Lieux-dits Les Carelles (Disgorged 2012)
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2035
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pan-seared turbot, roasted veal with chanterelles, aged Comté cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the legendary Grand Cru village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, 'Les Carelles' is one of Anselme Selosse's highly coveted single-vineyard (lieu-dit) Champagnes. The name 'Les Carelles' refers to the historic chalk quarries nearby, where square stones ('carreaux') were once excavated. This terroir is defined by intense, powdery chalk soils on a steep, south-facing slope, which yields Chardonnay of extraordinary tension and mineral drive. To capture the pure essence of this site across time, Selosse utilizes a solera system begun in 2003, blending multiple vintages before aging in oak casks. The resulting Champagne is a masterclass in oxidative complexity, boasting notes of toasted brioche, dried citrus, and a profound, saline minerality that defines the legendary Côte des Blancs.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1949 by Jacques Selosse in the Grand Cru village of Avize, Domaine Jacques Selosse emerged as the spiritual vanguard of the grower Champagne revolution under the leadership of Jacques’ son Anselme, who took control in 1980, and grandson Guillaume. Spanning roughly 7.5 to 8 hectares across prime terroirs in Avize, Cramant, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Aÿ, Ambonnay, and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, the estate champions low yields and chemical-free viticulture rooted in organic and biodynamic principles aligned with lunar cycles. Selosse redefined Champagne vinification by applying Burgundian techniques, fermenting base wines with indigenous yeasts in oak barrels, extending lees contact, and embracing intentional oxidative maturation with minimal dosage. Renowned for its singular solera-aged Blanc de Blancs 'Substance' and parcel-specific Lieux-Dits collection (including Les Carelles and Sous le Mont), the domaine crafts vinosity and textural authority that capture pure, uncompromising chalk-driven minerality.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay