character. Excellent in its style, just not my preferred style of Champagne.
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5/18/2013 - tooch wrote: 94 Points
Chicago Berserkerfest; 5/18/2013-5/19/2013 (Chicago, IL): Had a certain elegance and depth that was a beautiful juxtaposition next to the bigger and richer Dom Perignon's. This was more about finesse and style than power or richness. It's beautiful combination of pear, peas, white florals, and truffle. Great stuff.
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5/17/2013 - olan01 Likes this wine: 85 Points
Been waiting a few years to drink this one, maybe too long. Compared to other great champagnes that night, the Initale came out short.
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5/15/2013 - stephane Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful. What a great wine! Dry and mineral. The right balance of citrus and green fruits.
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5/11/2013 - Vintjener Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very thick texture - the bottle was disgorged in the autumn of 2012. I loved the combination of beautiful autolysis and thick ripe fruit. Very often it is one or the other - not here. I am looking forward to meeting this wine again.
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5/4/2013 - Vintomas wrote: 91 Points
Château d'Yquem tasting (Stockholm): Appearance: bright yellow, medium mousse
Nose: ripe yellow apples, some peach, mineral, a hint of flowers, some oak and spice notes, somewhat white Burgundy-like.
Palate: green and yellow apple, high acidity, mineral, very fresh, with a long and fresh aftertaste.
Summary: some development in the nose and very fresh on the palate, a bit on the lean side for an Initial. Fully enajoyable now, but could stand more cellaring, 91 p.
From a bottle disgorged October 2010.
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5/3/2013 - NNV Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not what the Initiale normally is. Muted and linear rather than grande and full. This was an off botle, yet still can tell the quality...
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4/27/2013 - Vintomas wrote: 92 Points
Nose with ripe apple, peach, perfume notes, some oak, and quite a lot of white Burgyndy feeling. Good concentration on the palate, goody, palate with green apple and yellow fruit, definitely high acidity. Generous nose, young, 92+ p.
Disgorged September 2012. This is consistently been a very fine Initial, and it also is unusually approachable already now.
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4/27/2013 - HenrikJ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely exuberant bouquet with green apples, a little oak and a hint of acetone. Round flavour very reminicent of a good Speyside Whisky with peardrops, apples, a bit of vanilla. Lively mousse, nice mouthfeel and long finish. Great stuff.
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4/27/2013 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A beautiful wine, this is the latest release from Selosse, expressing the very typical full-bodied and elegant slightly oxidative house style. There is no doubt this is a Selosse, but it is not as tight as it sometimes is... The nose exhibits a lot of apples, light toast and a whiff of citrus. The palate is very nice with a brilliant acidity, vivid mousse and a creamy overall impression. It drinks very well at present.
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4/24/2013 - salil wrote: 94 Points
Quite youthful, but a really stunning wine with a core of incredibly fresh, vibrant citrus and stone fruit flavours augmented by brioche, doughy and lightly oxidative nutty and creamy elements. There's fantastic depth, focus and clarity here, and while it's incredibly primary it's thrilling to drink now. (July 2012 disgorgement.)
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4/21/2013 - drwine2001 wrote:
When in Champagne... (L'Assiette Champenoise, Reims): Disgorged October, 2012. Light color. Tight, steely and lemony right off the bat with tight bead. So dynamic though. Picked up body, texture and intriguing strawberry notes and a twist of fresh herbs. Much better with 3 hours of air. Remarkable evolution suggesting that it is simply too young! Give it time.
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4/20/2013 - godx wrote: 93 Points
France 2013 - Côte d'Or; 4/20/2013-4/23/2013 (Beaune): Disgorged November 7, 2011. Beautiful earthy nose of charred lemons, baked apple, toast and salted caramel. Focused on the palate with lively acidity but the soft mousse and texture give the mouthfeel an elegant and finessed profile. This never seems to disappoint. Outstanding.
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4/19/2013 - d'Artagnan wrote: 93 Points
Au Filet souper Fred P.
Superbe champagne, attaque fraîche et crémeuse, milieu de bouche très sec et minéral, grand vin.
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4/13/2013 - WillersC wrote: 93 Points
Quite full on in style, rich and full of character. Ginger,lemons, biscuits but with good balancing acidity. Very good, yet not as refined as some previous bottles. (Oct 2011 Disgorgement)
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4/6/2013 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
2012 En Primeur - Kelly and Kevin’s excellent adventure; 4/4/2013-4/9/2013 (Bordeaux, France): Yellow fruits, corriander seed, bright acidity and nice mineral expression. Drinking lovely,this particular bottle will not improve.
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4/1/2013 - WineGeneral wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic stony minerality with lemon, brioche, and the slightest hint of mint (my wife disagrees re the mint). A very luxurious mouthfeel, with a finish that just keeps on going.
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4/1/2013 - MarcelloW wrote: 94 Points
Dégorgée in 07/2012...so, very young... nice fruit, quite full bodied with good minerality and little yeast...all in all very impressive but will still improve...
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3/23/2013 - Papies wrote:
Another Saturday night at The Papies (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): Disgorged 13 May 2011
Following on from a Selosse tasing this week where we absolutely loved this (rated 95) this , although same disgorgement date, did not strike us as high. Not sure why to be honest but this was relatively muted and not showing the elegance we saw earlier this week. Bottle variation or just a bad bottle?
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3/22/2013 - godx wrote: 92 Points
Pre-Trip Dinner #2 (Pied-á-Terre): Disgorged October 21, 2009. No formal notes. Toasty, nutty and great acidity. Not as brilliant as previous bottles but still first-rate. Excellent.
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3/22/2013 - MattTM wrote:
Disgorged Oct 21, 2009. Fantastic nose showing plenty of toasty and nutty aromas layered with gala apples, tart fresh lemon juice, some ginger spice and a slight oxididative note. Very rich and complex on the palate with lots more toast, ground nuts and caramel, along with red apple skins, charred oak, crisp lemon, minerals, baked red apple, and a pleasant floral note. A nice firm bite of acidity and a long finish ending on notes of baked red apples and almonds. What a treat, rich, full bodied and plenty of firm lemon citrus to help balance this out. Excellent creamy mouth-feel. Fantastic.
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3/21/2013 - aagrawal wrote: 95 Points
Anselme Selosse (Jacques Selosse) Legendary Dinner (Spruce Restaurant, San Francisco): Disgorged 2003. A deep golden color, much darker than the other disgorgements, caramel, creme brulee, deep complex nose; complex, more yeasty than the 2012 disgorgement but fine bubbles, very nice finish. Retains much acid even as it gains the richness of age. This definitely comes across as fully mature and the elder of the bunch, despite the fact that it is 2 years younger than the oldest disgorgement. 95
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3/21/2013 - aagrawal wrote: 94 Points
Anselme Selosse (Jacques Selosse) Legendary Dinner (Spruce Restaurant, San Francisco): Disgorged in 2012. Color is light yellow-gold; aromatic, complex, very distinct granny smith apple nose, clean, fresh, slight yeast but definitely not the defining characteristic; palate is clean, fresh, apples, tart (green apples); long finish. This is superb today and has much room for improvement with a bit of age. 94-95
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3/21/2013 - Papies wrote: 95 Points
The Champagnes of Jacques Selosse (Roberson Wine, South Ken, London): Disgorged 13May11. 100% Chardonnay, <5g/l dosage 12% Alc.
Light in colour, pale straw. Toasty nose probably as toasty as Selosse champagnes get. Ripe apple light spice on the nose too. A lot of activity on the palate , a touch of a faint popping candy feel if we try to place this. Full of life, rich, round and intense. Very long finish. Very vinous champagne . Superb and of great value. Only criticism we would add especially vs the rest of the Selosse champagnes is that it lost its energy after 30mins while the rest sort of continued to evolve non stop. Still a very good 94-95
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3/20/2013 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Incredible bubbles. Enticing yeasty bouquet that evolves just as each sip of this extraordinary Champagne does. Creamy, sublimely balanced and rich on the palate. Do not drink this in a Champagne glass or you will miss the beauty of this wine as it evolves in your glass. A Champagne with soul.
Disgorged October 2010
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3/16/2013 - LWI wrote: 90 Points
A mixed lot: Almost meaty, but I liked it
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2/22/2013 - kthornton78 wrote: 94 Points
disg 12/2011. tasted just below cellar temp in a burgundy stem.
deep golden yellow hue. nose of beeswax, a hint of citrus intermingled with red fruit, peach pit (?), a touch of white flower and a deep cut of chalky minerals. on the palate this is rich and round bursting with fruit but with nice cut from the acid and a mineral finish.
this is great champagne. it juxtaposes so much i like about champagne. the freshness of young wines with the hint of oxidation and richness you get with aged bottles. it has the minerality and cut of its BdB lineage but with a depth of fruit that rivals good BdN.
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2/20/2013 - french16 wrote:
A stunning bottle. Typical Selosse oxidative notes. Touch of oak, honey, orange and lemon. There's even a fine note of fresh butter and from time to time a whiff of coconut (but nothing sweet or heavy). Lots of depth and complexity. Full and rich yet vibrant. As usual, the effervescence picked up with more air and time. Subtle bitters on the finish.
Disgorged Feb, 2009.
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2/9/2013 - NNV Likes this wine: 93 Points
Phenomenal. Deep, rich flavors with pronounced fruit. High acid. Ethereal. Compares (and beats) MV Krug.
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2/8/2013 - Edouard84 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent champagne. The style is unique. Apples, minerals, honey, butter on the nose. Great acidity and fantastic length!
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1/22/2013 - Finare Vinare wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged April 24, 2011
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1/20/2013 - JohanPe wrote: 92 Points
Jäst, bröd, kola, övermogna päron. Välbalanserad och riktigt bra.
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1/15/2013 - RobertWinesWeLove wrote: 92 Points
Väldigt god, fruktig champagne med bra syra. Lång eftersmak
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1/5/2013 - RobertWinesWeLove wrote: 91 Points
Underbart friskt och god
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1/4/2013 - 3ajp Likes this wine: 94 Points
Disgorged oct 2011
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12/30/2012 - rnellans wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged October, 2009. Spice and yeast notes. Rich, big style. Good acid. Like this a lot.
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12/29/2012 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
Opened by Allred. Honey, caramel and tart apples.
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12/29/2012 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged October 21, 2009. Yellow color. Aromas of cream, roasted nuts, vanilla, baked apple and hints of caramel. Rich texture, creamy; grapefruit, vanilla cream, toasted almond and melon qualities. Lengthy finish. Would like to spend an evening following this. 92-93 pts for me, 94-95 for Domino.
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12/29/2012 - Vino Me wrote: 96 Points
Opened by Allred. October 2009 disgorgement. This was a grand cru blanc des blancs. Medium yellow color. Crisp. Steely character. Notes of citrus, lemon curds and roasted nuts. High bead. Very pretty wine with a long finish. 96 points.
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12/29/2012 - JSOL wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic champagne. Flavour notes don't do it justice - "lemons and apples" would make it sound boring and fruity. It is serious, complex and weighty. Will certainly improve with age as well.
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12/24/2012 - VHJV wrote: 93 Points
A very fine Champagne, drinking great.
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12/23/2012 - bon vivant wrote:
Mar. 2009 Disg. It is interesting to see how the initial oxidative note that i described in my 2009 TN is now even more pronounced. The color is more intense and the overall impression is more power. As this bottle had a chance to air for several hours it became much smoother and the sherry notes got replaced with cleaner flavors and much more minerally notes. The last few glasses were definitely the finest. Time to consume.
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12/19/2012 - Sundbyberg wrote: 92 Points
With a very wide range of spices on the palate, somewhat like a complex whitewine.
A nice champagne but could one not buy a good bottle of whitewine instead?
Disgorged september 2012
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12/14/2012 - Finare Vinare wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged September 2012. Twenty minutes in the decanter (won't do next time, quickly lost too much of its mousse) Ripe fruits, orange and lemon rind, apple soda, hyacinths, walnut, chalky manzanilla, white burgundy. Rich taste, high ripe acidity, friendly mousse. Multi-layered and harmonious - an exceptional version of Initial, still very young. A mix of vintages 05, 06, 07.
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12/8/2012 - kopke wrote:
Superbe champagne! Bu en décembre, première expérience avec Selosse. Beaucoup aimé mais donc cher!
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12/6/2012 - Vintomas wrote: 92 Points
Selosse tasting (AuZone, Stockholm): Rich yellow colour. Nose with mineral, almond, some perfume notes that contribute to an impression of marzipan, ripe yellow apples and other ripe fruit including peach, some citrus, some honey, flowery. Rather fruity and elegant. Powerful palate with ripe yelow fruit including apples and citrus, noticeably spicy, a hint of bitterness, rather high acidity.
Disgorged 4 October 2007.
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12/4/2012 - celk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Oxidative, sherry notes and persistent intensity. This particular bottle seemed to lack some freshness and transparency. Recall being more impressed on previous occasions.
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12/4/2012 - hubas wrote: 82 Points
For me this wine was not that well balanced, It was almost like two wines in one. A first with nice champagne notes with very strong toasted notes. However, the second part of the taste was almost like citrus water that was for me to piercing.
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12/3/2012 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 97 Points
Acker BYO 2012 (Tribeca Grill, Tribeca, NY): (I have 'Disgorged 7/10 down, but I am not at all sure of that). Light yellow-green. Chalk, minerals, crushed shells. White dust and flowers. The nose radiates this powdery feel that I cannot describe well. Very different from any wine I have ever had. On the palate: very chalky and powdery yet creamy. I could lose myself in this palate and in this wine in general. Where was I? Oh yes, Chalky, dusty, driven and laser-like. Potent. Minerals and tight lemon. A singular wine, austere and focused yet full and round somehow. As I am just getting into Champagne, this wine was an epiphany for me, the perfect wine for my palate to learn from right now - complex, cerebral, austere - a thinking wine. I stand in awe. Game changer. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je Ne Sais Quoi - 2/2 = 18.5/20.
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12/2/2012 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Year End Euro-Themed Lunch (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Weird floral nose (oxidation?). Sour, acidic palate. An excellent wine that could get higher score for me if it wasn't for the weirdness of the nose... Group's favorite in this flight.
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12/1/2012 - Alex H wrote: 87 Points
Fresh sappy lemony apply zapple with weight and body. Fresher than previous tasting. Stonefruit citrus with quartz minerality on the finish. Touch of olive oil too.
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11/30/2012 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
Brian's Birthday Dinner (Buono Restaurant, Singapore): Disgorged 7 December 2009, this was yet another very good showing - it just about blew a good bottle of Pol Roger NV Reserve out of the water. Still though, fresh out of the bottle, it did seem a little younger and less developed than some of the smashing bottles of Initiale that we have had over the years, making it just that shade less impressive. Nevertheless, this was a very nice Champagne indeed. Slightly oxidative on the nose in line with Selosse's style, it showed sweet apples with a just a shade of browning on the nose, along with a touch of white meat and dulcet tones of dried flowers, honey and a string of minerality alongside. Quite a gorgeous bouquet. The palate came across as still rather young and tight. More primary than the nose, it had lots of lemony flavours on the attack supported on a base of fresh red apple notes. On day two though, the primary youth gave way to a delicious panoply of flavours on the leftover wine, with a gorgeous honeyed sweetness to its juicy apple and stone fruit notes, with meaty notes peeking out at the sides. There was lots of depth and breadth to this, yet it was beautfully balanced with good acidity and a very effervescent mousse. Lovely finish too, long and spicy and minerally, with a kiss of sweet fruit and mint along the way. Excellent stuff.
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11/24/2012 - mnor wrote:
Deg datum Maj 2009. Äpplen, lätta toner av citrus, lite jäst och bröd toner. Syran är väl integrerad med frukten och detta är en riktigt bra champagne, som jag kommer att inhandla mer av. Jag ser ingen anledning att hålla på mina kvarstående flaskor som har deg datum maj 2009.
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11/20/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged October, 2009. Deep yellow. Light mousse. Fantastic nose of citrus, ginger and caramel. Medium weight with an exhilarating balance of crisp fruit and creamy, mature feel, with each sip giving a different nuance. Firm underlying acidity. This seemed more exciting and alive than other bottles I've had from this disgorgement date.
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11/17/2012 - Miceri wrote: 94 Points
Light yellow, lots of bubbles and mousse; mega mousse in the mouth, lots of bread, lots of acidity; really tasty
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11/6/2012 - vespasian wrote: 95 Points
Quite golden almost amber gold; definite aroma of aged fine burgundy, all buttery pastry, white flowers and almonds. Hugely complex, intense and impressive; very very fine bead. Rich and intense flavour continues on the palate. Has notes of fino sherry on the finish. Delicious wine.
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11/6/2012 - Chimer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Caves Madeleine, Beaune. Disgorgement 2009. Deep yellow gold, energetic fine bead. Beautiful broad nose full of vitality and density, baked apple and brioche. Palate equally enticing, lovely core and fine beautifully knit finish. A fascinating experience - this was a meal in itself.
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11/5/2012 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
Kelly and Kevin’s excellent adventure before WWS 2012; 11/4/2012-11/11/2012 (La Morra): A small restaurant in a small town but…. Jacques Selosse Rose for 160 euros as well as Coulée de Serrant, wow! We order the rose as a nightcap. Unfortunately sold out and he brought to us Blanc de Noirs La Cote Faron. Not knowing the price, I just ordered the initial. Disgorged in 2008, yellow fruits, quite round, sweet, peach, smoke, pink grapefruit, clove and mineral. Round sweet palate, small bubbles and nice acidity. Very enjoyable. Unfortunately he charged 160 euros, the same price as the Rose. I should have ordered La Cote Faron.
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10/27/2012 - KimHartman wrote: 94 Points
Deg 2011-05
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10/26/2012 - Pacalet wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged Feb 2008. Light golden color with dense bubbles. Citrus fruit with quite a bit of toast. Great balance between freshness and oxidation, perhaps even better with another year of bottling age, a crowd pleaser.
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10/16/2012 - Kirk Grant wrote:
Breath taking.....
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10/7/2012 - Shorepower wrote:
Denna var degad februari 2010 och som med många 2010-degade viner från Selosse så är det riktigt bra.. Lite fetare, inte lika krispigt som V.O, lite mer "skitigt" men ett vin som är enkelt, rättframt att dricka, Fin balans, naturligtvis den oxiderade stilen från Selosse (som var dte som diskuterades, bra eller dåligt). Den är ju inte lika framträdande i Initiale som exempelvis Substance men den finns där. Tycker att Initale är ett vin som visar på vad Selosse kan, förstår att det inte är hans bästa druvor, från vingårdar längre ner på sluttningen men ändå så har vinet en koncentration som få andra viner i den här klassen kan visa
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10/6/2012 - petitblanc wrote: flawed
CT Wisconsin Offline 2; 10/5/2012-10/6/2012 (Madison, WI): Corked.
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10/6/2012 - IWineAlot wrote: flawed
CT Offline WI Take 2: Judgement of Madison(Paris) Tasting & BYOB Dinner (Madison, WI): This had a nice nose. But unfortunately this bottle was corked. :(
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9/30/2012 - Traxx wrote:
Oxidative style that I find hard to appreciate. I'm glad I had the chance to try this, though wouldn't choose to purchase this wine.
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9/22/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged October, 2009. Deep yellow. Mellow, low pitched aromatics with some caramel. Full bodied, moderate to little mousse, surprisingly Krug or Bollinger-like in style. Does not have as much vibrant fruit or dynamism as other bottles of the Initiale I've had. Very good but this seems to be missing something.
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9/21/2012 - Krugman wrote: 95 Points
The Selosse Initial has a well deserved reputation and is an incredibly stunning BdB. In fact, I have no doubt that this is one of the best NV BdB's in all of champagne. However, the flavors are very rich, deep, and complex, which could be off putting to someone used to light/aperatif BdB's. Personally I love the Selosse style, it is the Krug Grande Cuvee of BdB's to a certain extent. It has deep flavors of honey, caramel, biscuits, and spices along with wonderful minerality. There is also a certain saltiness that makes everything just pop once it hits the palate. Even though this is costly at roughly $130 per bottle, it is worth the price of admission and is a better value than the Selosse Substance which can approach $300.
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9/21/2012 - baboiler wrote: 95 Points
- Yellow gold color with medium pearls. It's somewhat balanced with a medium/full body with a long finish.
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9/20/2012 - subtlet Likes this wine: 92 Points
Grower Champagne for Third Thursday (Willamette Wine Storage): The nose has a savory depth that I've never experienced in Champagne before. The savory aromas remind me of a beef and mushroom sauce while notes of spritzy apples show lightness underneath it all. The bubbles and texture are fantastic delivering lightness on contact. It remains fine in texture while the savory notes suggested on the nose settle in with weight on the back of the palate. Apple flavors linger with the savory notes and gentle acid. All of the components have great length.
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9/2/2012 - MWiking wrote: 95 Points
A fantasti champagne, had it last night at a wine-dinner. Must be 1 of my top 5 champagne experience ever!
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9/1/2012 - Ramberg wrote: 93 Points
This might be the best NV Champagne I’ve had? (together with Krug)
Brilliant stuff!
Disgorgement was done May 5:th 2010.
It’s a lovely developed Champagne, light yellow color, loads of yellow golden apples, and perfect creamy mousse and acidity.
Chalk and some oil, bread and yeast.
Fresh with the cleanest fruit.
A stunning Champagne.
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8/18/2012 - Ericsson wrote: 90 Points
Magnifique robe or, bulles très fines, nez de brioche beurrée. En bouche, extrêmement vineux, belle persistance, puissant. A boire ou à garder. Bu avant Bollinger Grande Année 1999...
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8/15/2012 - carlwhat wrote:
7/2007 disgorgement. beautifully complex and mature aromas of brioche, yeast and hazelnut. very full in the mouth... absolutely fantastic showing.
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8/12/2012 - WillersC wrote: 94 Points
Clean & fresh yet big and full at the same time. Really delicious, well balanced champagne with a superb finish that is a joy to drink. Each sip demanded another and before we knew it the bottle was gone!
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8/11/2012 - Finare Vinare wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged October 4, 2007. Really good show! Drink these sooner than later.
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8/8/2012 - thewiz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Yellow colour with an amazing amount of fine tiny bubbles exploding in the glass.
The nose is very fruity with a nice mixture of oak that ends up in caramelized tones of anise and vanilla. The palate is full of tannines and intensive taste in a wonderful combination. It all transforms into a long and wonderful feeling of perfection.
As always, there is a wonderful experience to drink Selosse. Even so his simpler variations!
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8/1/2012 - Blue Nunn wrote: 95 Points
Disgorged 20. October 2006; very deep and complex and full of flavour; "white burgundy with bubbles"; expressive and powerfull; harmonious and in perfect balance; it tasted of ripe apples, honey and orange and the finish was very, very long. Luckily I have quite a few bottles left which I will drink over the next 5 to 10 years. This wine certainly improves with ageing, adding additional flavours and complexity. Not cheap but certainly worth it´s money. Don´t drink too cold, 14 to 16 celsius is fine and open the bottle 1 to 2 hours before to give it some air.
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7/3/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged October, 2009. Full yellow. Toastier and more mature Champagne aromas than prior bottles. Full, fairly sweet and a prominent oak component. I wasn't crazy about this. Not as dynamic and alive as usual, but then again, I've had them closer to their disgorgement dates.
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6/22/2012 - lator wrote: 92 Points
Uncorked for four hours, served chilled. Color: Medium to Dark Yellow. Nose: Golden Apple, Cinnamon, Toast, Lemon, Floral notes. Palate: see nose. Finish: Medium. Acidity: Medium to High. Alcohol: 12.5 % well integrated. Full bodied mouthfeel with initial toast and citrus. Mid-palate adds cinnamon transitioning into a finish with golden apple and floral notes. Gets even better with age, 7/2009 disgorgement. 92-93 points.
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6/18/2012 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Korean BBQ Wine Dinner at Park's (Park's Barbeque): Berries, yeasty, lithe, long prickly finish. Very nice.
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6/17/2012 - Kirk Grant wrote:
This is probably the only NV Champagne I've ever had that I felt was a classic example of what to look for from the region. Brilliant & classic
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6/13/2012 - David J Cooper wrote: 96 Points
Clear golden yellow. Intense nose of brioche, lemon cream, mineral and butterscotch. Very intense rich dry yeasty flavours and a long, long dry finish. A very rich low or maybe zero dosage Champagne.
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6/12/2012 - godx wrote: 94 Points
WineFanatic Champagne Offline (Vancouver, BC): Disgorged October 21, 2009. Light golden colour. Very yeasty and autolytic on the nose with earthy and complex aromas of creamy citrus, red apple and nuts. This really attractive and intense profile carries onto the palate with ripe and rich flavours of red apple, nuts, minerality and lemon cream. The mouthfeel is rich and creamy with muscular acidity and amazing depth. Very well balanced with a long minerally finish. This is drinking very well now. Outstanding.
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6/10/2012 - hsacks wrote: 94 Points
Same as the 7/6/10 bottle.
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5/29/2012 - kevincheng Likes this wine: 94 Points
lovely, complex Champagne from Jacques Selosse.. initial nose of butterscotch and caramel followed by smells of hops, banana and lemons. Lovely ripe apple flavour with a cream soda lining and some mixed nuts thrown into the mix.
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5/5/2012 - Goldstone wrote: 91 Points
Drank in medium-sized white wine glasses. Light silvery bronze color. Very light moderate pinprick laid back bubbles. Nose is vanilla ice cream, very light-toasted brioche, soft soapy element .... really soft but complex. Palate is very soft and languid and laid back perfectly made with nuanced hazelnut and white Chinese Lam Ba Hang almonds and great acidic balance. I'm impressed. Seems a low dosage. This was a recent gift from Terence.....thank you, it's very impressive.
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4/21/2012 - Krugman wrote: 95 Points
This young Selosse Initial is supposedly based primarily on the 2002 vintage and is an incredible blanc de blanc champagne. This is very rich and incredibly powerful with wonderful minerality and depth that is enhanced by the oak. To me this is a bit more fresh and lively than the slightly more complex Substance. Also, while this does not quite have the vivacity and precision of the V.O., it is so good that I would purchase this over all but the most specail vintage blanc de blancs.
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4/15/2012 - Bisty Likes this wine: 93 Points
Disgorged 20 October 2010.
Loads of Avize appleyness together with a certain spiciness from the oak.
Very high concentration of fruit. Delicious acidity and long aftertaste. What else?
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4/9/2012 - Alex H wrote: 88 Points
Apples paradise with frothy mouthfeel. More fun and fleshy peaches. A bigger champagne with more fun and sun.
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4/7/2012 - Mingmong wrote: 93 Points
Some greeness, oak, white pears, and some longans on the nose. Rich, savoury, white pears, peaches, and red apples and asparagus on the finish. Don't get the soury green apples/lemons for this style which tends to appeal more to me than the 98 krug served beside it.
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4/7/2012 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
My Birthday Celebration (Kingyo, Marina Square): This was beautiful. Last bottle in the cellar, disgorged in July 2009, and it was probably one of the best bottles of Initiale that I have had so far. The table was split between this and the 1998 Krug on the same flight. My vote went marginally for the Krug, but I can see why at least half of us preferred this. It had a typically expressive Selosse note, with white meat and umami accents floating around a core of lovely ripe red apple notes and some macadamia nut aromas. Super-expressive and really attractive. The palate, as would be expected, was deep, powerful and compelling, with red apples galore on the attack kissed by some macadamia and walnuts. Really yummy fruit here, with a fleshy, ripe, muscular suppleness that was ever so different from the lithe, elegant 1998 Krug. It is not to say that this was brutish or clumsy in any way though - as always, it was beautifully balanced, in fact rather better balanced than a few other bottles of Initiale I have had, with the tad bit of time in the bottle lending the wine a nice sense of integration between its fresh acidity, creamy mousse and reservoirs of powerful white fruited notes. The finish was lovely too, with a long line of mineral and a touch of earth fringed with a little suggestion of vanilla bean. With time, and especially when paired with a juicy piece of scallop sashimi, some playful notes of cinamon and cloves, some nutmeg maybe, starting floating out. Really enjoyable - this was a hedonistic champagne, especially when compared to the far more serious Krug. At a nice place now, although I felt the bottle would have benefitted even more from another year or two in the cellar. A lesson that Selosse wines really do need a few years after disgorgement before serving.
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4/7/2012 - kultcha wrote: 93 Points
Light golden colour. As soon as the cork pops the nose hits you straight in the face. Nose of green apple with some ginger, white flowers and peach. Plenty of gala apple on the palate once it gets some air, along with peach, hazelnut, some brioche and plenty of minerals coming in towards the finish and lingering. Long finish, good acidity,
great mouthfeel. This was still young and a bit tight, getting better and better with time in the glass. Would love to try this again with 3-5 years more age on it.
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4/3/2012 - Krugman wrote: 95 Points
Despite this being the entry level Selosse offering, Initiale is an extremely special blanc de blanc. This has wonderful open minerality, depth and complexity. However, the ripe "in your face" flavors are really what makes this champagne one of most exhilarating in the entire region. The flavors include ripe peaches, apricots, poached pears, demented red apple (almost over ripe), oranges, tangerines, honeydew melon, bright citrus, grapefruit, candied red berries, biscuits, honey, caramel, toffee, toast, vanilla cream, cashews, walnuts, crushed rocks, a touch of salt, mushrooms, coffee, and a medly of spices from cinnamon to nutmeg. This champagne slaps you silly. Already open and ready to drink, do not miss this experience.
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4/3/2012 - rnellans wrote: 93 Points
( disgorged April 2009) I'm a big Selosse fan and love this wine. Nice yeasty, apple, citrus, complex aromas. Rich, creamy palate with nice depth and lovely finish.
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3/26/2012 - cortoncharlie wrote: 92 Points
Bubbly usually not my thing but this was one bottle I enjoyed. Quite dense, good minerality with a hint of star anise i thought. Driking ok but still on the young side i thought
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3/24/2012 - Shorepower wrote:
Degad Juli 2010. Av någon anledning har Selosse lyckats extra bra med de 2010 degade. Först något sluten men sedan öppnar en väldigt mineralig Initiale upp sig. Har naturligtvis de typiska tonerna men mer i bakgrunden och miniraliteten i den hör är väldigt exceptionell. Vinet är fetare än en V.O men har lite samma krispa ton. Bra mousse och syra som tillsammans skapar en av de bättre yngre Initiale jag druckit.
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2/20/2012 - wineduggery Likes this wine: 93 Points
My first Selosse experience. Wow. A beautiful, complex, refined Champagne. Green apple, peach, and autolytic flavors.
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2/18/2012 - Kurtjo wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged 2010. Great color. Appels, some vanilla, brioche and minerals. Powerful fruit, but still too young. Midium acid. Long finish. Well balanced.
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2/17/2012 - thewiz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very special on the nose with a mixed combination of minerals and oaks and stones. On the palate the tannines are though and shows that it needs some more years in the cellar. (Dégorgement date 2011-04-29)
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1/30/2012 - Sleepy Dave wrote: 91 Points
Alcohol :: 12%
Light golden. As usual, this Champagne is tight as a rock when served with flute, so I decided to change to bigger glass, Bordeaux. Now I got clearly picture of the aromas spectrum: Very intense aromas of green apple, peaches in the core surrounded by smoke, yeast, ginger and white floral. Rich entry with good concentration of ripe white fruits, green apple, peaches, lime as well as mineral at the background for better complexity and depth. Good grip and energy here that driving the powerful mid palate toward the intense, juicy long finish with excellent persistence. As good as this, it lacks a little bit of tension and finesse from VO.
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1/29/2012 - bpj87 wrote: 92 Points
(disgorged 10/10) Distinctive Selosse: slightly oxidative with green and white fruits, nuts, and mineral. Dry. The bottles were popped soon before tasting; this should open up with airtime and/or age.
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1/19/2012 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
Wines Through the Decades (Jade Palace, Forum Galleria): Always a treat. This bottle was disgorged in 6 July 2009. Popped and poured, this was a bit tight on the nose and needed some time to open up before it showed a typical assertive nose of yeast, slightly oxidative apple scents, with lemons and yellow plum and strong doses of Chinese pears touched by a nice earthy minerality. Distinctive and attractive in very Selosse fashion. The palate came across as pretty rich. Low in number of bubbles yet showing a fine mousse, it had a creamy, almost oily texture to its attack, with flavours of browning apples, lemons and plums moving into a midpalate with so much bite that it seemed almost structured as it moved into a grippy, minerally finish with just a hint of biscuit emerging with time. Great power and intensity, wonderful length, lots of depth, but somehow a tad less lively than the best examples of the wine that I have had in the past. Still though, a Champagne of quality and character - I thought this was a tad better than the Krug MV that we had alongside. Still very young, so it may improve with time in the bottle.
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1/6/2012 - sebastienjm wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful complex nose on hot caramelized apples, nougat, yellow fruits and hazelnut along with a hint of saltiness. Its a powerful champagne that is both large and sharp on the palate. The finish is very long and the oxydaiton of the wine is totally under control. The dosage can not be felt which is great. This domaine's reputation is justified. Disgorged on 20/10/2010.
Le nez développe des arômes de pomme chaude caramélisée, de nougat, de fruits jaunes et de noisette avec également quelque chose de salin. C'est complexe. En bouche, le vin est puissant, ample, droit et vineux. La finale est très longue et l'oxydation du vin est modérée... Le dosage est imperceptible. Vraiment superbe... La réputation du domaine est justifiée! dégorgement : 20/10/2010
18/20
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1/2/2012 - Finare Vinare wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged April 29, 2011. Brass metallic hue. Complex nose with golden notes of apple must, lemon zest, wheat dough, almond cookies, dried fruits, sherry, nougat, hyacinths and a big old white-washed limestone house wall. Taste is rich and full, almost completely dry, with a super-fine mousse and a very cleansing mineral finish. A fine hint of oxydation appears on day 2. There's so much pleasure and fascination in a glass of Selosse - our first choice when it comes to champagne. This new version surely has got what it takes. Drink now, or give it two years to develop even more depth of flavour.
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1/1/2012 - hobbes wrote: 93 Points
Bottle disgorgement date June 2011. A deep yellow gold. Looking at the colour, one would have guessed an old vintage. Fine mousse. On the nose, sherry, hazelnuts, yeast notes and orange peel. Quite big, poured this into a larger glass, and it started opening up more. Tastes like an old chardonnay. Vibrant acidity, brut, excellent length on the finish, 30 seconds or more. Not your normal champagne. Makes you imagine you're sitting in a leather armchair in a club with a jazz band playing.
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1/1/2012 - gbardy wrote: 94 Points
Bright pop, good flanged cork, amber color, fine and strong bead of bubbles. The nose was a hint of orange and musk. The taste was very dry with the dominant flavors of leather and cedar wood, raw wheat kernels. Not your usual champagne. The finish was very long with wood and lemon peel sitting on the tongue for 30 seconds. The flavor was more pronounced in a Riedel style rounded bottom flute than a v-bottomed flute. Also, as the chill disappeared, the flavors became markedly more pronounced, as one would expect, so temperature can be used to up or down the intensity of the wood and leather. Drink only after your bored with good champagne and don't mind spending the money. The wine also tastes young so this one can cellar for many years.
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12/31/2011 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a lovely and very compelling champagne if you care for efforts with a lot of body and texture. The nose reveals fresh apples and a lot of lime and lemon zest but there is also an elegant tone of light toast and subtly roasted almonds. This is a powerhouse: no Blanc de Blanc I have tasted before has behaved like this... The mousse is vibrant and somewhat edgy, telling the taster about the youth of this effort. Though I think this drinks perfectly right now, especially given some aeration, it will not hurt to save a bottle or two for a few years. Disgorged April 29, 2011.
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12/31/2011 - spillwine wrote: 92 Points
Couleur surprenante, magnifique
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12/31/2011 - BuzzzzOff wrote:
Excellent!!!
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12/30/2011 - mdefreitas wrote: 93 Points
Turning 50; a few 1961s (Scott & Kates; Redwood City, CA): This was fabulous. Focused and racy with a laser like beam of citrus and stones that cut through the palate. Hints of dough and yeast with very fine, pin point bubbles and a lengthy, mouth watering finish.
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12/30/2011 - sehill Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding wine. Agree with danstrings tasting note.
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12/30/2011 - danstrings wrote: 94 Points
Marco's 50th at Scott and Kate's -- Wow, stellar Champagne. A racy, pure, lemony salinity meets caressing ultra fine mousse.. Class.
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12/29/2011 - astroman wrote: 96 Points
Champagne Tasting (Waterford): 100% Char with 100% new oak. 36 to 60 months on the lees. Perfumed nose that keeps evolving floral focus, bready and rich. Palate equally floral and sweet. Finish goes on and on. Impressive. Not the typical Champagne but something I enjoy. Probably third time I have had this but the most enjoyable so far.
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12/28/2011 - mikdal wrote: 88 Points
Way too oxidative......
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12/25/2011 - fredb wrote:
Disgorged 10 March 2009. Medium yellow color with abundant, fine bead. Aromas of toast, vanilla, apple, and caramel. Palate has a strong ginger component with toasted nuts and caramel joining the ginger, apple, and pear fruit elements. The finish is a bit coarse and medium-long. This could integrate in the future, but seems to be marked (negatively) by the oak treatment, which makes it a coarse, masculine style that I do not prefer. Drink or hold.
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12/20/2011 - linuhage wrote: 94 Points
Härlig doft. Tropisk frukt och gula äpplen. Nybakat bröd och mandelmassa. Efter ett tag dyker hyacinterna upp. Smaken är ännu bättre än doften. Mycket fyllig utan att bli det minsta klumpig med perfekt avvägd syra och ett härligt långt och torrt slut.
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12/17/2011 - drwine2001 wrote:
March, 2009 disgorgement. Gentle mousse. Ginger, citrus and a dash of caramel. Quite dry, long mineral finish. Refined and truly excellent tonight.
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12/12/2011 - TBAFB wrote: 88 Points
This bottle disgorged in October 2002 and professionally stored until a couple of months ago. Medium straw with a steady stream of medium sized bubbles which faded a touch in glass. A note here about the cork (IDEAL) which is still flexible and mushroom shaped at this point. Some real care and thought has gone into this choice which would be one of the highest quality corks I've seen anywhere on any bottle of wine. The bouquet is relatively simple but powerfully redolent of spice and spice derived compounds. Lightish clove, cinnamon maybe, ginger powder and an oxidative character of window putty. There is a whiff of lemon zest from time to time. On the palate this is medium-bodied but thickly textured and rounded with the initial flavours reflecting those of the palate. The moussse is well integrated, quite cushiony and balances the decent acidity well. Spices dominate the palate and although there is a whiff of sherry occasionally this remains relatively fresh and almost unchanged from the last batch of this I tasted about three years ago. It is persistent and the weight suggests remaining fruit, but I wonder if this has not been stunted by the oak treatment to the point that it will never develop further. Sui generis.
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12/10/2011 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Delicious, full-bodied chardonnay fruit with lots of yeasty, sherry-like flavors, tastes like 10-20 year old wine
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11/29/2011 - aekenback wrote: 92 Points
Nose full of oxidised citric aromas and flowers. Burgundian as always with Selosse. Nice grip with quite high acid. Really good! (deg 03 May, 2010)
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11/27/2011 - sooper65 wrote: 93 Points
Threw in a raspberry.. this is as good a bottle of Selosse as i have had. Clearly a lot of bottoe age - cork was a real buggeer to get out.
Rich and yeasty, robust and very tasty. Love it.
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11/11/2011 - Finare Vinare wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged October 4, 2007. Initially strong mousse. Complex nose with apples, oranges, golden lemons, nuts, sesame seeds, light toast and a sherry-like cask oxydation, No hyacinth notes anymore. Rich, smooth taste with citrus acidity. Slighty grapefruit/oak-bitter finish. Very chalky mineral aftertaste with obvious fino notes. The bubbles fade quite quickly in the glass, then it drinks like a good maturing white burgundy. Lovely, but it seems to be time to drink up now.
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11/6/2011 - drwine2001 wrote:
Miscellaneous Notes from France; 11/5/2011-11/11/2011 (Paris and Burgundy): July, 2010 disgorgement. Light color. Active small bubbles. Upon smelling the wine, my first reaction was "My goodness, this wine is so alive!". Citrus, ginger and just a touch of caramel. Medium weight, the flavors are dominated by ginger and then finish with high acidity and crushed stone. Fascinating, riveting wine.
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10/31/2011 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 95 Points
A great bottle of this wine.
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10/23/2011 - gnosis wrote:
Degorge 2007. Full dark lemon yellow in the glass with nice mousse and bubbles. The attack is cool with apple and lemon as it expands on the palate. Fairly full, well balanced, and easy to drink. Not too yeasty. Seems right now but also young. The finish is wonderful, where the bubbles disappear and the length of the wine makes its mark. Really lovely stuff.
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10/16/2011 - rnellans wrote: 90 Points
There seems to be some bottle variation. I had the wine earlier this year ( same disgorgement) and loved the wine. This wine had some nice yeast and oxidative aromas, but the wood seemed a little to overbearing to me on the palate..It just seemed out of balance to me. Perhaps because I decanted, but thought the wine could handle it after reading the CT notes.
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9/10/2011 - Krugman Likes this wine: 93 Points
My first Selosse. This was a pleasant surprise. For a blanc de blanc this is a very rich champagne, but it certainly does not feel too heavy. I really loved the flavors in this which included a hefty dose of fall spices along with what I would call demented apple flavors. It was alll tied together with nice acidity. Although this is a young wine, it does not taste that young to me and I am not sure how this will age in the long run. It doesn't really matter though since it tastes great right now. I can't wait to try the VO and the Substance.
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9/1/2011 - sooper65 wrote: 92 Points
ridiculously tasty.
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8/1/2011 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
Disgorged in mid 2005, this was certainly mature, very full deep fruit with a slight salty tang on the finish, a bit too forceful.
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7/15/2011 - TAE wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful!
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6/28/2011 - Mistress of Wine wrote:
Pale yellow with fine bubbles. Lovely aromas of citrus and apple with a little spice. Lightness of being on the palate with a little yeast and minimal nutty oxidative quality. More spice flavors as it warmed up. Harmonious and delicious.
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6/25/2011 - psmith wrote:
Rich citrus and hazelnut. Musty notes. Great acidic backbone. Yeast notes. Full bodied. Very nice.
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6/20/2011 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Like a sparkling Poire William in flavor profile then revealing layers of nuts and sea shells. Lovely.
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6/13/2011 - pilot360 wrote:
1st experience with Selosse -
Youthful, tightly wound,felt like a spring was going to pop out of the glass - tons of kinetic energy - brioche, yeast, mineralization, slate. Excellent crisp lemon citrus and acidity with a long extremely pleasing finish. A wine that will be remembered. "to new friends"!
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6/7/2011 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
Unexpected Lunch (Les Amis - Shaw Centre): Alcohol :: 12%
Light golden in color, very bright with very fine beads that slowly flow in the glass that last till the end of the lunch. The nose show lots of white floral scents and pure white fruits that is lightly honey coated with light oxidative notes: nut and yeast across the aromas spectrum. With time, it developed and evolved into more ripe yellow fruits, melon and some green herbs complexity too. I'm amazed of how approachable it was, at least compare to the last bottle. Not fully open for business, but it show good sense of balance between the acid and fruits that carry out by the very fine moose. Not as good punch or tension than the previous bottle, this is slightly loose. Similar to the nose, the flavors spectrum changed from white fruits to yellow fruits with herbs that underpinned by the acidity and mineral backbone. Finish is good but not long, but this is delicious nevertheless, especially paired with the Truffle and Caviar dishes. Buy - Maybe - Yes.
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5/19/2011 - tbvl wrote: 95 Points
This is the Real deal. Unmistankenly selosse. I kile
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5/16/2011 - Richard M wrote: 95 Points
Remarkable nose, reminiscent of a vin jaune, to open. Smoked nuts, hazelnuts, lime meringue all merge together along with a remarkable viscosity and acidity that make this seem like a more complete version of Krug's Grand Cuvee (yes, I know that the blend is totally different)....Superb wine. Disgorged 10/'09
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5/14/2011 - hsacks wrote: 94 Points
The same as the 7/6/10 bottle.
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3/19/2011 - psmith wrote:
Clean and crisp. Oyster shell, brine, and mineral notes, with nice weight and a broad, expansive palate. Firm and medium bodied. Very nice.
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3/1/2011 - rnellans wrote: 93 Points
Big brioche aromas. Rich, dense flavors. Good balance.
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2/23/2011 - reichken wrote: 93 Points
very pure like a good puligny, seashells and seashore. long finish
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2/14/2011 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 94 Points
One of the more unusual and most expressive champagnes I have tasted. Yeasty nose- lots of over ripe, fallen apple flavors. The level of oxidized flavor in this was right on the edge of being over the top, and would have been concerning had this wine not been so balanced. Crisply acidic and young- the minerality in this was reminiscent of a top German Riesling. Really special stuff-I can't wait to try some higher level cuvees.
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1/28/2011 - lightning wrote: 92 Points
Dec 2009 disgorgement.
Excellent - very fine bubbles, hint of apple pear and lime, extremely lengthy acid spine. Definitely a cut above the standard NVs, and has the bones to develop for probably 5+ years to come.
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1/24/2011 - Barry Rothof wrote: 90 Points
July 2008 dégorgement; mostly a 2002 base. A medium-sized mousse is visible through a medium intense yellow core with a greenish tinge. The nose is medium-plus intense from a medium-sized Burgundy(!) glass. Expansive notes of apply fruit have a slightly oxidative edge to it and are complemented by enormous autolytic expression. Aside from notes of Ritz crackers, toast and dough there are also mossy notes and some green herbs, which reinforces the impression of slight evolution. After 20 minutes in the glass a fresh mushroom note asserts itself.This Champagne is (of course) medium-minus bodied and nervously styled, with pronounced acidity. It is however quite balanced, with pronounced flavour intensity and while slightly monolithic on the mid-palate, some added complexity in the form of aforementioned mushrooms. Said fungi also pop up on the 30 second finish. Don’t get me wrong, this is a young-ish wine which can develop for at least five more years, but it’s a great drink right now. 90 points for this showing and possibly two extra for those with patience and a cold cellar .....TN Mike de Lange
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1/1/2011 - SoCal wrote:
Crisp green apple focus with bright acidity. Very nice!
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12/30/2010 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
NY Eve’s Eve wines: Alcohol :: 12%
Disgorged - Nov-2009. Tight, super tight shows yeasty, fresh brioche, melon, touch honey and oxidative style. Very young and tight that, very light palate but with good length, depth and underlying substance to age and show. Decanted for 2.5hrs, the wine is slow gaining better weight and depth when it started to unfold more and display more fruits with aromas of green apple, yeasty, honey and nut. Great freshness with sweet entry, superb lively, structure, very good depth with green apple, red apple and grapefruits, touch of perfume white floral too with underlying sweetness and persistent finish that refuse to let go. painfully young and tight. Very dry and clean with immense purity. A entry Cuvee that can fight a lots of flagship of others producer, this is Selosse. Buy - Yes.
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12/30/2010 - Dbrane wrote: 88 Points
New Year Eve's Eve Dinner (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck): Disgorged in December 2009 and decanted for 1-2 hours. Unmistakably a Champagne and a turbo-charged one for that matter. Yeasty and very powerful on the palate. Young as expected and I would love to drink this very aged. Not exactly my "glass of wine" but there's no doubt about its greatness.
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12/30/2010 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
Welcoming Salil to Singapore (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck, Paragon): Solid stuff as always. Dec 2009 disgorgement, so it was quickly poured into the decanter, sacrificing bubbles for taste. Turned out to be the right decision too - the small pour that Dave took fresh out from the bottle was super tight. 2.5 hours later, and served in proper white wine glasses it showed a deep, deep nose of yeast, bread, rich red apples, earth, white meat and a touch of toast - could almost be a top-class white Burg. The palate showed beautiful balance and defintion, with clean, clear cherry tones and sweet red apples all singing wonderful from the attack. This was at once substantial, deep and lingering, with a deep minerality that gave the champagne such a wonderful depth and intensity. Amazing stuff - amongst the best bottles I have had so far. A good pairing with the truffle noodles, it was unsual, but refreshing to end the meal with a Champagne instead of starting with one.
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12/30/2010 - salil wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged December 2009; decanted over an hour, and really impressive stuff - a seamless combination of rich apple, pear and red fruited flavours accented by freshly-baked brioche, yeast and some marmalade and oxidative elements, and a chalky minerally core beneath. Very rich, but really nicely balanced with bright acids and refreshing effervescence, finishing with tremendous length. Fantastic Champagne.
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12/30/2010 - Roughl wrote: 94 Points
2007 disgorgement; outstanding, almost extraordinary.
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12/20/2010 - BigRed1000 wrote: 94 Points
Always a winner
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12/19/2010 - drwine2001 wrote:
Medium yellow. More subdued on the nose than previous bottles with chalk and caramel. Bright in the mouth with fresh orange, excellent acidity, moderate dosage and wonderfully creamy feel. A tad more oxidative quality than I've noticed before, which may relate to this being a 2008 disgorgement. Wonderful Champagne, always a great treat.
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12/12/2010 - austinwinesalon wrote:
The Other Great French Blancs: Champagne and Sauternes (Wink Restaurant, Austin, Texas): I would have thought this the front-runner in a group of top Blanc de Blancs, but this was either a bit-off bottle or a “controversial style” bubbly. Some tasters thought it over-ripe and possibly oxidized, others that it was expansive, interesting, even “cool.” It had a straw nose, what one taster described as “unfiltered sake,” along with some cantaloupe, was big and rich, of fruit and botrytis flavors, including cantaloupe and honeydew, lychee, banana, almonds, hazelnut, and, even, brandy. One unimpressed taster found it tasted like grappa at the finish. Those that liked this style loved it, and those that didn’t, well, they let it finish last in this flight. Although this is labeled a brut, it is a brut blanc de blancs as the Initiale is all chardonnay.
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12/11/2010 - Finare Vinare wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged October 4, 2007
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12/6/2010 - Bogho wrote: 86 Points
Degorged 06/2009.
I've to say this time it was not in good shape, very hard-drinking, a lot of oak and low blanc de blanc. I must try it again.
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12/5/2010 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 94 Points
This wine never fails to blow me away. Nothing else like it.
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12/4/2010 - BigRed1000 wrote: 95 Points
Really good as always. 09 disgorg date. Had the 5 high end sparkling wines from Mumm Napa the next day and thye tasted like water compared this this beauty.
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11/26/2010 - Alexis A wrote: 92 Points
I had a cold... But a few comments. The colour was dense. And the nose full body. Could tell by the face of my friends that the flavours were diverse and intense. Drank in a wine glass and could detect some oxidation. Will need to try again when I don't have a cold...
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11/22/2010 - BigRed1000 wrote: 95 Points
Always a winner. Wish I could afford to drink this every night.
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11/7/2010 - Greg Pierce wrote:
10/2009 disgorgement.
No detailed note but very very good.
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11/6/2010 - Finare Vinare wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged October 4, 2007. Great aromas and mineral freshness. Decanted before serving, not a very good idea, the wine needs its mousse.
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10/25/2010 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Rich and nutty on the nose with notes of fresh orchard fruits mixing it up with almonds and hazelnuts. Dense in the mouth and behaving a little like a Cote de Beaune white (even mirroring a slight oxidative character). There’s a fine bead and long length of flavour.
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10/18/2010 - PatrikO wrote: 93 Points
Some bottle varation in these, have found some of them a bit flat with a very fine mousse. This one was singing though, rich and full blend, no sharp edges, nice fruit.
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10/4/2010 - j45 wrote:
26 Mars 2009 - Selosse rules the world of $100+ blanc de blancs. I love this wine; I love his style. This could have stood further time on the cork, but was totally vibrant and delicious. More Selosse champagne, mom. Pleeeeeease...
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9/17/2010 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
Tok Hong's 40th (Infuzi, Biopolis): Another first class bottle. Still young, this was disgorged on 6 July 2008, so it really took a bit of time in a white wine glass to open up. Lovely nose showed a whole range of smells that just developed with time, from white flowers, to damp cotton wool, ripe red apples, a little oxidative style at the edges, a bit of white meat, some nuttiness. Very serious, and quite lovely. Palate was really fresh, watering the sides of the mouth with lots of ripe lemon flavours, some preserved limes and slightly oxidative specks again, just hinting of apple cider and muscat juice. Lots of power, plenty of depth, just lacked a little in terms of breadth of flavours across the mid-palate without the benefit of food I thought. I am nitpicking though. This was a really solid Champagne. Amazingly persisitent finish as well, bone dry, and just going on and on and on in the mouth, swirling in gentle circles of lemon zest and zingy acid with little inflections of ferrous mineral. I thought it was darn good when had on its owned, but when the food came, this was just an absolutely incredible pairing with a seared blue-fin tuna dish. Quite, quite perfect really, with the acidity on the wine cutting through the fat of the tuna, and the flavours on both ends just resounding in the mouth. A real treat.
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9/8/2010 - mikeaukenbals wrote: 93 Points
drank at 59. very good, yeasty. almost mix between champagne and white burg. probably not worth price.
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8/29/2010 - french16 wrote:
Disgorged on Nov 8, 2007. Decanted 30mn.
Stunning nose. More oxidative than the previous bottle. Walnut, mineral and lemon with a light oak touch. As usual very vinous, powerful but elegant thanks to the acidity and its mineral spine. Very long finish.
A champagne meant for food.
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8/22/2010 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
Suduiraut Vertical: Apple and pear notes. Hint of sweetness. Amazing wine and my favorite sparkling wine to date, hands down.
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8/22/2010 - G Kapoor wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged October 2009. Bought from a store with temp of 70 degrees which might be a reason why this bottle was more evolved than I would have anticipated. Color was pure liquid gold. I poured it in both a champagne flute (for the wifey) and in a chard glass (for myself). The bubbles in both glasses were aggressive. We drank this wine over a period of 3 hours. Early on the citric fruit was dominant but in balance with yellow/green fruits. As time passed this champagne become more vinous with butterscotch, yellow/green fruits which were in balance with the minerality of this wine. It went extremely well with the chicken and basmati rice we had for dinner. Actually, my wife who probably has a better palate than I thought this wine went better with food than any champagne she had tried to date. Me on the hand am sold on this producer!!
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8/20/2010 - Finare Vinare wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged October 4, 2007.
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8/7/2010 - fredb wrote:
Lemon/straw yellow color with fine, abundant bead. Aromas of lime, lemon, vanilla bean, and a hint of custard. On the palate, the oak shows with vanilla bean and hints of nutmeg. The lemon-lime fruit is joined by yellow and green apple with a stony quality below and some of the sweeter graham-like notes I associate with Oger. Yellow flowers also complement the palate. the finish is medium-long. At this point, the wine is not fully integrated and shows a clash between the chardonnay fruit and the oak influence. The fruit material here is impressive and this should improve in the bottle. Disgorged 10 March 2009. Hold.
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8/3/2010 - Finare Vinare wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged October 5, 2006
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7/22/2010 - br wrote:
spectacular. layered over the baked apples come a boquet of fragrant flowers that are breathtaking. lots of life in the bubbles and wonderful in the mouth and on the finish. gimme more.
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7/14/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Served slightly too warm. But toasted, yeasty and bold on the nose. Delicious, needs a steak. Brooding yet light. A "ninja". Ok, that is just silly. I'd drink more.
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7/7/2010 - PatrikO wrote: 90 Points
A bit too yeasty at first which blew off quickly, nice light gold colour, very nice nutty and fruity flavours, although the mousse could have a been better.
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7/6/2010 - hsacks wrote: 94 Points
Light gold color. Very lively mousse with fine bubbles. Aromas of pears, hazelnut, baked bread and apples. Rich, highly extracted fruit in the mouth with great structure, depth and length. Actually a little tight at first but opened up after decanting and about 30 minutes of air. Complex and pure, this is a truly unique Champagne that both challenges the senses and is delicious to drink. Still very young.
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7/4/2010 - drwine2001 wrote:
Well, we found it on a list for a great price so what choice did we have but to drink it again?!? February, 2009 disgorgement. Again, so full of life, lightness, and flavor. This was only slightly different from the previous bottle in showing a little less citrus and being more creamy. Superb.
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7/1/2010 - drwine2001 wrote:
Dinner at Michel Bras (Laguiole, France): Disgorgement date unknown. Light color. Lively and frothy with orange citrus fruit. Dynamic and long. A beauty.
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6/4/2010 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
3.2009 disgorge date. Quite fresh with lots of bubbles. Almond flavors and highly enjoyable.
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6/2/2010 - swyang wrote: 94 Points
Great showing. Laser like profile, powderish lime, iodine, anis, yet full body. Wow, one can't get over this huge profile.
Fantastic, tiny yet powerful bubbles and delicious pairing with russian caviar.
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5/12/2010 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Faintly oxidative aromatics of fresh bread, butterscotch, baked apple and toasted nuts but in the mouth it's incredibly fresh, streamlined and elegant with bright effervescence, rich white fruited and baked apple flavours over minerals and yeasty elements with really good acidity keeping it very precise. Lovely.
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5/9/2010 - samwe wrote: 94 Points
very interesting, very impressive and very different Champagne
well worth the price
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4/26/2010 - bradsteven wrote: 92 Points
Very different than most champagne I've had. Slightly oxidized with a sherry like nose. I loved it.
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4/17/2010 - veniceslug1 wrote: 94 Points
Nice oxidized notes. Rich flavorful, good yeast notes.
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4/6/2010 - Winetex Likes this wine: 93 Points
Even with this young disgorgement this is quite the beautiful NV Selosse. This had rather frisky bubbles and we lost precious nectar as it overflowed. A wine worth every $$$. March 2009 disgorge date.
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3/21/2010 - Shorepower wrote:
Med Initale gäller, lagra ett par år och den här flaskan är inget undantag. Färgen har börjat bli lite mörkare, blommor , friska äpplen och citrus i doften men också lite nötter och honung. Lite vek mousse men inget som stör. Lång eftersmak. Kan lagras ytterligare men om jag hade några i källaren vet jag inte om jag skulle ha tålamod
Deg 0ktober 2006
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2/21/2010 - pc.jams wrote: 98 Points
The color insists that the wine will be a warm and generous flavor. The scent gives away the concentration of the chardonay. From beginning to finish on the pallet the wine is round but remains light on it's feet. It fills your mouth with a very elegant, warm and intense flavor of the chardonay lifted by the yeast. The wine is not only an expression of the excellence of the fruit but the extraordinary capability of the producer.
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2/5/2010 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for about thirty minutes. Someone at the table said hibiscus flowers and that is dead on. Great wine.
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1/22/2010 - Winetex wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged May 2006. Gorgeous marzipan and honey aromas and flavors with good acidity. Very good in an oxidative style. This bottle killed with raw oysters.
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1/10/2010 - Shorepower wrote:
Lyfter verkligen med ett par år på nacken. Blomdoften känns direk, vinteräpplen, något citrus, finns även en del nötter och choklad, Mognadstoner i smaken, krämig textur vilken ger lite associationer till grädde. Växer under kvällen. Bra syra. Kan ligga ett gäng år till och gotta till sig.
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1/6/2010 - jeff nowak wrote:
i didn't check the disgorgement, but i'll presume the same as my last note, since the same person brought it to this tasting, too. however...this bottle was not in the same class as the previously tasted...by far. this seemed somewhat muted, oxidized (i know!), with almost no bubbles/mousse. i'll call it listless. bummer!
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1/1/2010 - Tree512 wrote: 92 Points
Very mineral and winey, tastes like 2000 Chablis. Lean but good fruit, slightly oxidated/mature in its style. Definitely best with food, preferably oysters or shellfish. Excellent stuff but best with a top meal.
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12/31/2009 - Finare Vinare wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged October 5, 2006
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12/31/2009 - pawa wrote: 93 Points
Wow, it really took a long time for this beauty to open up despite it's age. This wine has spent more than 7 years in the bottle after degorgement (29 Octobre 2002). Definitely a nice way to open up the celebrations for the New Year....
N.B. Bottle label says Brut but the outer package suggests Initiale. Mons. Selosse must have had a larger inventory of "old" bottle labels than cardboard boxes back in 2003.
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12/29/2009 - thewiz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Really though with high acidity that will take long to ease up. At the same time a lot of oak that helps balance the acidity. Very good from the start, but will surely gain from cellaring.
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12/21/2009 - TOTOM wrote: 92 Points
Yellow, weak and very fine sparkle, orange and yeast scent, mature bouquet, assaerting sweetness with very high acidity, full body with 4sec finish.
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12/19/2009 - psmith wrote:
Really nice showing - firm but weighty, rich, slightly oxidative styling. Vibrant acidity. Great purity. Very nice wine.
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12/18/2009 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged March, 2009. Perfume fills the room. Red berry, citrus, yeast. Dynamic and vibrant yet with some creaminess as well. Dosage seemed lower than a bottle we had that was disgorged a few years ago. Fabulous, exciting wine to smell and taste. Others might prefer a little more age on this, but it is so good now, why wait?
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12/10/2009 - BigRed1000 wrote: 92 Points
Another great bottle of Selosse. Not cheap but everyone, even people not in the know, always seem to love it.
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12/7/2009 - lollo wrote: 98 Points
This is not a champagne is a poetry,fabulous probably one of the best champagne nobn vintage I have ever tried.
Open leave it breath for few minutes1/2 an hour,smell is extraordinary the taste is a mix of fantastic flavour long lasting
Do not miss it.
Lorenzo
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12/6/2009 - JJL wrote: 92 Points
February '08 disgorgement. Yeast and lilies on nose. Great mouthfeel and acidity. Butter, strawberry, coconut and tangerine on palate with long mineral finish. Preferred to both the Rose and Substance which I found to be too oxidative.
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12/5/2009 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged May 2006. Selosse definitely has bottle variation between the disgorge dates. This one had a reasonable amount of acidity and lots of bubbles that the previous bottle lacked.
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11/28/2009 - ubercuvee wrote:
Wow! Terrific. Really deep oak influenced notes, great depth of fruit, nutty minerality. Just flat out great champagne and for my palate up there with Krug as best NV around.
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11/21/2009 - Christoffer wrote: 94 Points
Degorged on oct 07. This is just great Champagne, but half bottles are a bit sad......
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11/8/2009 - reichken wrote: 92 Points
Long Sunday Lunch @ The Oak- golden yellow, yeasty sherry nose, tasted like a turbo meursault with bubbles, great llength, great roundness. loved it
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11/5/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WinExiles New York Offline November 2009 (Capsouto Freres, NoHo, NYC): WIML93-94?
Tasted November 5, 2009 at an offline.
Disgorged February 17, 2009. Normally I'd recommend this wine be layed down for at least a few years in the cellar but Brad Baker relayed this recent disgorgement is drinking really well early on so I decided to open a bottle.
Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with light, steady and fine beading. Absolutely stunning nose of cinnamon, potpourri, mixed fruits and a bit of earthiness. Full flavors of yellow pears, yellow apples and a dash of sherry on the medium to long finish. Bright acidity, full bodied. Drink now then lay down for the medium term.
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11/3/2009 - swyang wrote: 94 Points
immensely enjoyable champagne.
Very tasty indeed of fine Chardonnay. Lots of body,
flavors and intensity. One of my very top champagne ever.
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10/26/2009 - psmith wrote:
Deep Chardonnay notes - dark and toasty, some wood aged character. Really well balanced. Firm, vibrant mousse and acidity. Really good.
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10/25/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
With clear precision and forcefulness. It certainly stood up to the Krug basic NV without any trouble.
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10/21/2009 - Siggy wrote: 92 Points
Tasting Group Dinner - Miscellaneous (Heidi's, Minneapolis): Disgorged 3/09. Delicious lemon/citrus, apple, and toasty flavors. Lightly oxidative. Lively and energetic on the palate, with intense flavors that build to a toasty, crisp finish. Really tasty.
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10/21/2009 - Dave Dalluge wrote:
Another Wednesday at Heidi's: Interesting nose of citrus fruit (orange) and mineral with some oxidative notes. In the mouth this shows as light-bodied but with good flavor. A decent start to the meal.
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10/11/2009 - rnellans wrote: 94 Points
3/09 disgorgement. This is a beautiful wine. Nice mousse. Floral nose. Great balance. Rich, creamy, great mouthfeel. Long finish...I need to get more of this wine
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9/30/2009 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
Lunch at Goto. 2008 disgorgement. This lacked a bit of the weight of the last bottle I tried, which had the benefit of a year or so more bottle-age after disgorgement. Still, a very serious and seriously good Champagne, went pretty well with most of the Japanese Kaiseki menu as well. Golden yellow colour. Tiny bubbles, but very, steady, gently persistent bead. Just gorgeous on the nose. Very expressive, with pinpricks of incense, flowers and spice dotted a whole ton of steely, slatey mineral and dry earth. With time, bready, yeasty notes, along with red apples, a touch of sour cherries and ripe lemons came out. A bit clenched on the palate at first, but it really fanned out like the nose with some time to show ripe lemons, red apples slightly browning, and whole layers of minerally flavour undergirding the whole palate. Nice feel in the mouth too - creamy, moussy and beautifully textured, with superb fresh balance guiding the wine into a long, sliding fnish that just glided across the palate into a longish tail of mineral and yeast. 92-93 at the moment. Needs some time.
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9/18/2009 - Michael Mortensen wrote:
Halvprop?? En karkludsaroma forstyrrede ind i mellem. Stadig en fornøjelse. Klassisk biopræg i en opulent stil.
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9/6/2009 - Winetex wrote: 91 Points
Medium gold color; This bottle was not as good as previous bottles- it seemed low acid and rather sweet on the finish. May 2006 disgorgement. Interesting bottle variation with this one - all were from the same disgorgement.
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8/24/2009 - bon vivant wrote:
Mar 09 disgorgement. A blast of sour pears & plums with a hint of oxidation and a finish of a GC Chablis with bubbles -lots of structure and complexity, great tension. Chewy and fairly acidic unique and intriguing, not cheap but very tasty.
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8/11/2009 - kreavin wrote: 92 Points
Very nice N.V. Great comlexity - dark aromas - still fresh accid though.
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8/3/2009 - Mr T wrote:
Wow! This is my first Selosse and hopefully not my last. Just incedibly elegant and balanced with the most delicate bead I can remember. Mayabe DP had that and I just was not paying attention. Apples/Pears and some bread/brioche but all in balance and neither too sweet/nor too acidic and no fade to the flavors, just chiselled in place perfectly until the end of the bottle. I just wish it were cheaper.
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8/2/2009 - BECKMANN wrote: 93 Points
Color: Golden yellow(varm). Nose: First bit of dark bread(only first serving) after a little tic. in the glass fresh green apples and pears. Mousse: Tiny elegant bobbles(stayed liked that thru the whole bottle). Taste: Complex, fresh green apples and pears - long after taste yummi !
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7/31/2009 - Terkel wrote: 95 Points
Goodbye tasting for Michael (Michaels appartment): Disgorged 10/2008. Light yellow color. Intense aromas of apple juice, yellow plums, caramel, roasted oak, wheat bread and a bit of sherry flor-yeast. On the palate it is very primary at first, with loads of fat yellow plums and lemon soda. Buttery and caramel notes on the midpalate before the almond bitterness on the finish. Very nice mousse and lively, refreshing acidity. Overall great experience.
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7/30/2009 - canan wrote:
Intense and yeasty nose with hint of flor (sherry), green apple and marzipan.
The bubbles are fine and elegant and although it is a little bit restrictive it does show yeast and green apple with a burning acidity.
A decent length with some almonds and plums in the end but also a little bit iron coming forward.
Was a little confunded by this but I really enjoyed it. Would definately have been better given more time in the glas.
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7/28/2009 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
Grower's Champagne, Grand Cru Burg and Grosses Gewach Riesling (Artisan Cellars, Palais Renaisance / Jade Palace, Forum Galleria): Just gorgeous. Beautiful nose, extremely unique, with subtle hints of white musk, violets and lavender and a touch of fragrant soap suds - almost like walking through a Body Shop outlet, but all very restrained and controlled. Underneath the perfumed scents, there was tons of depth, with sour plum, some squid ink (I did say unique!), some meaty, chicken-like flavours, minerally limestone, earth and oyster shell. A touch Chablis-like in this aspect. Lots of hidden depth on the palate too. A bit tight when it started, but certainly round and full, with lots of power already evident. With time, flavours of apple, more musk and flowers - rose I thought - came through, and more umami chicken meat tones. I found this to be a very complete wine, with a lovely balance between freshness and weight, and between fruity and savoury characters, and a seamless feel from the nose to the palate and into the beautiful finish that had an almost salty savouriness paired with dry, minerally tones. Very addictive - I could easily down a bottle of this by myself over a nice meal.
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7/17/2009 - Alex G. wrote:
Stunning nose, but the palate didn't rise to the occasion -- tasted a bit oxidized. Last bottle was better
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6/25/2009 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
93+; this lot seems to be improving. Gorgeous champagne.
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6/20/2009 - BECKMANN wrote: 89 Points
My rating is lower than what i would have given it the first time (94). Disapointment due to partly my own mistake (served to chilled), we still had some Pierre Peter N.V. in the other glass, so we gave it time and waited. Color: Golden, Mousse tight and fine. Nose: first oaky ( and i had been looking so much forward to the explosion of fresh apples and pears, that i got first time i tasted this baby), it was not and explosion, but nearly on the second glass and rest of bottle. Taste: complex and MANY inputs, more fullbody than others champagne i tasted, dont think there is much food it would not go with... I am sorry for the low rating(and this way to long note...), when this is at its best i only think (so far from what i have tryed) this N.V. is overcomed by Krug Grand Cuvée! But this time disapointed. (Disgored jan.18, 2008) and for the record bourght this 10 days after the first i tasted - in same wine store, so i reckon same disgored, but lost note on that consumption).
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6/14/2009 - drwine2001 wrote:
Disgorged October 24, 2006. Light yellow. What a kaleidoscopic nose! Wild and unrestrained with fresh cut apple, orange, vanilla custard and spice. Very lively in the mouth with similar flavors and a touch of caramel. It does have moderate sweetness, which surprised me but worked well in terms of overall balance. The first Selosse I have tried and one of the most vibrant, memorable Champagnes I have ever had. This wine is absolutely alive; there is no better way to describe it.
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6/14/2009 - Greg Pierce wrote:
Pale gold with super fine mousse. Minerals, flowers, some orange/marmalade and a faint touch of bread on the nose. Apple, general citrus - with grapefruit finish, minerals, with a slight touch of caramel on the palate. YUM! This was a very very nice bottle of champagne -- light yet powerful and intense. This disappeared in a flash.
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6/13/2009 - Paul Lin wrote: 92 Points
Grower Champagnes (Chateau Todd - Dana Point, CA): Feminine and refined with fascinating notes of cake flour, talcum powder, green and red apples, and oyster shell. Soft and supple on the palate.
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6/13/2009 - WetRock wrote:
Grower Champagnes at Todd's (Chateauneuf de Todd): Brightly fruited nose yet light in aroma. Concentrated fruit but an elegant feel. Notes of citrus and slight oxidation. A terrific wine that I would love to savor over a couple hours.
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5/24/2009 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Conrad’s: Frt cake, angel food, yeasty mix, tons of searing a’s, structured to no end, amazing stuff. From Aaron
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5/24/2009 - WetRock wrote:
EWG does Northern Rhones (Conrad's Abode): Definitely towards the leaner mineral styled Champagnes this displayed typical BdB characteristics especially after some air. Complex nose showing some buttered bread and an oxidative note later on. Clean elegant palate with lots of acidity and some minerals that really picked up some complexity with air. Now I see what all the talk is about.
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5/1/2009 - godx wrote: 94 Points
Disgorged February 21, 2008. No formal notes. Earthy, creamy, complex with solid acidity and an extremely long finish. Drink or hold. Outstanding.
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4/27/2009 - jeff nowak wrote: 95 Points
disgorged 10-24-06. easy to understand the fuss, my first taste of any example. precise, smart, clean, fresh, long finish, tight mousse, expertly balanced. i'm in love.
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4/27/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 97 Points
G6 (Rick): Golden yellow hue. Fresh floral nose of tropical fruit with aromas of freshly baked bread. Tastes of honeydew melon, apple and caramel. Nice minerality. Perfect balance. A very delicate wine with an expansive finish that is extremely complex and elegant. What a beautiful wine. My personal WOTN and a candidate for the best Champagne I've tasted this year. Disgorged 24 Oct 2006.
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4/17/2009 - kreavin wrote: 95 Points
Top of the cuvee tasting and beat the crap out of all the others. Only one i really remembered - not because the other champagnes was bad - it's just that this one was so much better! It could even win ind a vintage-tasting...
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3/26/2009 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged 10/2006. Very fabulous.
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2/28/2009 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
My first Selosse, and I loved it. Not as unusual as I'd been led to expect - I was struck by its ripeness and the tang and the depth.
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2/15/2009 - Alex H wrote: 86 Points
Bubblies High Tea with Alexandre Penet (Imperial Treasure Nanbei): Sugar cane and green apples.... wait.. make that a big jumbo glass of sugar cane with lemon that has been left maturing in the open air for quite a bit and just before drinking, a can of carlsberg is poured into the mix. Unique style.
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2/12/2009 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Worldwide Grenache (Boka - Chicago): Complex aromatics. Pears, biscuits and dough with a savory character. Lifted palate with a long finish. Delicious and remarkable for its decidedly savory, yet fresh character.
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1/22/2009 - french16 wrote: 94 Points
Wow. This is an awesome champagne and different from the majority of the other champagne. Disgorged in July 2007. Decanted for 30mn. Powerful nose, very complex and mineral, some wood (sometimes reminded me of a good cognac). Full body, high acidity, fine bubbles, as complex on the palate as on the nose. A lot is going on there: white chocolate, citrus, apple notes, nuttiness, yeasty and a loooong finish....I could drink this every day of my life!
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12/20/2008 - RationalDenial wrote: 92 Points
All the things you hear about Anselm Selosse's wine are true. Great purity and balance. Beautiful minerality. Hints of oak, especially on the nose. A remarkable ethereal quality in the mouthfeel on the finish. Complex wine, but with bubbles and nuance. This strikes me as the kind of wine that benefits from a longer relationship. The time you spend with her, the more interesting she becomes. But she isn't at all a cheap date.
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12/9/2008 - bpj87 wrote: 93 Points
Yale Wine Society: Riesling-a-palooza; 12/9/2008-12/10/2008 (New Haven, CT): Very classy and well integrated Champagne. As others have written, this does have a bit of an oxidative note, and it adds complexity while not detracting from the overall profile. This is quite drinkable, yet it has a lot going on that will be missed if one does not pay attention.
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11/9/2008 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged 10/2006.
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11/7/2008 - Finare Vinare wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged October 5, 2006. Colour is brass or perhaps sand gold metallic courtesy of Volvo Cars. A sniff, and ho ho ho, it smells like christmas! Lovely bread yeast aromas, red winter apples, orange and mandarine peels, hyacinths, walnuts, nougat and an expertly judged amount of sherry-like oxidation. The mousse is very lively when pouring, but in the mouth it's very soft and pleasant - integrated into the rich fruit with is completely dry, very apetizing. Yet this cuvée is Brut, not Extra. Delicious oxidative aromas like jura or burgundy, or iron-rich unpasteurized apple juice starting to ferment, or perhaps cider vinegar. At the same time we get intense citrus like blood oranges, notable on the back of the palate, together with loads of minerals. This is just soo good - pure health and happiness potion! Note to self: stay away from the ones that were disgorged in October 2007.
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8/30/2008 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged 10/2006.
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8/12/2008 - bsherwin wrote:
What a wonderful wine. It had such remarkably clean lines; I kept waiting for some sharp edge of something (sweetness, astringency), but nothing was out of place. Still pretty young, it nevertheless showed great balance and had a nice cut to it. The fruit was quite pure and the flavors nicely delineated with a touch of yeastiness on the nose that I enjoyed. It lacked some of the nuanced breadth of vintage Champagne, but this was certainly one of the best NV's that I've tried.
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7/19/2008 - spacewrangler wrote: 94 Points
A nose unlike any other in Champagne. Very energetic/vibrant, like a genie escaping from a bottle - you know you're in for a treat. For a 2006 disgorgement, it seemed very mature with a few oxidative notes that added complexity, including the requisite graham cracker/brown sugar profile. But this was so much more than that. The aromas and fruit just take hold of you.
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6/27/2008 - gorm wrote: 93 Points
Light yellow. Massive mousse. Nice nose of roasted wheat, fresh pear and apple juice, vanilla, and some slightly oxidized notes. Tastewise intense and seducing, fresh and pure yet unmistakeable Selosse. Very nice.
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6/9/2008 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
Rounded attack, smooth, not over the top, showing signs of maturity but clean tight acidity.
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4/30/2008 - Terkel wrote: 92 Points
Bacchus blindtasting (Finn's appartment): Disgorged 10/2007. Light golden yellow color. Delicious nose of grape, green and red apples, freshly baked ryebread and a fragile vanila frame. More green apples and grape in the mouth, very tight and for the moment leaving only little room for the fragile notes of yeast and ryebread. A sweet note of vanila softens the finish just a little bit. The bubbles hangs long on the palate, and together with the vanila note on the finish leaves a creamy note of caramel just at the end. Very lively acidity and good lenght. Cellar it for a while, it is too tight at the moment.
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3/15/2008 - Bery wrote: 95 Points
This bottle was discourged in october 2006 so it had a bit of maturity but still with a young fresh acidity. I just love this champagne so full of yellow apples, lemon and with a touch of oak.
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1/26/2008 - LoireFan wrote: 93 Points
(Not labled Initiale.) Disgorg. May 05 2006. Excellent. Want more.
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1/21/2008 - reichken wrote: 92 Points
Drunk at home while the Steak and ale pie was cooking.
pale lemon color with tight little bubbles. bone dry with very lively bubbles in the mouth. very piercing long finish. i enjoy the selosse champers as they seem to me to be very pure expressions of champagne
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12/31/2007 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
Disgorged 10/2006. A powerful nose with honey notes leading into a palate of marzipan and golden apple flavors. This had a very creamy mouthfeel. Slight mousse with small bubbles that dissipated fairly quickly. Very different and rather good. An intellectual champagne if there is such a thing. It continued to change in the glass - the best drink was the last one at a slightly warmer temperature.
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12/29/2007 - Terkel wrote: 95 Points
Champagne-brunch and extras (Terkels appartment): Disgorged 10/2006. Light golden color with a youthfull hue. Amazingly complex and concentrated nose with green apples, roasted oak, and subtle notes of something between herbs and licorise. Long taste in the mouth, with great fine bubbles that roll slowly over the palate and intense, fat fruit. The finish is a fat, roasted sweetness and smoke that lingers forever. This is a wine with a great complexity and personality, I'm stunned.
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12/29/2007 - PIR wrote: 95 Points
hasn't disappointed yet-exceptional.
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12/29/2007 - PIR wrote: 95 Points
sexy as hell, unique in the world of champagnes.
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10/13/2007 - Hillbilly wrote: 94 Points
PC Bottle Disgorged October 2006. Vibrant complex nose. This is a serious weighty wine. Lots of earthy, blood orange, hay and pineapple fruits in the nose. Broad mouth filling and expansive on the palate. No sweetness, but sweeter than the ultra low dosage would suggest. Oak notes notable with toastiness and oxidative style, big wine. Neat stuff.
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7/8/2007 - Will wrote:
this one had been disgorged in Apr 2005 and 2 years seems to be a soft spot for this champagne. It was hitting on all cylinders and it's simply one of the very best non-vintage champagnes out there. It's impossible not to be captivated by the nose, and the mouthfeel is just superb, an incredible combination of fat, power but also very delicate bubbles.
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6/15/2007 - vinosseur wrote:
Its hard to find information about Anselme Selosse. His wines are fermented and aged in Barriques and are considered amoung the finest in Champagne. His Champagnes are all Blanc de Blancs. Malo?? Not sure. He recommends decanting.
This Champagne was disgorged on Oct 24, 2006.
The appearance was a light yellow with very tiny bubbles. Over time, the bubbles appeared to all but disappear in the glass leaving this wine looking like a white burgundy. On the nose it was fresh, slight hints of oak were evident, hints of alcohol and some yeast. On the palate, the bubbles were fine and delicate but persistent and fresh. Tastes like its a low dosage Champagne, with hints of yellow apple and yeast. The finish is yeasty, "sticky/starchy" with a long fresh finish. Good acidity and great length. Reminded me quite a bit of Louis Roederer's Champagnes with slight hints of oak. I think this Champagne needs a few years in the cellars to achieve its full potential.
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2/17/2007 - Finare Vinare wrote: 92 Points
Disgorged October 5, 2006. Original, exciting, special - a nose like no other in champagne, but very Selosse. Yeasty, leesy, nutty oak cask profile with slightly oxidized fruit. This reminds us of Jura, Fino and Burgundy. Still young, so be patient for a couple of years.
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11/23/2006 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
Smoked cider nose, very full with solid (malic) acidity, just beginning to show some maturity (disgorged Dec 04)
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1/24/2006 - Will wrote:
Burg OL in Antwerp (t'Fornuis, Antwerp): Typical showing for this wine: oxidised style (green apple), yeast, fresh nose, a bit of spices, good presence in the mouth and adequate finish. Certainly one of the best "basic" NV champagnes.
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