JM Seleque 'Solessence' Extra Brut NV
(Champagne, France) - [WE 92] [WS 91]

About the Winery:

After returning to his family domaine in 2008,  Jean-Marc Sélèque, a third generation grower, alongside his wife Oriane, are making a strong case for the incredible terroirs of the Marne Valley. Today, he owns about 9 hectares in 45 parcels spread out over 7 villages mainly on the southern slopes of Épernay. 

The cornerstone of the “Sélèque” style revolves around the search for a wine’s natural balance and a pure expression of terroir. Rigorous work in the vineyard, healthy and perfectly ripe fruit, no vinification trickery, the smallest possible amount of sulfur, extended lees aging sur latte and extremely limited use of dosage - these are just some of the elements that result in wines that are vibrant and alive. 

About the Wine:
This cuvée represents the identity of the house. The goal is for a pure and crystalline expression in all circumstances. 50% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier, 10% Pinot Noir Villages: Pierry, Moussy, Epernay, Mardeuil, Dizy, Boursault, Vertus Soil: Mostly flinty clay on chalky subsoil Vinification: 70% Stainless steel vats, 30% oak barrels. No fining or filtration. Dosage: 2g/L - Extra Brut

Viticulture:
Since taking the reins, Jean-Marc has become an advocate for more ecologically balanced viticulture and does admirable work with his small team, adopting from the end of the 2000s inter-row plowing (partly by horse) and grassing, taking particular care pruning for better control of yields, applying plant-based preparations to preserve the microbial life of the soil and promote the natural resistance of the plant. All this on a very fragmented inheritance of 9 hectares: the estate has no less than 45 plots spread over 7 villages, going as far as the Côte des Blancs, in Vertus. He counts himself lucky to have inherited significant old vine plots with massale selection plantings (more than 40 years on average and aims to produce an authentic expression of the Coteaux Sud d’Épernay. 

Vinification:
Jean-Marc is seeking refinement and harmony through judicious blends of wines vinified in vats, barrels and concrete eggs, with or without malolactic fermentation. Overall he employs the smallest possible amount of sulfur; extended aging sur latte; and extremely limited use of dosage

Terroir:
The village of Pierry is located between the Cote de Blancs to the southeast and the Vallée de la Marne to the northwest, in the hills south of Épernay in an area known as the Coteaux Sud d' Epernay, first recognized in 1996. This area has a complicated diversity of soils, primarily flint clay soils on a chalk subsoil.  In addition, here, the vines are mostly oriented to the South and South-East, thus favoring a good maturity of the grapes. Jean-Marc has well-integrated these growing conditions to produce a style of wines with little (or no) dosage, deep and pulpy, with a rich and always very pure aroma, and perfectly adjusted mineral tension.