Eric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Grands Vintages NV [Disg. 4/24]

Name: Eric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Grands Vintages NV [Disg. 4/24]
Brand: Avanelle [AVA]
SKU: SF-AVA-112724-20
Price: 139.99 USD
Availability: InStock

$139⁹⁹

The Eric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Grandes Vintages NV is a stunning expression of Ambonnay’s Grand Cru terroir, showcasing the artistry and precision of one of Champagne’s most talented grower-producers. This cuvée is a blend of carefully selected vintage wines from exceptional years, creating a Champagne with remarkable depth, complexity, and balance. Crafted from a combination of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay (30% 2017 base, 70% reserve solera), the wine benefits from Eric Rodez’s dedication to biodynamic and sustainable practices, and the low 2 g/l dosage of Extra Brut highlights the purity and finesse of the fruit.

On the nose, the Grandes Vintages reveals an intricate bouquet of ripe orchard fruits such as golden apple and pear, complemented by notes of citrus zest, toasted brioche, roasted hazelnuts, and a touch of honeyed spice. Subtle floral tones and chalky minerality add further complexity. On the palate, it is rich and layered, with a creamy mousse and bright acidity that enhance its freshness and precision. The wine’s mineral backbone and elegant structure lead to a long, refined finish with lingering notes of citrus, nuts, and subtle toasty nuances.

This Champagne pairs beautifully with a wide range of dishes, from lobster and crab to roasted poultry or mushroom risotto. It also complements aged cheeses and charcuterie with ease. The Eric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Grandes Vintages NV is both approachable now and capable of further aging, developing even greater complexity over time. It is a testament to Eric Rodez’s skill as a master blender and his dedication to creating Champagnes of extraordinary depth and character.

Shipping

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Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

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Antonio Galloni

94 points

"The NV Extra Brut Grands Vintages is a Pinot Noir-dominant blend, fully fermented in oak and with blocked malolactic fermentation. Apple blossom appears first, followed by gentle creaminess and aromas of red plum and Mirabelle, all uniting into a fragrant nose. The palate is alive with smooth foam and presents a rounded ripeness that is immediately countered by vivid, bright freshness. Salt, fruit, creaminess, yeast, and notions of toasted hazelnut are all illuminated by super-bright freshness. A lovely contrast between density, richness and acidity makes this utterly mouthwatering and compelling. A most gastronomic proposition. The salty length is just so delicious. Lot 04/2023." —Vinous

More about Eric Rodez

It is unfathomable to me that Eric Rodez is not placed on the same pedestal with Champagne's other top names. That is not to say he isn't sought out, or appreciated by top collectors; they are requested on the sly on occasion. But outside of a tight group of super-geeky bubble collectors, few have heard tell of him or his wines.

Eric was the 8th and his son Mickael, the 9th generation to run this family estate in Ambonnay. Often this famous Grand Cru village on Le Grande Montagne is lumped in with neighbor Bouzy for dense, powerful Pinot Noir. But unlike Bouzy's congruent south-facing slope, Ambonnay is heterogeneous with more nuanced wines to match. Curving from the south-east towards due east Rodez's plots are 40% Chardonnay. This comes as no surprise when you find out that the soils are rated 93%, for chalk content, the highest in Champagne (yep, more than the Côte de Blancs!).

The recipe for these wines is no great secret: farming and talent. After a disastrous '84 vintage, Eric experimented with organic viticulture to help the vines adapt to the extreme Champagne climate. Fast-forward to today, he is now a holistic keeper of vines, certified biodynamic, applying aroma therapy for disease relief and with an HVE certification, the highest level of sustainability awarded in Champagne.

Talent may be natural, but Eric learned a lot after a stint at Krug, where he picked up a penchant for oak barrels and the skills of a super blender. The style of his wines non-vintage blends can definitely be compared to Krug, with un-told layers of melodious harmony. But that breadth and depth usually attributed to reserve wines also seems to radiate from his single vintage and single vineyard bottlings as well. They vibrate with intensity, the perlant mousse keeps the force of the liquid moving constantly outward, pulsating elegance and a dainty-decadence which I've experience in no other wines.