Looking for exceptional wines? You’ve come to the right place. We’re excited to introduce you to the world of Jacques Selosse, a “Cult” Champagne house renowned for its commitment to quality and terroir expression.
Jacques Selosse is a small, family-run, and fiercely independent Champagne house that focuses on the land, the grapes, and the natural process of turning them into wine. The result is bottles that are hard to find, sometimes controversial, but always full of character and exceptional quality.
Our curated selection of these rare and exceptional wines is available for export to discerning clients worldwide. We ensure that these cult wines reach you in perfect condition, regardless of your location.
Key Takeaways
- Exclusive collection of Selosse Champagne, a prestigious champagne producer.
- Carefully curated selection of rare and exceptional wines for export.
- Focus on terroir expression and minimal intervention winemaking.
- Specialized export service to deliver wines worldwide in perfect condition.
- Opportunity to secure limited-production champagnes through our export service.
The Legacy of Jacques Selosse
In 1949, Jacques Selosse founded his eponymous estate, setting the stage for a revolution in champagne making. The Jacques Selosse estate was established with a focus on quality viticulture, particularly in the exceptional terroirs of the Côte des Blancs.
The family’s initial approach involved selling grapes to larger champagne houses. However, with Anselme’s return from oenological studies in Burgundy, the estate began to transform. Anselme introduced fresh ideas about winemaking, reducing sugar and intervention in the cellar to emphasize the character of the vineyards.
- The Jacques Selosse estate was established in 1949 by Jacques Selosse himself.
- Initially, the Selosse family sold their grapes to larger champagne houses.
- Jacques laid the foundation for quality viticulture.
- Anselme’s return marked the beginning of the estate’s true transformation.
The legacy of Jacques Selosse lives on through the estate’s commitment to expressing the unique character of their vineyards, establishing a reputation for quality that would later become legendary.
Anselme Selosse: The Revolutionary Winemaker
In the 1970s, Anselme Selosse emerged as a pioneering figure in Champagne, challenging traditional practices. During this period, the Champagne industry was characterized by a pervasive indifference to fruit quality, dominated by a few large producers.
Anselme’s education in oenology in Burgundy, where he was exposed to renowned winemakers like Coche-Dury, Lafon, and Leflaive, significantly influenced his approach. He learned the importance of commitment to producing profound, individualistic wines from great terroirs.
Upon taking over Champagne Jacques Selosse in 1980, Anselme introduced revolutionary ideas that transformed the region’s winemaking practices. His focus on terroir expression and vineyard-specific character marked a significant shift away from the industrial approach prevalent at the time.
Anselme’s innovative techniques included extended lees aging, barrel fermentation, and minimal intervention in the cellar. His philosophical approach emphasized that great champagne begins with great wine, prioritizing the creation of exceptional base wines.
The knowledge and vision of this remarkable man have had a lasting impact on the Champagne industry, inspiring a generation of winemakers. Anselme Selosse is credited with pioneering the grower champagne movement, which has transformed the region’s landscape.
Guillaume Selosse: Continuing the Family Tradition
In 2018, Guillaume Selosse succeeded his father, Anselme, at the helm of the Jacques Selosse domaine, ready to carry on the family’s heritage. Over the years, Guillaume had worked closely with Anselme, absorbing the family’s winemaking philosophy and developing his own perspective on champagne production.
Today, Guillaume continues to honor his father’s revolutionary approach while bringing his own refinements to the Selosse style. The transition has been remarkably seamless, with Guillaume maintaining the estate’s core principles while subtly evolving certain aspects of production. With his exceptional skill and imagination, Guillaume is ensuring the continuation of the Selosse legacy into the next generation.
What Makes Selosse Champagne Unique
The uniqueness of Selosse Champagne lies in its commitment to terroir expression and quality-driven practices. Selosse Champagne stands apart from other producers through its distinctive approach to viticulture and winemaking that prioritizes terroir expression above all else.
The unique character of these wines comes from a combination of biodynamic farming, low yields, native yeast fermentation, and extended aging on lees. Unlike most champagne houses that aim for consistency across vintages, Selosse embraces vintage variation as an expression of each year’s unique conditions.
The quality of Selosse Champagnes is evident in their remarkable texture and depth, rarely found in other champagnes, with a distinctive oxidative quality that adds complexity. Selosse champagnes are known for their lower dosage levels, allowing the true character of the base wines to shine through without being masked by added sugar.
The limited production (approximately 55,000 bottles annually) ensures meticulous attention to detail at every stage of the winemaking process. These champagnes are often described as “wines that happen to have bubbles” rather than traditional champagne, highlighting their vinous quality and complexity.
Terroir-Driven Philosophy
Selosse Champagnes are crafted with a deep respect for terroir, reflecting the unique characteristics of their vineyards. For Anselme Selosse, terroir encompasses not just the soil, but everything that makes a vineyard distinct, including climate, microclimate, and specific farming practices.
The estate’s vineyards are primarily located in the Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs, such as Avize, Cramant, and Oger, with additional plots in Aÿ and Ambonnay. This careful selection of villages contributes to the complexity and diversity of their wines.
| Region | Characteristics | Impact on Wines |
|---|---|---|
| Côte des Blancs | Chalky soils, ideal climate for Chardonnay | Bright acidity, pronounced minerality |
| Aÿ and Ambonnay | Diverse soil types, unique microclimates | Complexity and depth in wines |
Each vines plot is treated individually, with winemaking decisions tailored to express the unique characteristics of that specific terroir. This approach results in wines of remarkable authenticity and sense of place.
Biodynamic Viticulture Practices
At Selosse, the art of biodynamic viticulture is not just a practice, but a way of life. The vineyards are run with an extreme attention to sustainability and biodiversity.
Selosse employs biodynamic principles, avoids synthetic fertilizers, and works the soil by hand. Every two years, the team adds organic compost deep into the soil to keep it rich, healthy, and full of life.
- The estate treats the vineyard as a complete ecosystem, rather than just a place to grow grapes.
- Chemical interventions are avoided, focusing on building soil health through organic composts.
- Vineyard operations are influenced by the lunar calendar.
The vines are kept low, and yields are much lower than average for Champagne, resulting in more concentration and character in the grapes. This labor-intensive work in the vineyards requires significant manual effort but is essential to producing exceptional quality grapes.
The Distinctive Winemaking Process
The winemaking process at Selosse is characterized by a hands-on approach, where every step is meticulously managed to produce high-quality wines.
Selosse’s winemaking begins with hand-harvesting fully ripe grapes, often later than most Champagne producers. The grapes are gently pressed in the cellar, and the juice is transferred to oak barrels for fermentation, with about 20-25% new oak used each year.
The use of indigenous yeasts allows for a slow, natural fermentation process that can last several months. The wines then undergo extended aging on their lees, developing complex flavors and textures over time. This approach allows the natural expression of the vines and their terroir to shine through in the finished wines, resulting in champagnes with remarkable depth and complexity.
Exploring Selosse Champagne Collections
Exploring the diverse collections of Selosse Champagne reveals a rich tapestry of flavors and traditions. The estate is known for producing exceptional Blanc de Blancs champagnes and carefully crafted assemblages.
The Lieux-Dits Collection
The Lieux-Dits Collection showcases the distinct characteristics of various vineyards. Each cuvée is a reflection of its terroir, aged to perfection to bring out the nuances of the Chardonnay grape.
Blanc de Blancs & Assemblages
Selosse’s Blanc de Blancs champagnes, such as the Initial and Version Originale, highlight the estate’s expertise in crafting wines that are both complex and refined. The assemblages blend multiple vintages, ensuring a consistent house style while expressing the unique characteristics of each harvest.
The Version Originale is sourced from high-altitude vineyards in Avize and aged for at least 42 months. The Millésime bottling is produced in exceptional years, representing the purest expression of a particular vintage.
Signature Cuvées Worth Discovering
With a legacy of excellence, Selosse Champagne’s signature cuvées are a testament to the art of crafting superior champagnes. Among Selosse’s portfolio, several signature cuvées stand out for their exceptional character and distinctive approach to champagne making.
The Millésime bottling has evolved over time, originally made solely from Chardonnay but now incorporating both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the estate’s Grand Cru vineyards. Each vintage bottling is selected through blind tastings to identify the wines that best express the character of that particular year.
These signature cuvées often receive extended aging, sometimes for a decade or more before release, developing remarkable complexity. The wines are typically bottled with minimal dosage or none at all, allowing the pure expression of the source vineyards to shine through.
Limited production makes these signature cuvées particularly rare, with each release eagerly anticipated by collectors worldwide. The evolution of these wines over time demonstrates the estate’s continuous refinement of their approach to champagne making.
Substance: The Legendary Solera Champagne
Seloce’s ‘Substance’ is a legendary solera champagne that redefines the boundaries of wine production. This cuvée is produced using a solera system started in 1986/1987, blending wines from various vintages.
The result is a champagne of remarkable complexity, with layers of flavor developed over decades. Substance transcends vintage variation, capturing the essence of Avize’s terroir.
| Characteristics | Description |
|---|---|
| Production Method | Solera system since 1986/1987 |
| Vineyards | Chardonnay vineyards in Avize |
| Result | Complex, layered flavors |
Selosse Rosé: A Unique Expression
Selosse Rosé stands out in the world of champagne with its distinctive character and complex flavor profile. At its core, it is predominantly Chardonnay, complemented by about 3% Pinot Noir, sourced from the Egly family through a historical exchange between the two growers.
The wine offers a deep bouquet of orange zest, cardamom, dried fruit, and walnut, making it a truly unique expression of rosé champagne. Unlike many rosé champagnes that emphasize red fruit character, Selosse’s version presents a complex array of spice, citrus, and dried fruit notes.
- The Selosse Rosé offers a distinctive take on pink champagne, with just a hint of salmon color derived from a small addition of Pinot Noir.
- Production is extremely limited, with only a small number of bottles produced each year, making this one of the rarest cuvées in the Selosse portfolio.
- Like all Selosse champagnes, the Rosé receives minimal dosage, allowing its natural complexity to shine through without being masked by added sugar.
This unique expression of rosé champagne challenges conventional expectations while delivering remarkable depth and character, making it a must-try for champagne connoisseurs.
Global Recognition and Critical Acclaim
The influence of Anselme Selosse and his father, Jacques, has transformed the champagne landscape, earning global recognition over time.
Anselme Selosse was named France’s best winemaker in every category by Gault-Millau in 1994, an unprecedented honor that highlighted his revolutionary impact on the industry.
| Year | Award/Recognition | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | France’s Best Winemaker | Gault-Millau |
| Various | Top Scores (95-98 points) | Wine Advocate, Vinous, James Suckling |
Critics consistently award Selosse champagnes with top scores, with many cuvées receiving 95-98 points from major publications. The Selosse family’s approach has reshaped thinking throughout the Champagne region, inspiring countless other producers to focus on terroir expression.
This global recognition has contributed to the extraordinary demand for these wines, which are now allocated to collectors and restaurants around the world.
Exporting Selosse Champagne Worldwide
The Champagne region of France is renowned for producing some of the world’s most exquisite wines. For centuries, the rolling hills of this prestigious region have been perfecting the art of winemaking, resulting in champagnes that are celebrated globally.
Our specialized export service ensures that Selosse Champagnes can be enjoyed by connoisseurs worldwide. We handle all aspects of international shipping, from temperature-controlled transportation to customs documentation, ensuring that your bottles arrive in perfect condition.
With our relationships with the producers, we have access to limited allocations of these highly sought-after wines that are otherwise difficult to source. We understand the unique requirements for shipping fine wine across international borders and have developed systems to navigate these complexities seamlessly.
The region‘s prestigious wines deserve careful handling from vines to glass, and our export service maintains this standard of care throughout the journey. Each shipment is carefully packaged to protect the fruit of these exceptional vines from temperature fluctuations, vibration, and light exposure during transit.
Our global network allows us to ship to virtually any destination, bringing the finest Selosse Champagnes to wine lovers around the world.
Our Premium Export Service
At Champagne Export, we pride ourselves on offering a premium export service that connects you with the finest champagnes from boutique producers like Selosse. Our team of experts has established direct relationships with producers throughout the Champagne region, ensuring access to rare allocations that are often unavailable in the open market.
We understand the nuances of each vineyard, producer, and vintage, providing informed guidance to discerning clients. Our service is tailored to your preferences, whether you’re seeking investment-grade bottles or exceptional champagnes for special occasions. We prioritize champagnes with low yields and high-quality fruit, ensuring that every bottle meets our high standards.
To today‘s demanding clients, we offer a comprehensive solution that includes temperature-controlled storage, shipping, and handling of customs documentation and import regulations. By choosing our premium export service, you can trust that your champagne will be handled with care and expertise.
- Direct access to rare champagne allocations
- Personalized service tailored to your preferences
- Expert handling of logistics and regulations
Contact us today to discuss your requirements and discover how we can bring these extraordinary wines to your doorstep. Visit https://champagne-export.com to request your personalized quote.
Request Your Personalized Quote Today
Unlock the world of Selosse champagnes today by requesting a personalized quote through our simple online form. Our team will promptly respond with availability, pricing, and shipping options tailored to your specific location and requirements.
We understand that each client’s needs are unique, so we take the time to create customized solutions. Whether you’re seeking a single bottle for a special occasion or building a collection over time, we can accommodate requests of any size.
- Our quotes include transparent pricing with all shipping costs, duties, and taxes clearly outlined.
- We provide detailed information about current production, vineyard practices, and the specific characteristics of each cuvée.
- Due to Selosse’s extremely low yields, we recommend contacting us promptly to secure these sought-after bottles.
Visit https://champagne-export.com today to begin your journey into the world of Selosse champagne. With limited yields resulting in limited availability, we look forward to helping you discover the finest Selosse champagnes.
RelatedRelated articles
- 14 Aug 2025·1 min readPerrier Jouet Blanc de Blanc: Fine Champagne for Export WorldwideArticle
Discover the epitome of champagne elegance with Perrier Jouet Blanc de Blanc, a premium product renowned for its exceptional quality. As global exporters, we take pride in delivering this exquisite champagne to enthusiasts worldwide, ensuring it reac...