Champagne Eric Rodez Cuvée des Grandes Vintages Extra Brut Grand Cru NV

Like every great Champagne, the focus here begins in the vineyards. Longtime proponents of organic practices, the vineyards have been certified organic since 2012, with full biodynamic certification following a short time later in 2015. It was actually the challenging vintage of 1984 that sent the family looking for answers on how to improve the health of their vineyards – answers that would ultimately be found in the oftentimes harsh environment of Alsace. They shifted their farming practices to be more preventative than prescriptive as a result, and over the decades, this has made all the difference.

The Rodez family’s roots in the grassy hills of Ambonnay go all the way back to the 1700s, passed down over nine generations from father to son. The estate covers a pristine six hectares in this Grand Cru village – a spot that we’ve long argued serves as a central cog in the rise of the entire Grower Champagne movement. The Rodez family is certainly numbered among these fine producers – and without a doubt one of the most famous recoltant manipulants in all of Champagne. Eric’s stint at Krug brought prestige and notoriety to the family operation, but for most of the past decade, it is his son, Mikhael, who is carrying the torch to ever greater heights.

The Rodez portfolio is often characterized by its immense vinosity, finesse, and complexity – in large part due to Eric and Mikhael’s obsession with aging individual parcels to meticulously use in their artistic assemblage process. The Grandes Vintages is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay (30% 2017 base with 70% reserve solera), with an Extra Brut dosage of 2 grams per liter to highlight the purity of the fruit. With a bright golden hay color, the nose presents notes of toasted wheat bread, candied lemon, yuzu koshu, Rainier cherry, apple blossoms, and pear. The palate continues the bright and zippy ride, with Vietnamese salted lemon soda, wet seashells, juicy peaches, and a hint of ginger. You have a bit of everything in this wine, and each sip uncovers a new delightful, riveting layer. We are stoked anytime we can share some Eric Rodez, but never seem to be able to keep it around long! Make sure you grab at least a couple – you won’t be disappointed!