Exquise Demi-Sec
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years after disgorgement, though it can develop further complexity with longer cellaring.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Foie gras, tarte tatin, mildly spiced Asian cuisine
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Jacques Selosse's Exquise Demi-Sec is a profound reimagining of a historically celebrated but modernly misunderstood style of Champagne. While most contemporary Champagne houses focus heavily on Extra Brut or Brut Nature, Anselme Selosse created Exquise to demonstrate that dosage, when executed with masterly precision, can elevate rather than mask a wine's terroir. Crafted entirely from Grand Cru Chardonnay grapes grown in the chalky soils of Avize, this Blanc de Blancs undergoes fermentation in oak casks using indigenous yeasts. What sets Exquise apart is its dosage of approximately 22 to 24 grams per liter, which is remarkably integrated due to the immense concentration, vinous texture, and vibrant acidity of the base wine. It stands as a tribute to the 19th-century tradition when sweeter Champagnes ruled the royal courts of Europe, delivered here with Selosse's signature oxidative complexity, notes of candied citrus, honeyed hazelnuts, and a deep, saline minerality.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1949 in the Grand Cru village of Avize, Champagne Jacques Selosse rose to legendary status under the visionary leadership of Anselme Selosse, who took over the estate in 1974. Applying Burgundian winemaking philosophies to the Côte des Blancs, Anselme pioneered low yields, organic viticulture, and fermentation in oak casks, fundamentally transforming modern Champagne production. The estate is celebrated for its highly individualistic, terroir-driven cuvées, including the solera-aged Substance and the acclaimed Lieux-dits series, which showcase an unparalleled depth, oxidative complexity, and vinous character.