Rich & Complex Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne

Erick De Sousa Brut Réserve Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

Champagne De Sousa is a family affair. Erick and his wife, Michelle, head the estate. Their two daughters Charlotte and Julie, and son, Valentin, have all studied winemaking and take roles in the family business to different degrees. Erick and his team farm close to 24 acres of vines spread over 42 plots. Most are in the Côte des Blancs subregion of Champagne in the Grand Cru commune of Avize. The sub-soil there consists entirely of Belemnite chalk – an accumulation of cuttlefish fossils and the geological imprint of the Paris Basin that is known for growing superior fruit for sparkling wines. This is the same Grand Cru vineyard real estate that goes into the tête de cuvées of the big-name Champagne houses that quite often sell for three or four times the price. The Blanc de Blancs Erick creates from this hallowed ground and old vines is as bold and rich as they come.

Erick is meticulous in his vineyards. He’s been farming using biodynamic methods for the past 17 years. The vineyards are plowed with horse (usually by his daughter Julie) to help prevent the soils from becoming compact and to promote healthy insect life underground. Yields are low and all fruit is harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts. He allows his wines to go through full malolactic (secondary) fermentation that takes the hard edge off the finish.

The result of all this work are wines that are easygoing yet profoundly delicious, generous with fruit, and a delightful sense of buoyancy, pleasing to both the casual drinker and the most discerning aesthete.

Stop by this Saturday to sample an outstanding 100% Chardonnay Champagne ideal for sharing with your sweetheart or anyone that just loves good wine. Even if you’re not romantically involved, like any good holiday, the meaning of Valentine’s Day is flexible enough to cover just about anyone’s fancy. Let the Finnish version of Valentine’s Day be your guide. It’s called Ystävänpäivä, which translates into “Friend’s Day.” What better justification for a Champagne dinner than good friends?

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Posted on 2016.02.11 in France, Saturday Sips Wines, The Champagne Society, Champagne