Eric Rodez : Cuvée des Grands Vintages Grand Cru

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Cuvée des Grands Vintages Grand Cru by Eric Rodez

Tasting

Appearance

The colour is golden and limpid, lit by yellow highlights that reflect the maturity of the blended wines, with a fine, steady bead.

Nose

The nose opens expansively with notes of ripe pear and quince, enhanced by touches of warm brioche and viennoiserie that recall the oak ageing and the work on the lees.

Palate

The palate is vinous and generous, carried by a distinct freshness that gives it momentum. The structure rests on a very persistent chalky texture, characteristic of the Ambonnay terroir, leading to a long, saline finish.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Champagne is a delightful companion to noble fish prepared with sauces or reduced juices, such as roast turbot or sole meunière. It also pairs beautifully with white meats served with mushroom sauces, such as roast free-range chicken with a rich pan jus. Long-aged hard cheeses, such as Comté or Beaufort, also find an excellent partner in it.

Serving and Cellaring

The Cuvée des Grands Vintages NV is best served between 10 and 12°C, in a tulip-shaped glass rather than a narrow flute, allowing the bouquet and texture to express themselves fully. Allowing the wine to breathe briefly before tasting, particularly for bottles that have already aged for a few years, lets it reveal its full complexity.

An Ambonnay Grand Cru Champagne, Vinous and Carried by Chalky Freshness

The Estate

Based in Ambonnay, in the Montagne de Reims, the Champagne house Eric Rodez is rooted in a long family history. After gaining experience in other French wine regions and at a great Champagne name, Eric Rodez returned to the family estate in the early 1980s. A pioneer of biodynamics in Champagne, he guided the estate towards organic farming and then Demeter certification. Today, the next generation continues to manage the vineyard in the same spirit.

The Vineyard

The vineyard from which this cuvée originates lies entirely within the Champagne Grand Cru terroir of Ambonnay, with a predominantly south to south-east exposure. The clay-limestone soils, where chalk comes close to the surface, give a pronounced mineral anchoring. The estate is farmed according to the principles of organic farming and biodynamics.

The Blend

This cuvée is a blend exclusively of top cuvées from the house's finest vintages, in a deliberately multi-vintage approach that may span several harvest years. Some editions have thus brought together wines from several vintages, illustrating the depth of memory the estate seeks in this blend.

Vinification and Ageing

The Cuvée des Grands Vintages is vinified in oak, without malolactic fermentation on the wines that compose it, in order to preserve tension and freshness. The wines then benefit from extended ageing on the lees, contributing to the complexity and precision of the whole.

Grape Varieties

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay