NV Jacques Selosse, Contraste, Champagne, France

(100% Pinot Noir) Wow! – This is so much better that Substance. It’s much better balanced with anise, mature cheese, dark bread notes and overall a very graceful Champagne. Its still Selosses’ bold style with tons of oxidized notes, but it’s so much better integrated with the fruit as it doesn’t take so much focus. The complexity and nerve in the wine is brilliant. Taste is still bold with long classic finish. I loved this (96)

(Sep-2005)

NV Jacques Selosse, Contraste, Champagne, France

The last time I had this Champagne was at a BYO – also at Ensemble. At that tasting we had so much wine, so when I saw it on the wine list I really needed to test it again. Contraste is stunning. Notes of matures apples, dark bread, oxidized notes and Puccini mushrooms. Very deep and complex. The mousse is just perfect – massive foam explosion in the mouth and a dense superb long finish. (96).

(Jan-2006)

NV Jacques Selosse, Contraste, Champagne, France

(Disgorged 2nd February 2005)

The best NV on the market – and unfortunately so little is allocated to Denmark every year. Price is getting heavier each time and we are now in the Krug zone. But what a Champagne - power and balance is being tested here and boy it’s working perfectly. Heavy bubble flow compared to the Belle Epoque with dark fruits, vanilla, nuts, anise and dark bread crumbs. A mental Champagne that keeps on improving for each new mouthful. (96)

(Jun-2006)

NV. Selosse, Contraste
(Disgorged 2nd February 2005)

For me this is the best NV out there. Once again it was brilliant, but not as good as the last bottle I had. Maybe because it was late, but it still has the dark fruits, nuts, vanilla, anise and dark bread crumbs. The taste is bold, but very balanced. It didn’t have the same mental feeling as I experienced with the last bottle – but still great.

(Sep-2007)