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Sparkling dry
The Cuvée des Grandes Vintages from Eric Rodez is a masterfully blended expression of Ambonnay Grand Cru, showcasing richness, precision, and depth. This Champagne offers a powerful and complex experience, representing the pinnacle of Rodez's artistry in blending exceptional vintages.
On the nose, it unveils inviting aromas of quince and orange jam, followed by numerous vibrant citrus fragrances like lemon. In the mouth, this Champagne is ample and powerful, delivering a wide olfactory and gustatory palette. You'll find notes of red berries complemented by delicate touches of oak with light vanilla notes.
This exquisite Champagne is crafted exclusively from the heads of vintages, meaning only the very first pressings from the Vendangeoir (press house) are used. Vinified entirely under wood to achieve greater complexity, the blend is a harmonious marriage of 70% ‘Pinot Noir’ and 30% ‘Chardonnay’, with no malolactic fermentation carried out, preserving its vibrant acidity and long-term aging potential.
Serve at 7-8 °C as an aperitif, with oily fish dishes and seafood.
Barrel-fermented from 70% Pinot and 30% Chardonnay with malo blocked, the multi-vintage Rodez NV Brut Cuvee des Grand Vintages delivers the layered mystery that I seek in the best Ambonnay wines, beginning with a nose of gentian and violet; ocean breeze, and crustacean shell reduction; not to mention intimations of the white peach, apple, grapefruit and pineapple that go on to constitute the luscious, tart-edged fruit matrix on this wine’s polished palate. There is both a shimmering mineral expression and a salivary gland-tugging saline savor in the long finish. Look for this to impress at table for at least another 2-3 years. (The bottle I tasted was disgorged in autumn of last year, as expressed by its lot number.)
Eric Rodez – an eighth-generation grape grower, is based in the kingdom of ‘Pinot Noir’ grapes, the village of Ambonnay, classified as a top Grand Cru. His estate spans just 6 hectares of mature vineyards, from which about 40,000 bottles of champagne are produced annually. Nearly 80 percent of the wine's primary fermentation takes place in Burgundian oak barrels, and a large proportion (around 70%) of reserve wines are used for the champagnes.
The Eric Rodez Champagne house is characterized by sustainability and responsibility towards nature and future generations. They completely avoid herbicides and pesticides, and the vineyards are managed according to organic and biodynamic principles. A minimal amount of sulfites is used, and even some champagne production choices are driven by their environmental friendliness (which is why malolactic fermentation is not blocked).
Wine Style
The champagnes from Eric Rodez can be categorized into three lines:
Aging and Consumption Period
Champagne enthusiasts and collectors buy the majority of Eric Rodez champagnes before they even hit the market, as they trust in their exceptional aging potential and ability to evolve over time. This speaks volumes about the champagne's high quality and value, a result of a long and meticulous aging process.
