Saturday, January 2, 2010

NV Jacques Selosse, Initiale, Champagne

(Anselme Selosse)

100% Chardonnay
Dosage: around 5-6 g/l
Production: 33.000 bottles (2/3 of his entire production)
Vineyards location: Avize, Cramant and Oger (the lower part of the slopes)
Blend: 3 vintages
Time on it’s lees: 3 years
Disgorgement date: 18. January 2008
Glass: Spiegelau Adina “Red wine”

I was drinking Initiale yesterday. There is always some sort of excitement factor, when opening a bottle of Initiale - in terms of the disgorgement date, natural evolvement (which goes reasonable fast) to the huge bottle variations it holds. This bottle was served with Caesar salad, which is a very friendly Champagne matching dish (remember to sprinkle with lots of parmesan cheese flakes just before serving) – if; the Champagne holds some sort of nutty flavours and are not overly shy and completely shield in new born citrus fruits.
Intiale was perfect – its nose is terrific with dried baby banana, corn, malt, flowers, vanilla, lemon, honey and hazelnuts. On the palate it’s smooth – giving and pleasing. However, I was missing some sort of bite and it’s even more pronounced when I one hour later had the rest of the bottle (alone) without food, while watching James Bond seducing an outrageous good looking brunette in “Casino Royal”. While James ordered a bottle of Bollinger Grande Année from room service, I poured myself another glass of Initiale. Once again this pleasing nose, but on the palate it’s again not that challenging. Problem is that everything goes on in front of the mouth, where it moulds too much and never do you get a real sensation of minerals nor tallness from firm acidity. However – on a scale of laid back drinking, this is fairly good bubbly juice, simply because it delivers’ aromatic pleasure.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"While James ordered a bottle of Bollinger Grande Année from room service, I poured myself another glass of Initiale"

LOL LOL LOL

You`re the greatest!

Martin from Berlin

Voodoo Child said...

Hi Thomas,
Did the dosage appear, I had those small wonders yesterday, Ulysse Collin BdN and Vouette et Sorbeé BdN....extra Brut, as a present someone brougt a Champagne demi sec..badr!!

Thomas said...

Hehe -Thanks Martin ;-).

Ebbe - No the dosage did not appear. I remember when we visited Anselme in April last year, that he showed us a small hand written list with all the dosage levels. I think (not 100% sure) Intiale was about that level.

Sounds like you have had some good Champagnes yesterday. The BdN from Vouette et Sorbeé - is Fidéle, right? My favorite wine from Vouette et Sorbeé, is Blanc d'Argile (a BdB). Have you tasted that one yet?

And dosage/sweetness is just not your thing.

;-)

Voodoo Child said...

I will surely get some Blanc d´Argile next time
Grazie Mille