![Champagne De Sousa Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Reserve Brut NV (Champagne, France) - [JS 93] [WA 92] [WE 91] [VM 91] [DM 90] [BH 90]](http://artisan.wine/cdn/shop/products/pe5l7buefbu8qxh8vrqr_{width}x.jpg?v=1656398278)
Champagne De Sousa Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Reserve Brut NV
(Champagne, France) - [JS 93] [WA 92] [WE 91] [VM 91] [DM 90] [BH 90]
Regular price $80.00 Sale price $64.97 Save $15.03
Three quarters of the De Sousa vines are over 45 years of age. Some are 65 and 75 years old.
Conversion to organic methods began in 1989, just three years after Erick took over from his father. Yields from these old vineyards are incredibly low. In 1999, de Sousa began farming his land biodynamically, lowering yields even further. The vineyards are plowed with a horse to help prevent the soils from becoming compact and to promote healthy insect life underground. Because of this labor-intensive work with the soils, the vines often descend up to 10 or 12 meters. These deep roots extract salts and trace minerals like potassium and magnesium from the chalk. This gives additional minerality to the champagnes. The grapes are harvested by hand. Erick also likes to harvest as late as possible because he feels the extra maturity makes his Champagnes richer, purer and longer.
100% Grand Cru Chardonnay. A blend of 2 or 3 different years and with at least 30% reserve wine aged in barrel. From grapes grown only in Grand Cru vineyards of the Côte des Blancs. The chalky soil accentuates this champagne's minerality, lending it finesse, elegance and vivacity. Its intense nose is evocative of dried pineapple, fresh roasted coffee, eucalyptus and lemony notes, as well as a very expressive floral character. The palate is very round with honeyed accents. The finish is long and delightfully refreshing.
"Erick De Sousa is one of the most brilliant viticulturists in the Côte des Blancs today and furthermore, one of the most proactive.”—Bettane et Dessauve, Le Grand Guide des Vins de France 2008
"The excellence of a terroir, the devotion of one family and an unprecedented leap in quality makes these champagnes shine. A rigorous approach where every detail is cared for gives that extra dimension of purity and finesse. I am very impressed by how the family De Sousa manages to keep to their ideas and let this single minded strive for quality come through very clearly in all of their range."—Andreas Larsson, Meilleur Sommelier du Monde 2007
"Erick De Sousa is one of the most entrepreneurial winegrowers of his generation."--La Revue du Vin de France
"Erick de Sousa is one of the most iconic winemakers from Champagne."--Le Figaro
Ratings & Reviews
"Attractive lemons and yellow nectarines on the nose with expressive and complex style. The palate is so fleshy and attractive, delivering a big, flavorful peach and lemon impression with a hint of grapefruit, twisting the finish savory. Drink now." (9/2/19)
92+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"From Avize, Oger and Cramant, the NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut Réserve displays a vital citrus color and offers a clear, fresh and intense Chardonnay and chalky bouquet that indicates concentration, depth and tension. Pure and linear on the well-structured and mineral palate, this is a straightforward yet very finessed and elegant Brut with a stimulating mineral finish that also reveals concentrated and juicy fruit flavors. The aftertaste is complex and expressive. This edition is based on the 2014 vintage, and it was bottled in July 2015 and disgorged in November 2017 with a dosage of seven grams per liter. Tasted in Reims in April 2018." - William Kelley (8/31/18)
"Pale gold. Ripe citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, with complicating notes of tarragon, toasty lees and white flowers. Juicy and expansive, offering chewy pear and Meyer lemon flavors and a deeper note of candied fig. At once rich and lively, finishing with strong thrust and lingering mineral and floral qualities. This hefty yet lithe Champagne will match effortlessly with a range of foods, especially creatures that once swam in salt water but now swim in melted butter. Most of this fruit was grown in Avize, with the rest from Cramant and Oger." - Josh Raynolds (Jan 2015)
91 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"This is the nonvintage cuvée from this biodynamic producer. Pure Chardonnay gives a classic mineral texture along with intense, pure white fruits. It is a beautifully structured, tangy wine, on the dry side and finishing with intense acidity. Drink the bottling now." -Roger Voss (12/31/19)
90 Points - Allen Meadows Burghound:
"A mature and distinctly yeasty nose also offers up notes of brioche, baked apple and pear nuances. There is a clean, cool and crisp flavor profile and the mousse is relatively fine plus there is an attractive hint of citrus that adds lift on the notably austere finish. I like the austerity but be aware that it's sufficiently pronounced that this will not be for everyone. To my taste this is drinking perfectly well now." (1/13)