De Sousa : Cuvée 3A Grand cru

(50% Chardonnay from Avize, raised in oak, 25% Aÿ Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Noir from Ambonnay; 3 g/l dosage): Light, bright yellow-gold. Potent orchard fruit, red berry and jasmine scents show very good clarity and pick up a smoky nuance with air. Chewy and tightly focused on the palate, offering ripe pear and blood orange flavors and a jolt of chalky minerality. Rich yet lively and precise, finishing with strong thrust and suave, lingering florality.

Coming from the three Grand Crus of Avize, Aÿ, and Ambonnay (hence the “3A” in the name), the NV Champagne Grand Cru 3A Extra Brut is half Chardonnay from Avize and the rest equal parts Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Ambonnay. With 2018 as the base vintage, it was raised in oak barrels, with 30% from reserve wine. It pours a medium straw-yellow hue and lifts from the glass with notes of wet stone, delicate toast, fresh earth, and citrus blossoms. It’s reserved in its aromatics and opens on the palate, with fantastic purity and clarity of fruit. Medium-bodied and elegant, it reveals a delicate arch of ripe fruit through the mid-palate with fresh purity. The Chardonnay still shines through, even though the fresh mineral texture of Avize is balanced with ripe fruit from Aÿ and Ambonnay. Well-balanced and long on the palate, it stays refined, with a soft mineral texture and a great finish. The oak never interferes and adds a touch more depth and polish. Drink 2023-2033. 3 grams per liter dosage. Disgorged June 2022.