Jacques Selosse
Summary
Jacques Selosse is a pioneering grower-producer in Avize, Champagne, farming 7.5 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards across the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims, primarily focused on Chardonnay from chalk-rich soils. Their distinctive approach combines barrel fermentation, extended lees aging, and a solera system initiated in 1986, fundamentally influencing modern grower Champagne production.
Heritage & Leadership
Jacques Selosse established his eponymous Champagne house in 1959 in the village of Avize. His son Anselme Selosse assumed control in 1980 after completing his studies at the Lycée Viticole de Beaune. Under Anselme's leadership, the house implemented significant changes to both viticulture and winemaking protocols, starting with the 1980 vintage. Today, Anselme and his wife Corinne manage the domain, with their son Guillaume increasingly involved in daily operations since 2012.
Vineyards & Wines
The domaine encompasses 7.5 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards, predominantly in the Côte des Blancs villages of Avize, Cramant, and Oger. The parcels sit on Champagne's characteristic chalk bedrock with minimal topsoil depth. Chardonnay comprises the majority of plantings, with small holdings of Pinot Noir in Aÿ and Ambonnay. The house produces a core range of wines including the Initial, Version Originale, and Substance cuvées, alongside single-vineyard expressions from specific parcels.
Philosophy & Practice
The winemaking approach centers on barrel fermentation of base wines and extended lees aging. The house employs a perpetual solera system for several cuvées, initiated in 1986. Primary fermentation occurs in oak barrels, with indigenous yeasts carrying out both primary and secondary fermentations. The wines typically age on lees for extended periods, often 6-8 years before disgorgement. Dosage levels remain consistently low across the range. In the vineyards, soil health takes priority through careful management of cover crops and minimal intervention practices.