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| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.2 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 443 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by jviz on 4/28/2024 & rated 97 points: 2019 dg. Wow this was good. Makes me want to drink the rosé next. This was fino sherry with bubbles. Expansive and complex, but stands in its own world. I also thought this was unique among the other cuvées. I will be eager to replace it. (746 views) | | | Tasted by MN Wine Junkie on 4/14/2024 & rated 96 points: Champers and Napa Cabs Blind - Fun Times! (Chateau Simms): This was presented in a blind tasting of some high-end Champagnes:
1. NV Ulysse Collin Blanc de Blanc Enfers (Extra Brut)
2. 2015 Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill
3. 2015 Cristal
4. 2012 Leclerc Briant Château d'Avize, Blanc de Blancs, Brut Zéro
5. NV Selosse Lieux-dits Extra Brut Ay La Côte Faron
6. 2007 Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Elisabeth
7. NV Selosse V.O.
NV Selosse V.O. - This was disgorged in 2009. Oxidative in style, but remarkably fresh for a Champagne disgorged in 2009. I found this Champagne not as good as the Winston Churchill or the Cristal when tasting without food, but when tasting with caviar, this Champagne surpassed everything. It really was an amazing experience! I have had wines that taste better with food, but not this kind of a metamorphosis! 95 without caviar....97 with caviar...thus my 96. As a side note, would love to taste a more recent disgorgement.
Note: I typically love this style more than the oxidative style when drinking them without food, but with salty foods (think caviar), I actually preferred the oxidative style which went remarkably well with the food! (876 views) | | | Tasted by bsumoba on 4/14/2024 & rated 97 points: crazy interesting nose. I pegged this as a Selosse, which stylistically was in line with what I expected. Best with food, which in our case that day, was caviar. Lol. (967 views) | | | Tasted by WineBurrowingWombat on 4/14/2024 & rated 95 points: Eyes Wide Shut - Day 2 (A quiet place): Nose: Sweet oxidation, graham crackers with a bale of wet hay and earth.
Palate: This was a bit flat but had good fruits of ripe, aged orange slices, with its stem and leaves. Gently bitter orange skins that seem to give off the impression of dried stones. (1130 views) | | | Tasted by Iakkhos on 4/13/2024: dég. 11 Mai 2021
Christmas spice central. Immense depth down through layers of cardamom, molasses, and ginger, all outlined in lovely stewed apple oxidation. Compared with a one-year-older-in-bottle Initial consumed a few nights previous, that wine amplifies the purely mineral, while this blossoms into a notably richer expression. (1128 views) | | | Tasted by TWSA on 4/6/2024 & rated 93 points: Nose: hazelnut, honey, white flowers, red dates, dried fig, pear,
Notes: Disgogrged 2023 April. 0.67g/L dosage. The usual Jacques Selosse oxidative style with plenty of warm aroma such as honey, hazelnut and red dates. An amazing and explosive nose this may be one of the best non rose Jacques Selosse I've had. A little different from my previous experience with the V.O.. The afteraste is perfect and it's absolutely beautiful. The flowers are so pretty for this Champagne and this is an astonishing experience.
Drink: now+
Rating: 93 (1249 views) | | | Tasted by JRockEsq on 4/5/2024 & rated 93 points: Method: tasted at the domaine (in the cellar) with Anselme; vintages '17, '16, and '15; disg. Oct. 2023
Nose: nuts (but less nutty than Initial), salinity
Palate: lemon, lemon pitch, nuts, nut cream; long finish of nut, mineral; medium+ body; medium strength pinpoint bubbles; medium+ to high- acidity; low tannin
Overall thoughts: Very cool to have side-by-side with Initial. I completely agree with Anselme that this is more introverted whereas Initial is more extroverted. More structured, tightly wound, and mineral than the Initial. Great complexity and structure. Great wine. (1102 views) | | | Tasted by Mag357 on 3/31/2024 & rated 95 points: Disg 2010 base 2004
Saddle leather, brioche and intoxicating oxydative scents introduce a very sophisticated deep mouthfeel, with ultra fine bubbles, ending in a saline and chalky finish. Spellbinding complexity. A beauty. (1349 views) | | | Tasted by Vas19 on 3/26/2024 & rated 93 points: 2019 disgorgement. Classic Selosse oxidative complexity. Wish there was a bit more tension in this bottle but overall very good. (1345 views) | | | Tasted by wineappellation on 2/10/2024 & rated 95 points: Disgorged 04 Aug, 2014
Still having very fine bubbles. Pale amber color. Distinctively and beautifully oxidative in style. Caramel, walnuts, almond, beeswax, apricots, orange peels, chalk, loads of lees and biscuits that is all underpinned by electrical acidity, savoury salinity. While being expansive on palate with rippling flavours, the long acid line provides a solid backbone for the precise and long finish. (1782 views) | | | Tasted by Jeremy Holmes on 1/15/2024: A 2016 disgorgement, this Champagne had a hint of truffle development, but was essentially fresh and vital. It had a wonderful core of tangerine and peach fruit. Bubbles were gentle and calm. It had so much chalky mineral action and was supremely long and complex. (2153 views) | | | Tasted by TWSA on 1/5/2024 & rated 91 points: Nose: jackfruit, honey, coconut, bit of meat, banana, sugar cane, nutty
Notes: signature oxidative nose as usual. Although the part of the label with the disgorgement date has been torn and was not present but it would be my guess that this has been a recently disgorged one. The oxidative nose makes a very interesting and intriguing contrast with the energetic bubbles present in the bottle. This particular bottle will require a couple more years to be integrated as I feel there should be plenty of potential and development ahead of it. Give it 2-3 more years.
Drink: 2026+
Rating: 91 (1742 views) | | | Tasted by Throughthegrapevine on 12/24/2023 & rated 94 points: Everything you’d expect from Selosse VO. Depth, complexity. Maybe fruit short of perfection. Color Yellow Gold (1592 views) | | | Tasted by thewiz on 12/18/2023 & rated 95 points: (Disgorged October 28th 2021, base year 2015 with reserves from 2014 and 2013, 100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant and Oger, dosage 0 gr/l)
Incipient maturity on the nose showing green apples, chalk and minerals and opens up with hazelnuts and milk chocolate in a delicious way. Butter and toffee on the palate with a pleasant lime citrus acidity and a gentle touch of dried fruit on the generous palate with a lovely and lengthy finish.
(Best with 3-9 years extra cellaring) (1832 views) | | | Tasted by dcwino on 11/8/2023 & rated 95 points: Grand Jury du Vin - Republic of Georgia; 11/1/2023-11/9/2023 (Republic of Georgia then stopover in Paris and Dijon): 2014 Disgorgement. Beautiful brilliant yellow color. Expressive nose displaying decadent yellow fruit with a hint of red, apricot preserve, peach, red currant, honey, burnt sugar, cinnamon, brioche, smoke, and limestone. Fully integrated palate, decadent sweet yellow fruit, very fine subtle but fine mousse, rich, sweet, and deeply toned but also beautifully balanced, bright acidity, strong mineral, and a long decadent yellow fruit driven finish with honey and cinnamon at the end. Although fully mature, not showing the oxidative note that I get in Substance. (2393 views) | | | Tasted by Kim Gerner on 10/21/2023 & rated 94 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 2022. Deep gold color. Very oxidative style as (almost) always from Selosse. Nutty notes. You never quite know with Selosse but this time it was outstanding though Cuvee Blanc de Blancs Substance was even better, I rated that 95. (1496 views) | | | Tasted by aquacongas on 10/19/2023 & rated 95 points: blind (1911 views) | | | Tasted by galewskj on 10/19/2023 & rated 93 points: Judgement of Eagan (Jason's house): Very different from the Substance that we tried alongside it. The oxidative note remains, but this had fresh dough, baking spice and a slightly more traditional champagne profile. 92-93. (2033 views) | | | Tasted by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine on 10/19/2023 & rated 95 points: Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): This was drank along side a Substance. While it from the same mold as Substance, i.e., reductive and oxidative, this retained some of the freshness of a younger Champagne, but also lost some of the complexities of Substance. It was fun to see which one people preferred, and the crowd was divided! I was clearly in the Substance camp, but I could understand why others would prefer this more traditional style (not really traditional, but more so than Substance).
The nuts and bolts on this Champagne: Had the fine bubbles, but a little more visible than the Substance, and not as deep of a golden color. Not sure of the disgorgement date on this wine, but would guess more recent than Substance. For me, the freshness came across more in this wine, but it slightly lacked in the finish, which wasn't as long as as Substance. This wine had some brioche notes, some citrus, saline and some stone fruit, but not as much Unami and lacked the ginger and honeycomb notes. As previously stated, the finish was medium (compared to the long finish of Substance). A very pleasant wine that would have undoubtably shown even better if not drank along side the Substance. Solid 95 for my palate, and a pleasure to drink! (2169 views) | | | Tasted by WineBurrowingWombat on 10/19/2023 & rated 96 points: Cracking the whip; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Eagan, MN): N: A notch lighter in the fruits department with fresh pears and melons, very similar to the Substance had alongside this. Spritzy minerals and fresh airiness.
P: Flavors of the V.O. are also very similar to substance but just a bit more lighter on the palate, and a bit less intense while keeping a deep yellow and green pear note. The salinity on the stones seem to be a bit more pronounced while somehow being lighter. Nice ethereal profile to this.
I have a hunch that having this next to the Substance might’ve had an effect on this. To me, everything about the V.O. seemed to be just a notch lighter. Even so, this was still a pleasure to taste. (2280 views) | | | Tasted by rocknroller on 10/19/2023 & rated 91 points: Judgement of Eagan (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Medium dark gold color. Drank a glass over an hour plus. Disgorged 4/23/09. Barely any bubbles, highly oxidative, smokey, baked apricot, candied orange peel, creamy, baking spices, spicy. This was lighter than the Substance (10/28/10), but I think in the end, I prefered the complexity of the Substance a bit more, though they were close for me. Thanks to Jason again for opening this pair! (2125 views) | | | Tasted by Benoit Hardy on 10/17/2023 & rated 94 points: Dsg 12/2013
What's good about Selosse is that even when you know the universe, you're always surprised.
Very particular peaty nose, sensation of smelling whiskey, then orange peels.
The palate has an oxidative profile, but the peaty character comes through very strongly, as if the wine had been aged in whiskey barrels. Then, the juice, intense and creamy in texture, unfurls a whole complex array, sometimes pastry cream, sometimes candied fruit. It’s racy with a natural presence. The finish coats everything in its path with delicious chalky notes over a beautiful vibrant length.
Excellent champagne! (1853 views) | | | Tasted by LB88 on 10/11/2023 & rated 93 points: This was dark yellow, dense and quite reductive more of a wine than a champagne. Rich with flavours of apricots, burnt pineapples brioche. (1614 views) | | | Tasted by MWiking on 10/8/2023 & rated 94 points: degorgerad 21. (1690 views) | | | Tasted by JAMES LAI on 8/21/2023 & rated 90 points: Crisp full lemon, coconut shell, the oak still quite to the fore, some fleshy density, not obviosuly low dosage but keen, I suspect this is hiding its stuffing still. (951 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne: The 2024 Spring Preview (Mar 2024) (3/1/2024)
(NV Jacques Selosse (2016) Extra-Brut V.O. (Version Originale) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne Jacques Selosse Retrospective Tasting & Dinner (Jun 2023) (6/1/2023)
(NV Jacques Selosse Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru V.O. Version Originale (base 2016) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne Jacques Selosse Retrospective Tasting & Dinner (Jun 2023) (6/1/2023)
(NV Jacques Selosse Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru V.O. Version Originale (base 2014) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne Jacques Selosse Retrospective Tasting & Dinner (Jun 2023) (6/1/2023)
(NV Jacques Selosse Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru V.O. Version Originale (base 2011) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne: The 2023 Spring Preview (May 2023) (5/1/2023)
(NV Jacques Selosse (2016) Extra-Brut V.O. (Version Originale) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Audrey Frick
JebDunnuck.com, New Releases From Champagne (11/7/2022)
(NV Jacques Selosse Champagne Blanc de Blancs V.O. Extra Brut) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne: 2021 New Releases (Nov 2021) (11/1/2021)
(NV Jacques Selosse Extra-Brut V.O. (Version Originale) (2015) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne: 2020 New Releases (Nov 2020) (11/1/2020)
(NV Jacques Selosse Extra-Brut V.O. (Version Originale) (2014) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Brad Baker
Champagne Warrior, October 2019, Issue #23
(NV Jacques Selosse Version Originale (V.O.)) Login and sign up and see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (7/10/2019)
(NV Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs V.O. Extra Brut, Sparkling, France) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jul/Aug 2019, Issue #82, Champagne Jacques Selosse Crafting the Cultural Revolution In the Heart of Avize
(NV Cuvée V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV - Champagne Jacques Selosse) Login and sign up and see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jul/Aug 2019, Issue #82, Champagne Jacques Selosse Crafting the Cultural Revolution In the Heart of Avize
(NV Cuvée V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV- Champagne Jacques Selosse) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, The 2019 Champagne Summer Preview (Jul 2019) (7/1/2019)
(NV Jacques Selosse Extra-brut V.o. (version Originale)(2013) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/4/2019)
(NV Jacques Selosse, Version Originale Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Grand Cru Champagne White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne: The 2018 Summer Preview (Jul 2018) (7/1/2018)
(NV Jacques Selosse Extra Brut V.o. (version Originale) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (7/14/2017)
(NV Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs V.O. Extra Brut, Sparkling, France) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne: The 2017 Summer Preview (Jul 2017) (7/1/2017)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.o. (version Originale) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Selosse – Lieux-Dits Dinner at NoMad (Jul 2017) (7/1/2017)
(NV Jacques Selosse Extra Brut V.o. (version Originale) Sparkling White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Brad Baker
Champagne Warrior, March 2017, Issue #22, Champagne Tasting Notes
(NV Jacques Selosse Version Originale (V.O.)) Login and sign up and see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (10/7/2016)
(NV Jacques Selosse Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs V.O. Extra Brut, France) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne: The 2016 Summer Preview (Aug 2016) (8/1/2016)
(NV Jacques Selosse Extra-brut V.o. (version Originale)) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, May/Jun 2015, Issue #57, The June 2015 Champagne and Sparkling Wine Report Tales From Two Weeks In the Region in April
(NV Jacques Selosse “Version Orignale” Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut NV (Avize)) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne: The Season’s New Releases (Nov 2014) (11/1/2014)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.o. (version Originale)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Brad Baker
Champagne Warrior, June 2014, Issue #18, Champagne Tasting Notes
(NV Jacques Selosse Version Originale (V.O.)) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, The Season’s Best NV Champagne Releases (Jan 2015) (1/1/2014)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.o./version Originale Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne – A Wine For All Seasons (Nov 2013)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.o. (version Originale)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Brad Baker
Champagne Warrior, May 2013, Issue #16, Champagne Tasting Notes
(NV Jacques Selosse Version Originale (V.O.)) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/21/2013)
(NV Jacques Selosse, Version Originale Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Grand Cru Champagne White) Subscribe to see review text. | i-WineReview.com, Report 34: Champagne Revisited (12/1/2012)
(NV Jacques Selosse Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Version Originale Champagne) Subscribe to see review text. | i-WineReview.com, Report 34: Champagne Revisited (12/1/2012)
(NV Domaine Jacques Selosse Version Originale Champagne) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne: So Much More Than a Celebration Wine (Oct 2012)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.o. (version Originale)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, New Releases from Champagne (Dec 2011)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.o. (version Originale)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Brad Baker
Champagne Warrior, March 2011, Issue #10, Champagne Tasting Notes
(NV Jacques Selosse Version Originale) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, New Releases from Champagne (Dec 2010)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.o. (version Originale)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Brad Baker
Champagne Warrior, October 2010, Issue #8, Champagne Tasting Notes
(NV Jacques Selosse Version Originale Extra Brut) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Brad Baker
Champagne Warrior, February 2010, Issue #5, Tasting Notes/Wine Reviews
(NV Jacques Selosse Version Originale Extra Brut) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Champagne: The Last Frontier (Dec 2009)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.o. (version Originale)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, A Taste of Champagne at Eleven Madison Park, New York (Jun 2009) (6/1/2009)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.o. (version Originale)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Brad Baker
Champagne Warrior, January 2009, Issue #1, Tasting Notes of Champagne and Sparkling Wines
(NV Jacques Selosse VO (Version Originale) Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, New Releases from Champagne (Dec 2008)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.o. (version Originale)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, November 2008
(NV Jacques Selosse Version Originale Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut) Subscribe to see review text. | By Peter Liem
ChampagneGuide.net
(NV Jacques Selosse V.O. Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru (base 2002)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Peter Liem
ChampagneGuide.net
(NV Jacques Selosse V.O. Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru (base 2004)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (9/23/2013)
(NV Jacques Selosse V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut) Light golden color with steady, tiny bubbles; almond, sherry, tart lemon nose; rich, creamy, ripe lemon,, mineral, almond palate; very long finish 94+ points 94 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JebDunnuck.com and Champagne Warrior and JamesSuckling.com and View From the Cellar and JancisRobinson.com and i-WineReview.com and ChampagneGuide.net and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Jacques Selosse Producer website
Wikipedia on Jacques Selosse
Jacques Selosse is a Champagne grower and producer based in the Avize region of Champagne.
The estate was founded by Jacques Selosse and his family in the 1950s, with the first vintage being bottled in 1960.
The current proprietor of this estate is Anselme Selosse who took over from his father Jacques in 1980. Anselme studied at the Lycée viticole de Beaune and was one of the first winemakers to apply the winemaking techniques of white Burgundy to Champagne. In 1994 Anselme was named best French Winemaker by Gault Millau.
Production
Jacques Selosse is a Grower Champagne, which means the grapes used to produce the wines are grown in vineyards owned by the winery rather than being purchased from other growers, as is the case in most Champagne production. The entire production is grown according to biodynamic principles and Anselme is considered a pioneer of biodynamics in Champagne. Selosse wines are fermented using oak barrels, in contrast to the majority of Champagne producers who use stainless steel tanks.
Two of the wines in Selosse's range, the Substance and the Contraste, are produced using a solera system, the same process used in Sherry production.
Selosse holds 37 acres (15 ha) of vines, predominantly Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir.nAround 55,000 bottles are produced each vintage, dependent on conditions.
Wines
Initial is a blend of three vintages of Chardonnay grapes, aged for at least 2 years before disgorgement in a Brut style. The wine was initially called "Initiale" but dropped the "e" along the way. Before it was nameed Initial on the label, the label was identical but without the word Initial(e), therefore known as Jacques Selosse Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut. Wines disgorged in 2006 do not have the Initial(e) addition, but wines disgorged in 2007 do.
Version Originale is also a blend of three vintages of Chardonnay, but it spends 42 months in bottle before disgorgment and has very little dosage resulting in an Extra Brut style.
Millésime is a single vintage Blanc de blancs made from the grapes of two vineyards in Avize, Le Mont de Cramant and Les Chantereines.
Substance is a Blanc de blancs from a single vineyard in Avize. This Champagne is made in a solera system with the base grapes for this wine coming from the 1986 vintage, the blend is topped up with more recent vintages each year.
Contraste is a Blanc de noirs, made from Pinot Noir grapes, coming from a single vineyard called La Côte Faron in the village of Aÿ. Like the Substance cuvée, this is made in a solera style. The base grapes in this wine are from the 1994 vintage.
Exquise is a Demi-Sec wine, with around 24g/l of dosage making this a semi-sweet style. Made entirely from Chardonnay grapes as a Blanc de blancs.
Rosé is produced using Chardonnay grapes from Selosse and Pinot Noir grapes from Egly-Ouriet in Ambonnay.Chardonnay The Chardonnay GrapeFrance Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comChampagne Le Champagne (Le comité interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne) | Grandes Marques & Maisons de Champagne (Union des Maisons de Champagne)
France - When it comes to wine, France stands alone. No other country can beat it in terms of consistent quality and diversity. And while many of its Region, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne most obviously, produce wine as rare, as sought-after and nearly as expensive as gold, there are just as many obscurities and values to be had from little known appellations throughout the country. To learn everything there is to know about French wine would take a lifetime. To understand and appreciate French wine, one only has to begin tasting them. Click for a list of bestselling items from all of France.
Sub-Region:
Champagne - The French region of Champagne (including the cities of Rheims, Épernay, and Aÿ) was the first region in the world to make sparkling wine in any quantity. Today, the name of the region is synonymous with the finest of all sparkling wines, and wine-making traditions of Champagne have become role models for sparkling wine producers, worldwide. Surprisingly, the region of Champagne is now responsible for only one bottle in 12 of all sparkling wine produced. Styles of champagne range in sweetness ranging from an extra brut or brut 0, to the basic brut to demi sec to doux; some houses produce single vintage champagnes and others produce non-vintage (or incorporate wines/grapes of multiple vintages), often to preserve a specific taste; combinations of grape varietals; and colors, including a rosé. There are several sub-appellations, including the Valley of the Marnes river running from Épernay west, Massif de Saint-Thierry north and west of Rheims, Valley of the Ardre, the Mountains of Rheims (between Rheims and Épernay), Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, and Côte des Bar in the South. Champagne wine only uses three grape varietals (cépages): Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.Champagne Grand CruChampagne |
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