Eric Rodez : Cuvée des Crayères Grand Cru

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Cuvée des Crayères Grand Cru by Eric Rodez

Tasting notes

Appearance

The colour is a luminous golden hue, occasionally touched with slightly green highlights when the base of the blend is younger. The effervescence is fine and regular, with numerous bubbles rising in a continuous stream, heralding a well-controlled mousse and an already creamy texture.

Nose

The nose is complex and generous, driven by a broad palette of ripe fruit: citrus, stone fruit, white peach and, at times, baked apple. Notes of brioche, butter and hazelnut emerge, accompanied by floral touches and a subtle chalky minerality evoking the terroir of Ambonnay. Ageing in oak barrels adds spicy, toasty nuances that are finely integrated, while a saline hint recalls the limestone nature of the soils.

Palate

On the palate, this champagne is full-bodied and structured, with a creamy texture owed to the presence of reserve wines and partial ageing in oak. The fresh, well-measured acidity provides a balanced tension that avoids any heaviness. The palate combines richness and finesse, with a persistent chalky minerality and notable length, where aromas of brioche, ripe fruit and chalk intermingle.

Food and wine pairings

This grand cru champagne is an ideal aperitif, where its freshness and the finesse of its bubbles are fully expressed. It also pairs very well with delicate starters of raw fish or shellfish, as well as more structured dishes such as poultry in a creamy sauce, noble fish served with a butter sauce, or mushroom-based preparations.

Serving and cellaring

Cuvée des Crayères Grand Cru is best served at a temperature of around 10°C, in order to preserve the balance between freshness and aromatic complexity. It can be enjoyed now and appreciated over the years to come, as time allows the dosage to integrate harmoniously with the rest of the wine.

A Grand Cru Champagne from Ambonnay, Crafted by Domaine Eric Rodez

The estate

The Eric Rodez estate is a family-owned property based in Ambonnay, a grand cru village on the Montagne de Reims, in Champagne. While the Rodez family has been cultivating vines on this terroir since 1757, it was in 1984 that Éric Rodez truly took the reins of the estate and introduced his philosophy as a vigneron-auteur. Today, his son Mickaël runs the estate under Éric's watchful eye. The estate covers approximately 6.2 hectares, certified organic, making Eric Rodez a benchmark of sustainable viticulture in Champagne.

The vineyard

The vineyard from which this champagne originates lies exclusively within the Ambonnay grand cru, spread across several plots set at mid-slope, mostly with favourable exposures. The soils, made up of chalk, limestone and clay, offer a slightly thicker surface layer than in the Côte des Blancs, which tempers the acidity while preserving minerality. The organic-certified management of this Champagne vineyard encourages deep rooting of the vines, strengthening their resilience in the face of climatic uncertainties.

Vinification and ageing

The creation of Cuvée des Crayères Grand Cru relies on meticulous plot-by-plot work, with wines made separately before blending. A significant proportion of the blend is vinified or aged in small oak barrels, which adds complexity and texture without marking the wine excessively with woody notes.

Grape varieties

This blend is based mainly on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, sourced exclusively from the Ambonnay grand cru.