Champagne De Sousa - Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Réserve

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Érick de Sousa is a highly talented winemaker, who has been working on the family estate since 1986, ten hectares in the Côte des Blancs region that have been biodynamically farmed for over twenty years. Uncompromising and meticulous, he forges a range of scintillating wines with pure, nuanced expression, playing on the terroirs of Avize, Cramant, Oger and Le Mesnil, planted with chardonnay, some pinot noir from Aÿ and Ambonnay, and a little meunier. The result is a very wide range of champagnes, different in approach but with a family link in smooth texture and aromatic originality, enhanced by very fine wood ageing. From this point of view, cuvée 3A is representative of this irresistible slide, as is the remarkable cuvée mycorhize, not forgetting cuvée caudalie, which over the years has become inseparable from the house and its standard-bearer. As for the vintage, the 2008 holds its own, while the 2010 surprises with its fresh balance in a year reputed to be supple. If the nose can sometimes surprise, it's on the palate that we discover the stylistic charm of this house with an established reputation.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

Shy at first, the bouquet unfurls floral aromas, quickly overtaken by fruitier notes of apricot and toast, reminiscent of coffee, toast and caramel. On the palate, a creamy texture is supported by perfectly calibrated bubbles. Tension and intense fruitiness are balanced by the perfect ripeness of the grapes, culminating in a peppy, dynamic finish. A bottle that's both accessible and complex.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the domain :

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

The nose is fresh and inviting. Although a little coated, the juice is graceful, with a tactile mousse. The sapidity is there for the taking.

About the domain :

The estate, run by the new generation, brilliantly perpetuates the work done by the late Eric de Sousa. Charlotte is in charge of sales, Julie is in charge of the vines and the horses, and Valentin is in charge of the cellar. The estate comprises 14 hectares of vines, mainly Chardonnays from the Avize Grand Cru, as well as Pinot Noir from the Aÿ and Ambonnay Grands Crus. Certified organic in 2010 and biodynamic in 2013, the estate also boasts vines of advanced age. The controlled management of ageing in wood underlines the magnificent substance of the wines.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

NV Champagne Grand Cru Reserve Blanc De Blancs Extra Brut is 100% chardonnay fermented in stainless steel for a fresher aperitif style. Bright straw in color, the aromas open with notes of fresh pear, quince, lime and a light floral, creamy profile. Medium-bodied and concentrated, it's lively on the palate, with notes of fresh, ripe green apple, a lively mousse and a clean, chalky finish. Pure and taut, this is a very fresh and vibrant style to enjoy over the next 5-6 years. I'd prefer to drink it young.