Eric Rodez : Empreinte Blanche Grand Cru 2013

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Eric Rodez's Empreinte Blanche 2013

Tasting

Appearance

The colour is a pale gold, characteristic of a blanc de blancs that has benefited from long ageing on the lees, with a fine, steady mousse that reflects a well-controlled secondary fermentation.

Nose

The nose opens with delicate citrus and white flower notes, underpinned by an almost chalky sensation. Oak ageing brings a subtle touch and a noble spice, the whole being nuanced, clear and elegant rather than showy.

Palate

On the palate, this Champagne reveals great precision and remarkable inner order. The delicate citrus and white flowers found on the nose are accompanied by an almost chalky texture, supported by a subtle note of oak and a noble spice imparted by time. The acidity, preserved by the absence of malolactic fermentation, structures the whole without ever seeming sharp, resulting in a wine that does not seek to please immediately but to move you deeply.

Serving and Cellaring

Empreinte Blanche 2013 can be enjoyed now, but its structure and inner freshness allow for extended cellaring, potentially for several decades.

A Blanc de Blancs from Ambonnay with Chalky Precision

The Estate

Champagne Eric Rodez is a family-run grower-producer estate based in Ambonnay, a grand cru village in the Montagne de Reims. The Rodez family has been growing vines there since the 18th century, but it was in 1984 that Eric Rodez, a former oenologist at Krug, took over the running of the estate. Now at the helm with his wife Martine, he stands out for a pioneering commitment to organic farming and biodiversity-friendly viticulture, making the estate a benchmark among Champagne's signature growers.

The Vineyard

The Chardonnay parcels dedicated to Empreinte Blanche are located in Ambonnay, a village classified grand cru on the Montagne de Reims, with a south-south-easterly exposure that favours ripening. The soils, particularly rich in chalk, give the Chardonnay a textured, generous dimension, different from the more strictly steely expressions found on other white terroirs of Champagne. The vineyard is managed with an overall respect for biodiversity and soil life.

The Vintage

The 2013 vintage used in Empreinte Blanche was harvested and vinified before a long period on the lees, in keeping with the estate's philosophy, which favours slow maturation to reveal all the precision of Ambonnay Chardonnay.

Vinification and Ageing

Empreinte Blanche 2013 is a Blanc de Blancs Champagne made entirely from grand cru Chardonnay parcels. The wine underwent neither malolactic fermentation, nor industrial cold stabilisation, nor filtration, in a resolutely respectful approach to the raw material. It then rested for many years on its lees before disgorgement.

Grape Variety

Empreinte Blanche 2013 is made from 100% Chardonnay, sourced exclusively from parcels classified grand cru in Ambonnay.