Champagne Jean-Marc Sélèque

Third-generation winemaker Jean-Marc Sélèque is making waves across the Marne Valley (more specifically the Coteaux Sud d'Epernay). His grandfather, Henri, originally came to the region from Poland and established a farm in Pierry. However, it was ultimately Jean-Marc’s father, Richard, that established the family winery (and of course, planted its first vineyards). Jean-Marc has been at the helm of the estate since 2008; now 15 years in, the wines are presenting better than ever. 

Like many new generations, Jean-Marc’s main goal is to emphasize terroir specificity, as well as implement organic / biodynamic practices and reduce yields in the vines. In total, Sélèque’s holdings comprise nine hectares spread across seven villages, broken down even further to around 45 distinct plots. Chardonnay accounts for about half of the holdings, with Pinot Meunier (40%) and Pinot Noir (10%) rounding out the rest. Beyond farming choices, perhaps the most compelling thing about Jean-Marc’s Coteaux Sud d'Epernay-based vines is their unique soil composition. Contrary to the nearby Côte des Blancs, the soils here have a higher percentage of clay, which generally give way to riper, more fruit-forward final wines. 

In the cellar, base wines are vinified in a combination of steel and used oak. (Note: Over the past ten years or so, Jean-Marc has been replacing his smaller-format barrels with larger-format oak vessels.) All fermentations are done gently and exclusively with native yeasts. Long bouts of sur-lie aging are implemented both for the base wines and in bottle, resulting in wildly textured and vibrant wines. As fruit has gotten riper, Jean-Marc has also made the decision to lower dosage levels—all of which are clearly stated on each wine’s back label. Jean-Marc’s Champagnes also clock in with low levels of sulfur; around 20-30 ppm total per bottle.