Jacques Selosse Substance Disgorged 2020

Founded in 1949 in Avize, the house truly rose to prominence under the leadership of Anselme Selosse, who took over from his father Jacques in 1980. Anselme introduced revolutionary practices in Champagne: biodynamic viticulture, low yields, oxidative winemaking, and oak barrel aging. These choices broke with convention and transformed Selosse into a cult domaine, admired by collectors and sommeliers worldwide. Today, the estate farms just over 7.5 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards, producing only about 57,000 bottles annually, each one highly sought after.

“Substance” is perhaps the most iconic and visionary Champagne created by Anselme Selosse, one of the true revolutionaries of the region. Crafted entirely from Chardonnay grown in the prestigious terroirs of Avize (Grand Cru, Côte des Blancs), Substance embodies Selosse’s philosophy of expressing Champagne through the lens of terroir, time, and individuality.

Unlike traditional vintage or non-vintage Champagnes, Substance is a perpetual solera-style cuvée, initiated in 1986 and enriched every year with wines from subsequent harvests. This method, more commonly associated with Sherry, gives the wine extraordinary depth, complexity, and a seamless dialogue between youth and maturity. Each disgorgement contains dozens of vintages, making every bottle a living archive of Selosse’s artistry.

After its second fermentation, Substance is aged for 6 to 7 years on the lees in Selosse’s chalk cellars before disgorgement, which adds creaminess, structure, and remarkable longevity.

Tasting Profile

• Appearance: Golden hues with fine, persistent bubbles.

• Nose: Layers of baked apple, toasted brioche, honey, nuts, exotic spices, and a saline mineral backbone.

• Palate: Rich and powerful yet precise, with oxidative complexity balanced by tension and chalky minerality. A Champagne of immense personality, unfolding in waves of flavor with an endlessly long finish.

Substance is not only a Champagne, but a statement. It represents Selosse’s relentless pursuit of authenticity and complexity, bridging the traditions of Champagne with innovative techniques. For collectors and connoisseurs, it is one of the rarest and most intellectual cuvées of the region, a bottle that continues to evolve long after release.

Details

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Each bottle on our website has been meticulously selected and thoroughly inspected by our team of experts to ensure perfect conditions and provide a unique experience for our customers.