Il etait une fois...
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Designed for immense longevity, this wine is highly stable and can be enjoyed now or cellared for 20 to 30 years.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
foie gras, blue cheese, tarte tatin
✨ wine.spec_sheet
An ultra-rare, almost mythical creation from Anselme Selosse, 'Il était une fois...' (meaning 'Once upon a time...') is a sweet dessert wine that pays homage to the historical, pre-sparkling heritage of the Champagne region. Crafted from Chardonnay grapes harvested in the Grand Cru village of Avize, this cuvée is produced using a solera system where multiple vintages are blended and aged in oak casks. Selosse allows some botrytis to develop on the grapes, concentrating the sugars and flavors, resulting in a wine of immense complexity. It bridges the gap between the oxidative, mineral-driven style of Selosse's Champagnes and the rich, honeyed depth of noble rot, showing notes of dried apricots, toasted nuts, and exotic spices, all framed by the signature chalky acidity of the Côte des Blancs.
🍾 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.