In the glass
Aroma: yellow apple, quince, toasted nuts, honey, smoke
Palate: oxidative richness, vinous depth, chalk, long savoury finish
Anselme Selosse's Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from three Cote des Blancs villages: yellow apple and quince over toasted nuts, honey and smoke, with an oxidative, vinous depth and a long savoury finish.
What it pairs with
-
Comte aged 36 months
Oxidative nutty depth meets the cheese's crystals. -
Roast poularde with morels
Find roast poularde with morels on TableJourney →
Smoke and honey echo roast and mushroom. -
Grilled langoustines
Find grilled langoustines on TableJourney →
Chalk and vinous depth meet sweet shellfish.
How to serve Selosse Initial Blanc de Blancs
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 6-8°C. Cellar temperature (6-8°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a tulip flute. A tulip shape rewards the bouquet better than a narrow flute and frames the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Comte aged 36 months, Roast poularde with morels, Grilled langoustines. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Initial is Selosse's flagship Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, a solera-style multi-vintage from Avize, Cramant and Oger, oak-fermented and made with cult-status low-intervention methods.
- 1990 — Initial established as the estate's flagship Blanc de Blancs
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Jacques Selosse
- Grapes
- Chardonnay (100%)
- Classification
- AOC Champagne
- Oak
- Burgundian oak-barrel fermentation; solera-style reserves; low-intervention
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- EUR 250 to 400 at retail
- Drinking window
- now to 15 from release
- First vintage
- 1990
Scores
- Vinous 94
Frequently asked about Selosse Initial Blanc de Blancs
What does Selosse Initial Blanc de Blancs taste like?
On the nose, yellow apple, quince, toasted nuts, honey, smoke. On the palate, oxidative richness, vinous depth, chalk, long savoury finish. Structurally full-bodied, high acidity with a long finish. Anselme Selosse's Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from three Cote des Blancs villages: yellow apple and quince over toasted nuts, honey and smoke, with an oxidative, vinous depth and a long savoury finish.
When should I drink Selosse Initial Blanc de Blancs?
Drink now to 15 from release. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Selosse Initial Blanc de Blancs?
Comte aged 36 months is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Roast poularde with morels and Grilled langoustines. Oxidative nutty depth meets the cheese's crystals.
What grapes are in Selosse Initial Blanc de Blancs?
The blend is Chardonnay (100%). The wine is classified as AOC Champagne.