NV J-M Sélèque Solessence Brut Nature (2018 Base)
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A bright medium yellow color, the NV Champagne Solessence Nature Elevage Prolonge Brut Nature is a late-disgorgement Champagne with three more years of aging in the bottle. A base 2019, with 50% 2019 and 50% reserve, it’s long on the palate and is a great example of an entry-level wine that can age. I love the structure and length of this wine, which shines brightly with Chardonnay (half the blend). Medium-bodied, with notes of fresh pineapples, it has a pillowy mousse with more pronounced saltiness that accents the wine with refreshing acidity and a good deal of length. Drink over the coming 12-15 years. Disgorged in August 2024, with zero dosage.
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James Suckling
Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com
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Disgorged in April 2024 after five years of maturation under cork, the 2019 vintage–based NV Extra Brut Solessence Nature is a dosage-free iteration of the standard NV Solessence, distinguished by extended aging sur lattes. It opens with an expressive bouquet of jasmine, orange zest, pear and brioche, with a hint of exotic fruit. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, concentrated and layered, combining depth and texture with tangy acidity. This cuvée balances the maturity characteristic of the vintage with underlying tension, culminating in a long, saline finish. More harmoniously integrated than the regular 2022-based edition, it exemplifies the potential and rationale behind Sélèque’s decision to prolong the aging for his flagship cuvée.
Dried citrus fruit, green apples, bread crumbs, croissant, pain au chocolat, loquat and nectarines. The bubbles here are so, so fine, and the body and structure are just as sleek and well-formed. Laser-guided and precise on the finish. Drink now.