NV Extra-Brut Mareuil-sur-Aÿ Sous Le Mont (2013)

I was blown away by these new releases from Anselme and Guillaume Selosse. The idea that wines show better when tasted at the domaine is simply not true. In fact, having an opportunity to follow these wines at my home in New York, far away from the bucolic hills of Avize and the surrounding towns of the Côte des Blancs, was such an enlightening experience, as I was able to see how the wines develop over time. The Initial, always the first wine in a tasting at Selosse, is just magnificent. It gets better from there, culminating with a collection of lieux-dits that are all truly epic. Readers will note that the current release of the Vintage Champagne is 2009 instead of 2008. Even after so many years, these remain some of the most unique and viscerally thrilling wines anywhere in the world.

Despite all of the acclaim and recognition Anselme Selosse has received over the years, he continues to push the envelope of what Champagne is and can be. The new lieu-dit Champagnes, which now encompass six different bottlings – all of them multi-vintage blends – are off the charts, but frankly, so are the rest of the wines. Readers who want to learn more about Selosse might want to take a look at my recent videos on our site. Selosse fans might also want to consider a stay at Les Avizés, the hotel Anselme Selosse and his wife Corinne recently opened in Avize, which is probably the best way to visit this iconic producer.