Notes:
The 2018 Extra-Brut Soliste Chardonnay Pierry 1er Les Tartires et Les Porgeons is lovely, bursting with aromas of white flowers, pear, peach, citrus zest and a subtle touch of buttery pastry. Full-bodied, vinous and satiny, with an ample, fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and a long, saline finish, it's a decidedly vinous, gastronomic Champagne. William Kelley 94
Producer: J.M. Sélèque is one of Champagne's most dynamic grower-producers, led today by Jean-Marc Sélèque, who returned to the family estate in 2008 with a renewed focus on terroir-driven viticulture. Based in Pierry, just south of Épernay, the domaine farms approximately 9 hectares spread across more than 45 parcels in seven villages, many of which are Premier Cru sites. Jean-Marc quickly eliminated herbicides, adopted organic farming practices with biodynamic influences, and transformed the cellar into one centered on parcel-by-parcel vinification, native fermentations, and minimal intervention. Today, J.M. Sélèque is widely regarded as one of the benchmark growers of the Coteaux Sud d'Épernay, producing Champagnes of exceptional precision, energy, and individuality.
Vineyard: Soliste Chardonnay is sourced from two adjoining Premier Cru parcels—Les Tartières and Les Porgeons—located in the village of Pierry. Planted in 1985 and 1990, these southeast-facing vineyards sit where Sparnacian clay meets Campanian chalk, creating an ideal environment for Chardonnay that combines richness with remarkable mineral tension. The vines root deeply into the chalk subsoil, giving the wine both freshness and structure while faithfully expressing the distinctive terroir of the Coteaux Sud d'Épernay. Produced in extremely limited quantities, Soliste Chardonnay represents one of the purest single-site expressions in the Sélèque portfolio.
Winemaking: Produced from 100% Chardonnay, the fruit is blended before pressing and fermented entirely with indigenous yeasts in neutral French oak barrels ranging from 320 to 600 liters. The wine remains in barrel for approximately ten months before being bottled without fining or filtration, preserving both texture and vineyard character. It then spends approximately four years aging on its lees before disgorgement and is finished with an Extra Brut dosage of just 3 g/L. This meticulous, low-intervention approach results in a Champagne of remarkable depth, chalky precision, and gastronomic complexity while allowing the vineyard to remain the defining feature of the finished wine.
Technical Details: Champagne Premier Cru AOC; 100% Chardonnay (Blanc de Blancs); single-vineyard blend of Les Tartières and Les Porgeons in Pierry Premier Cru; vines planted in 1985 and 1990; southeast exposure; Sparnacian clay over Campanian chalk; fermented and aged 10 months in neutral French oak barrels; unfined and unfiltered; approximately 4 years sur lie; Extra Brut (3 g/L dosage); production of approximately 2,220 bottles and 110 magnums.
Food Pairing: Oysters, lobster, scallops, Dover sole, turbot, sushi, roast chicken, veal, mushroom risotto, aged Comté, Parmesan, and truffle dishes. Soliste Chardonnay combines vibrant citrus, orchard fruit, chalky minerality, and refined texture with a long saline finish, making it equally compelling as an aperitif or alongside refined seafood and classic French cuisine. Its structure and concentration also allow it to develop beautifully with extended bottle age.
J.M. Seleque Champagne Soliste Chardonnay Extra Brut 2018
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Wine Advocate: 94
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