As we skip into sparkling season, what better time to land a range of superstar wines from a brilliant grower in Champagne? Even better, Jean-Marc and Oriane Sélèque are celebrating a terrific harvest from 2018, with a glorious, abundant harvest (a jubilant tone echoed by their friends and near neighbours, the Chiquet brothers of Jacquesson). So lots to get stuck into, lots to look forward to!
We started off with Solessence (“essence of soil”), the non-vintage white and rosé blends of the three key Champagne grapes that are the cornerstone of the JmSélèque offering. We now dig a little deeper, family’s vintaged, five-parcel Blanc de Blancs (“Quintette”), with vintaged single-parcel single-variety wines (Soliste) and a seven-parcel vintaged super-cuvée called Partition. Among B-sides and alternatives, we have a still Chardonnay and Pinot Noir under the Coteaux Champenois appellation, as well as a cheeky Ratafia.
Check out the full range below, and click here to catch up on the full philosophy of what Champagne authority Peter Liem calls “the newest rising star in the Coteaux Sud d’Épernay”.
THE WINES
NV JmSélèque Solessence RRP $82
MAGNUM RRP $182 (base vintage 2013)
375ml RRP $48 (base vintage 2014)
50% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir. Fruit from seven crus on mostly flinty clay on chalky subsoil : Pierry, Moussy, Épernay, Mardeuil, Dizy, Boursault, Vertus. Base vintage 2015, with 50% of the blend from wines in perpetual reserve. 80% stainless steel tank and 20% oak barrels. No fining or filtration. Disgorged in November 2017. Dosage 3g/L.
NV JmSélèque Solessence Nature RRP $96
50% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir. Fruit from seven crus on mostly flinty clay on chalky subsoil: Pierry, Moussy, Épernay, Mardeuil, Dizy, Boursault, Vertus. Base vintage 2012, with 50% of the blend from wines in perpetual reserve. 80% stainless steel tank and 20% oak barrels. No fining or filtration. Disgorged in April 2017. Zero dosage.
“Based on 2012 with 50% reserve wines in the mix, this has an expressive spicy and savoury feel, with some almost peppery nuances. Smooth light pear and peach pastry on the palate. Texturally entrancing. Drink now. 93 points.” James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
NV JmSélèque Solessence Rosé RRP $96
MAGNUM RRP $215
45% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier (of which 10% skin-contact) and 15% Pinot Noir of which 5% is red wine. Fruit from seven crus on mostly flinty clay on chalky subsoil: Pierry, Moussy, Épernay, Mardeuil, Dizy, Boursault, Vertus. Base vintage 2015, with 40% of the blend from wines in perpetual reserve. 70% stainless steel tank and 30% oak barrels. No fining or filtration. Disgorged in January 2018. Dosage 4g/L.
NV JmSélèque Quintette RRP $107
100% Chardonnay based on the 2014 harvest, with fruit from Vertus 1er Cru La Justice planted in 1950; Dizy 1er Cru Moque-bouteille planted in 1985; Epernay Les Frileux planted in 1959; Mardeuil Les Basses Ronces planted in 1982; and Pierry 1er Cru Les Tartières/Les Porgeons planted in 1990 and 1985. The soils are silty clay and flint clay with chalky subsoil. Vinified 50% in oak barrels with no malolactic conversion and 50% stainless steel tank with MLF. No fining or filtration. At least 36 months tirage ageing. Dosage 2g/L.
2013JmSélèque Soliste Meunier RRP $157
Single-parcel wine from Les Gouttes d’Or, Pierry Premier Cru. Planted in 1951 and 1953. Bottom of the hill, ochre clays with strong presence of flint calcite, on Campanian chalk. Horse-ploughed soils, strict pruning and restricted yields, favouring the natural balance and biodiversity. 50% of the wine fermented in oak without malolactic conversion and 50% fermented in concrete egg without malolactic conversion. Natural cold stabilisation; no fining and no filtration. Bottling in spring with a cork. Ageing on the lees for at least 36 months.
2013 JmSélèque Infusion Meunier RRP $124
Single-parcel wines from Les Charmiers Pierry Premier Cru. Planted in 1964 and 1967. Flinty clay and small calcite. Mid-slope limestone ridge with Campanian chalk soils Horse-ploughed soils, strict pruning and restricted yields, favouring the natural balance and biodiversity. Cold maceration of the grapes for 48 hours (the infusion). 100% fermented in oak barrels without malolactic conversion. Natural cold stabilisation; no fining and no filtration. Bottling in spring. At least 36 months or more ageing on the lees. Dosage 2 g/l.
2012 JmSélèque Partition RRP $157
72 % Chardonnay, 14 % Meunier, 14 % Pinot Noir The Partition is always a blend of the same seven parcels, composed as a symphony of seven musical notes. Terroirs: La Justice, Vertus Premier Cru Chardonnay, planted in 1950; Moque-bouteille, Dizy Premier Cru Chardonnay, planted in 1985; Les Basses-Ronces, Mardeuil Chardonnay, planted in 1982; Les Frileux- Epernay Chardonnay, planted in 1959; Les Tartières / Les Porgeons, Pierry Premier Cru Chardonnay, planted in 1985; Les Gayères Pierry Premier Cru Pinot Noir, planted in 1975; and Les Gouttes d’Or, Pierry Premier Cru Meunier; planted in 1951 and 1953. Ploughing of soils, strict pruning and control of yields, favouring natural balance and biodiversity. Individual vinification of each plot. 100% of the wine with alcoholic fermentation in oak barrels without malolactic conversion. Natural cold stabilisation, no fining and no filtration. Bottling in spring with a cork; ageing on the lees for at least 48 months. Dosage 2 g/l. –
2015 JmSélèque Coteaux Champenois Blanc RRP $96
100% Chardonnay from Dizy 1er Cru Moque-bouteille, planted in 1990. Soil is silty clay with chalky subsoil. 100% barrel ferment and aged for 12 months. Bottled in September 2016 without filtration. This parcel always gives ripe and fleshy fruit on a nice terroir with western exposure, ideal for the production of a Coteaux Blanc that is rich and chiselled.
2015 JmSélèque Coteaux Champenois Rouge RRP $96
100% Pinot Noir from Les Gayères Pierry 1er Cru planted in 1975. Soils of flinty clay with chalky subsoil. Fermented in stainless steel vats with 15% whole cluster and 85% destemmed fruit. Pre-ferment maceration for 48 hours. Vatting for nine days in total. Press wine added. Ageing in oak barrels for 12 months. Bottled in September 2016 without filtration. Rooted in thick flinty clays, these vines give small black grapes with tight skin, taking advantage of the westerly winds and evening sun.
NV JmSélèque Ratafia RRP $71
Liqueur composed of grape must (tails of the domaine pressings) and pure alcohol of the Marne (94.5% alcohol). 50% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir. 35% from 2017 harvest with 65% perpetual reserve wine started in 2010. Grapes grown in Pierry, Moussy, Epernay, Mardeuil, Dizy, Boursault and Vertus. Clay-limestone on Campanian chalk. Light fermentation starts before arresting with alcohol for a finished product at 18%. Ageing in 600-litre oak barrels. RS 130g/L.