Selosse Pajon
Bérêche & Fils
Reflet d'Antan Brut Champagne Blend
My last bottle of six purchased back in 2022. I visited the winery in 2023 and was able to taste this from barrel…that was also when they informed me that this cuvée would no longer be made in 750, only en mag. Unsurprisingly, the price (more than) doubled and I was pushed out of the market. Such a bummer because not only is this an outstanding champagne, it is (IMO) the closest you can get to Selosse.
Equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Pinot meunier; Disgorged December 2019; base 2015 vintage; 6g/l dosage. Opened alongside a Charles Heidsieck “Champagne Charlie”.
Drawn from a perpetual reserve dating back to the mid ‘80s, everything about this cuvée is lees-y, rich, powerful and haunting (in the best way). Aromatically, there is a whiff of fino sherry that exists nowhere else in Champagne aside from the Selosse lineup. More akin to Selosse’s Initial, the sherry aromatic is there to enhance (not dominate) and is mostly a thin vein throughout the wine. There is truffle honey, spiced pear, caramel dipped apple all in a balanced profile that is both aged and fresh at the same time. Honey and orange roasted cashews too at the finish where a kiss of tangy sherry reappears. Immaculate. I desperately wish these were still available in 750s. — a month ago
On a side note, I tried to visit Bérêche last November but they were in the process of upgrading the winery and were not accepting visitors until later in 2026. Oh well…hopefully on my next visit to Champagne.
@Paul K : My buddy opened that late in to the evening. I remember getting an offer and being astounded at the price. I love everything Charles Heidsieck, so to no surprise, I loved it. All the beauty of an aged champagne but in a relatively fresh profile. Not too dissimilar to old Krug Grand Cuvée bottles I’ve had. If you love aged bubbles and healthy amounts of reserve wine, it’s wonderful (that price hurts though!)
Domaine La Rogerie
Chemin de Chalons Avize et Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 2018
Such an incredible Champagne from surely the the next grower to develop that cult following. Straddling Avize and Cramant, single vineyard BdB Chemin de Chalons, (also made by Jacques Selosse), is a stunning expression of the site and the iconic village of Avize. It’s incredibly elegant, pure and detailed with seductive aromatics, a chalky mineral core and an amazing pillowy mousse that fills the mouth and continues to stay with you, giving way to its long and racy finale. Special wines… — 3 years ago
Jérôme Prévost
La Closerie Fac-simile Extra Brut Pinot Meunier Rosé Champagne 2017
Don’t mind the label! Easily, along with Selosse, my favorite Rosé. IMO, there’s those two and then everyone else. Probably a common consensus. I love the bracing acidity and tension that compliments the super rich strawberry & raspberry fruit, chalky minerality and sea spray salinity. There’s superb midpalate intensity and density, that’s concluded with a finish that just doesn’t let up. It will certainly age very well, but it’s so enjoyable now. Begs for a Burgundy glass. — 5 years ago
Jacques Selosse
Brut Rosé Champagne Blend
Primera cena troigss — 23 days ago
Michel Fallon
Ozanne Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay
One more to finish of the bubbles theme over the last couple days! Made by Selosse's cellar hand, the wine is a dead ringer for a Selosse. Not just from the almost identical label (font is the same) and foil capsule. These were, like this 2018 disgorgement, made in the Selosse cellars. Blanc de Blancs and very dry, good oxidation, but with no other details on the label I don't have more details.
Med+ gold, mild petillance. The nose rises easily from the glass with a multitude of fruits, spices, savory and mineral nuances...lemon, lemon oil, mandarin, oyster shell, chalk, saline, with dried florals, subtle spices and toast, ginger. The palate is med bodied, the flavor density gives the perception of a fuller wine (med+), it is just a modest 12%. The palate is rich, powerful, and full of complexity. The finish is long, complex, and finishes with some serious cut! Outstanding! — 6 months ago
Jacques Selosse
Lieux Dits Les Carelles Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay
Disg. 2/14 (07 base)…Always my favorite of the Lieux-Dits and without question one of the very best Blanc de Blancs Champagnes on the planet, it’s particularly special to have with some bottle age. It’s absolutely as stunning as hoped—rich and powerful with crazy depth to its layers with a deep, complex core of caramelized orchard fruit, roasted nuts, old rum barrels and candied white flowers, all with seamless integration. The palate is generous and detailed, with racy acids, waves of saline laced, chalky Le Mesnil minerals and a finish that just stays with you. A BdB benchmark, legendary bubbles. — 10 months ago
Selosse-Pajon
Millésime Brut Champagne Blend 2012
Not that Selosse! Lovely nose of bread, yeast and green apple. Very air. Some ocean breeze vibes happening as well. Some spice. Very aromatic and precise. Palate has great freshness and acidity with lovely brioche and bread flavors. Really nice minerality and energy. Very pure and sleek. Good grip and sap. Very long. Good mousse but not the best. Bubbles a bit big and ponderous. — 4 years ago
Jacques Selosse
Extra-Brut Le Mesnil sur Oger Les Carelles
Great line up for a dinner with four — 7 years ago
Jacques Selosse
Initial Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay
Few bubbles in the glass. Bruised golden apple, golden pear, slightly reductive / sherry-like. Reminded me a lot of the Peter Lauer 1987 Riesling sekt, but with fewer bubbles. An interesting but not crowd-pleasing Champagne. @ Persona, Stockholm — a month ago
Jacques Selosse
Lieux Dits Aÿ La Cote Faron Extra Brut Grand Cru Champagne Blend
The first “ah ha” Selosse wine for me many years ago. The south facing La Côte Faron is particularly “Selossien” and therefore particularly singular, with its oxidative complexity, textural richness and generous sun kissed ripe fruit expression. Like all Selosse wines, it’s layered and particularly aromatic for Champagne with intense caramelized red berry fruit, licorice and wildflower honey. The palate shows tremendous volume and intensity with a powerful, full bodied and satiny texture and a long, vibrant, mineral finish. So good. — 9 months ago
Jacques Selosse
Les Carelles Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut Champagne Blend Chardonnay
Disg 10/22. Probably the best BdB in the biz. — 3 years ago
Jérôme Prévost
La Closerie Les Béguines Extra Brut Champagne Pinot Meunier 2014
Very yeasty on the nose with Granny Smith Apple notes and pronounced minerality. 94% Pinot Meunière 2% Pinot Gris, 2% Chardonnay, and 2% Pinot Noir. Wild fermented and aged 10 months in barrels; 2.5grams/Litre dosage. Only 13,000 bottles made so it is difficult to source in Australia. Consumed this Champagne in Zalto Burgundy glasses like I had been advised to do with Jacques Selosse, a close colleague of Jerome Prevost. As both of these producers say these are wines first and Champagnes second so why not Burgundy glasses. Finishes very dry with cleansing acid. LC14 - year of harvest. Good and different. — 7 years ago
It is indeed a spectacular wine and then a fizzy one. And if you are lucky enough you will meet again an evolution after it loses the bubble with time. Then you deeply realize you've always dealt with a wine
Conrad Green
Nutty and toasty on the nose. Plush and expansive in the palate. Great acidity — a month ago