Jacques Selosse's IL Etait Une Fois.. (part 2)

Ratafia is an old, usually domestically produced wine made in the French countryside by drying grapes to a raisin like state and then moistening and fermenting them in the following Spring. Ratafia de Champagne was the Vin de Liqueur of Champagne, made by adding young grape spirit (Marc) to ‘hardly’ fermenting grape juice. Today however there are more profitable ways, of course, of selling the juice of Champagne grapes. Hence, Ratafia on the whole is super scarce from the top Champagne producers. Ratafia de Champagne gained it´s all important appellation status in 2015 as unfermented grape juice plus local grape spirit, it’s looked upon as a kind of mistelle. Think Pineau de Charentes. It’s sweetish and usually around 18% ABV. it’s the sort of thing that you would normally consider an apéritif, or something to drink with a pudding. I like it all on it’s own!

Jacques Selosse Ratafia e Champagne, IL Etait Une Fois
– Only! 3 bottles available* @ £1,250 per bottle
“Admirers of the domaine will be excited to learn that there’s a new rendition of Selosse’s singular NV Ratafia il était une fois in the works. A homage to the wines of Jerez, it mingles aromas of macadamia nut and almond with aromas of orange oil, marmalade, dried fruits, caramelized banana and warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with lively acids and an intensely sapid, penetrating finish, I’m inclined to say it’s even better than the last version.” 94/100 points: William Kelley (March 2025)

2020 Elgy-Ouriet Ratafia de Champagne (100% Pinot Noir)
– Only! 5 bottles available* @ £150 per bottle
´This is not just your average example of Ratafia. Apart from the renown vineyard work, Egly uses 100% Grand Cru Estate Pinot Noir fruit to make this one. The fruit is sorted and pressed gently and the finest of grape spirit (Marc) is then immediatley added. When you consider that most Ratafia comes from a Champagne producer´s weakest fruit, you can begin to understand that we are not talking about a standard example of Ratafia. Bottled in January 2025.

As we have come to expect, this perfectionist grower refuses to aim for anything less than the greatness and that is what we get here. It comes from a particular harvest, and after two years of mellowing in barrel, it is a stunningly pure and intense expression of this rare style that can be drunk on it´s own or over ice. It also keeps well in the fridge for months.´ 99/100 points: William H (December 2025)

Ratafia Champagne orders: william@worldwineconsultants.com

– Offered to you lying ‘Under Bond’ ex our LCB VT (Eaton Park) –