Jean-Marc Seleque
Summary
Jean-Marc Seleque operates a 9-10 hectare grower-producer estate across seven communes in Champagne's Côte des Blancs and Vallée de la Marne, crafting terroir-driven wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier on the region's chalky, limestone-rich soils. His progressive approach combines sustainable farming with minimalist winemaking techniques, including indigenous yeast fermentation, extended lees aging, and restrained dosage, establishing him at the forefront of Champagne's quality revolution.
Heritage & Leadership
Jean-Marc Seleque operates as a grower-producer (récoltant-manipulant) based in the commune of Pierry, situated just south of Épernay in France's Champagne region. The estate represents a family legacy, with Jean-Marc taking the reins from his parents during the 2000s, likely around 2008. Under his direction, the domaine maintains its independent status as a récoltant-manipulant (RM), signifying that they grow their own grapes and produce their wines on the estate.
Jean-Marc serves as both proprietor and winemaker, working alongside his wife Oriane to manage the family enterprise. Their leadership marks a continuation of family stewardship while simultaneously positioning the domaine within the contemporary movement of quality-focused, terroir-driven Champagne producers.
Vineyards & Wines
The Seleque estate encompasses approximately 9-10 hectares of vineyards distributed across seven communes in Champagne: Pierry, Moussy, Épernay, Mardeuil, Dizy, Boursault, and Vertus. This geographic diversity provides the domaine with parcels in both the Côte des Blancs and Vallée de la Marne sub-regions, offering a range of terroir expressions. The vineyards feature the characteristic chalky, limestone-rich soils that define Champagne's premier growing areas.
The estate cultivates all three traditional Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, with Pinot Meunier representing a substantial portion of their plantings. This varietal mix enables Seleque to produce a diverse portfolio of wines, including non-vintage blends, vintage-specific cuvées, and single-vineyard expressions. Their main non-vintage offering, "Solessence," typically combines all three grape varieties. The range also features blanc de blancs Champagnes made exclusively from Chardonnay alongside multi-varietal blends.
Philosophy & Practice
Since assuming leadership of the domaine, Jean-Marc has implemented more sustainable and organic farming practices across the estate's vineyards. This agricultural approach aligns with his commitment to expressing the distinctive characteristics of his diverse vineyard sites.
In the cellar, Seleque employs indigenous yeasts for fermentation rather than commercial strains, allowing for more site-specific expression. The winemaking process utilizes both stainless steel tanks and oak barrels for fermentation and aging, providing textural complexity to the finished wines. Many of the domaine's cuvées receive minimal dosage (added sugar), reflecting a house style that emphasizes purity and precision. Extended lees aging beyond the minimum requirements for Champagne further contributes to the complexity and depth of their wines.
This combination of thoughtful vineyard management and detailed cellar work positions Jean-Marc Seleque among the notable grower-producers in Champagne who prioritize site expression and viticultural integrity.