{"title":"Eric Rodez","description":"\u003cp\u003eEric Rodez is a grower in the grand cru village of Ambonnay, making biodynamic Champagne from his own grapes. Every wine is Extra Brut, with low dosage, barrel fermentation and a clear Pinot Noir character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEric Rodez: an Ambonnay family since 1757\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rodez family has grown vines in Ambonnay since 1757 and makes Champagne from its own grapes. Eric Rodez spent time as an oenologist at \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/champagne-krug\"\u003eKrug\u003c\/a\u003e, and that experience with blending and oak still shapes the house style. He and his wife Martine are now handing the domaine over to their son Mickaël and daughter-in-law Aurélie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe domaine farms around six hectares spread over some thirty small parcels, all in Ambonnay. Most is \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/pinot-noir\"\u003ePinot Noir\u003c\/a\u003e, the rest \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/chardonnay\"\u003eChardonnay\u003c\/a\u003e. Ambonnay sits on the south-eastern side of the Montagne de Reims and is one of Champagne's grand cru villages, known for Pinot Noir with richness, structure and depth. It borders Bouzy, and the two share a reputation for some of Champagne's finest Pinot Noir sites, where south-facing slopes and chalk subsoil give ripe yet fresh grapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBiodynamic farming and parcel-by-parcel winemaking\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vineyards have been certified organic since 2012 and biodynamic by Demeter since 2015. In the same year as its organic certification the domaine also gained France's HVE environmental certification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the cellar each parcel is vinified separately, and much of the wine is fermented in oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation is not encouraged, so only part of the wine goes through it, keeping freshness and tension. The low dosage lets the grapes and the chalk come through.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCuvée des Crayères, Blanc de Noirs and Grands Vintages\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCuvée des Crayères is the house's grand cru blend from Ambonnay and the classic way into the style: generous yet fresh, with notes of ripe apple, brioche and chalk. The Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru is pure Pinot Noir and shows Ambonnay's power and red fruit, while the Blanc de Blancs is pure Chardonnay with more tension and citrus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCuvée des Grands Vintages is the house's most ambitious wine: a blend of several great vintages, around 70 percent Pinot Noir and 30 percent Chardonnay. Eric Rodez describes it as a mille-feuille of vintages, each layer adding something. It is fermented and aged in barrel with only partial malolactic fermentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/champagne\"\u003eChampagne\u003c\/a\u003e, or go straight to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/blanc-de-noirs\"\u003eBlanc de Noirs\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/blanc-de-blancs\"\u003eBlanc de Blancs\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEric Rodez questions and answers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Eric Rodez a grower or a Champagne house?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA grower. The Champagnes are made only from the domaine's own grapes in Ambonnay, not from bought-in fruit as at the big houses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Eric Rodez biodynamic?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The domaine has been certified organic since 2012 and Demeter biodynamic since 2015.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does Extra Brut mean?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat very little sugar is added at disgorgement, less than in a standard Brut. The result is dry, precise wines where fruit and soil come through clearly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat food goes with Eric Rodez?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCuvée des Crayères and the Blanc de Blancs suit oysters and shellfish. The Blanc de Noirs and Grands Vintages can take poultry, veal and aged cheeses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","products":[{"product_id":"eric-rodez-champagne-ambonnay-grands-vintage-grand-cru-extra-brut","title":"Eric Rodez Champagne Ambonnay Grands Vintage Grand Cru Extra Brut","description":"\u003cp\u003eA non-vintage Extra Brut Champagne from the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay, made with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Its combination of two classic Champagne varieties and a low-dosage style makes it a distinctive choice for those who enjoy a drier expression.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe wine is a non-vintage blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Ambonnay in Champagne. Details about the vineyard parcels, harvest and vinification are not available.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eServe well chilled, around 8–10°C, with oysters, shellfish, smoked salmon or a selection of savoury cheeses. Decanting is generally unnecessary; allow the Champagne a few minutes in the glass to open.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEric Rodez is a grower-producer based in Ambonnay, a Grand Cru village in Champagne. Before returning to his family estate, Rodez worked as a cellar master at Krug, bringing extensive Champagne-making experience to his own wines.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eric Rodez","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54255177564497,"sku":"XW-33430","price":137.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/eric-rodez-champagne-ambonnay-grands-vintage-grand-cru-extra-brut_33430_1.jpg?v=1783456962"},{"product_id":"eric-rodez-champagne-grand-cru-blanc-de-noirs-extra-brut","title":"Eric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut","description":"\u003cp\u003eEric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut is a precise, characterful expression of Pinot Noir from some of Champagne’s most prized vineyards. Crafted from 100% Pinot Noir and sourced exclusively from Grand Cru sites, it offers both depth and elegance in a bone-dry, gastronomic style. This non-vintage cuvée reflects Eric Rodez’s philosophy of blending multiple reserve wines and vintages to achieve complexity, balance, and a distinctly artisanal signature.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, this Blanc de Noirs shows a luminous, pale golden hue with fine, persistent bubbles forming a delicate mousse. The nose is complex and expressive, offering notes of ripe orchard fruits, candied citrus peel, mirabelle plum, and red apple skin, layered with hints of toasted brioche, roasted hazelnut, subtle spice, and a chalky, mineral edge.\n\nOn the palate, the Extra Brut dosage highlights the wine’s purity and structure: dry, incisive, yet textural and generous. Flavors of baked pear, white cherry, blood orange, and lemon zest are supported by a firm, Pinot-driven backbone, with savory, biscuit-like undertones and a long, saline finish. The acidity is vibrant and mouthwatering, giving great precision and length. While beautifully drinkable now, this cuvée has the concentration and structure to age gracefully for 5–8 years from release, developing more nutty and honeyed nuances over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSourced from Grand Cru vineyards in the heart of Champagne, this Blanc de Noirs is rooted in chalk-rich soils that impart finesse, tension, and a pronounced mineral character to the Pinot Noir. Grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness to preserve freshness and ensure meticulous fruit selection. In the cellar, Eric Rodez blends multiple parcels and reserve wines from different years, often vinifying a portion in small oak barrels to build texture and aromatic complexity. The wine undergoes a long maturation on lees in bottle before disgorgement, and is finished with an Extra Brut dosage to showcase terroir and structure rather than sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Champagne is a superb table partner, particularly suited to refined, savory dishes. Try it with oysters, scallop crudo, or sashimi, as well as richer plates like roasted poultry, veal tartare, langoustines, or mushroom-based risottos; its structure also stands up nicely to charcuterie and aged hard cheeses. Serve well chilled, ideally at 8–10°C (46–50°F), to emphasize its precision and freshness. A brief 10–15 minutes in a decanter or a few minutes in the glass will allow the aromatics to open and reveal additional layers of fruit, spice, and minerality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Rodez family has been rooted in the village of Ambonnay—one of Champagne’s great Pinot Noir Grand Crus—for generations, with Eric Rodez himself gaining a reputation as one of the region’s most thoughtful and quality-driven grower-producers. Known for his meticulous approach to blending and his deep understanding of terroir, he crafts Champagnes that are both expressive and gastronomic, often using a high proportion of reserve wines to build complexity. His domaine is recognized as a benchmark for serious, characterful Pinot Noir-based Champagnes from the Montagne de Reims, and his cuvées are sought after by enthusiasts looking for authentic, site-driven wines with real personality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eric Rodez","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54255177662801,"sku":"XW-47491","price":94.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/eric-rodez-champagne-blanc-de-noirs-extra-brut_47491_1_2c2709e7-a6cb-4fd2-984f-352dd3f566a6.webp?v=1783456963"},{"product_id":"eric-rodez-champagne-grand-cru-cuvee-des-crayeres-extra-brut","title":"Eric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Cuvee Des Crayeres Extra Brut","description":"\u003cp\u003eEric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée des Crayères Extra Brut is a finely crafted non-vintage Champagne that showcases the precision and artistry of one of Ambonnay’s most respected grower-producers. Blending Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards, it offers the depth and character of a meticulously curated multi-vintage cuvée. Named after the region’s historic chalk pits (“crayères”), this Champagne pays tribute to the unique subsoil that has shaped Champagne’s finest wines for centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, Cuvée des Crayères pours a luminous straw-gold with a fine, persistent mousse and delicate streams of bubbles. The nose opens with aromas of ripe orchard fruits—pear, golden apple, and quince—woven together with citrus zest, white flowers, and hints of toasted brioche. Subtle notes of hazelnut, chalk, and a light smokiness reveal the influence of oak and the chalk-rich terroir.\n\nOn the palate, this Extra Brut is precise and vibrant, with a taut, mineral backbone that keeps the richness of the fruit in perfect balance. Flavors of lemon curd, baked apple, and stone fruit are layered with pastry cream, roasted nuts, and a saline, chalky finish that feels both long and refreshing. The dosage is restrained, emphasizing purity and tension while still offering enough texture for a generous, gastronomic style. As a non-vintage cuvée built from multiple harvests and a substantial proportion of reserve wines, it is ready to drink now but can comfortably evolve in bottle for 5–7 years, gaining further complexity and creaminess.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCuvée des Crayères is crafted from Grand Cru vineyards in Ambonnay in the heart of the Champagne region of France, where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive on deep chalk soils that provide excellent drainage and impart a distinctive mineral edge. On average, the blend is composed of around a dozen different base wines from 4 to 5 separate vintages, allowing Eric Rodez to balance freshness with mature complexity. Approximately 20–25% of the wines are vinified in small oak barrels, adding subtle structure, spice, and breadth to the final blend, while 45–50% reserve wines are incorporated to ensure consistency of style and aromatic depth from year to year. Traditional Champagne methods are followed from gentle pressing through to secondary fermentation in bottle and extended aging on the lees, enhancing texture, fine mousse, and complexity before disgorgement and the application of a low Extra Brut dosage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a versatile, food-friendly Champagne that shines at the table. Its structure and minerality make it an excellent match for seafood such as oysters, scallops, and sashimi, as well as lobster, crab, or simply grilled fish with lemon and herbs. The Pinot Noir component gives it enough presence to pair beautifully with poultry, lightly creamy dishes, charcuterie, and soft-ripened cheeses like Brie or Chaource. Serve well chilled at about 8–10°C (46–50°F) to showcase its freshness and aromatic finesse. A short decant in a chilled carafe or, more simply, pouring it into proper white wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glasses and giving it a few minutes in the glass will allow the aromas to fully open.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEric Rodez is a renowned grower-producer based in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay in Champagne, France, a commune celebrated for its exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Coming from a long line of vignerons, the Rodez family has deep roots in the region, and Eric himself is known for his meticulous, almost artisanal approach to blending and vineyard work. Prior to returning to the family estate, he worked at some of Champagne’s major houses, an experience that informs his precise, expressive style today. The domaine is often praised for its commitment to expressing terroir through thoughtful use of reserve wines, careful oak vinification, and sustainable practices in the vineyard. Over the years, Eric Rodez has built a strong reputation among Champagne enthusiasts for producing highly characterful, gastronomic Champagnes that stand out for their clarity, depth, and individuality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eric Rodez","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54255177793873,"sku":"XW-33429","price":74.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/eric-rodez-champagne-cuvee-des-crayeres-grand-cru-extra-brut_33429_1_26df50fd-97fe-442d-b561-b96a721c8f03.webp?v=1783456965"},{"product_id":"eric-rodez-champagne-blanc-de-blancs-extra-brut","title":"Eric Rodez Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut","description":"\u003cp\u003eEric Rodez’s Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is a Chardonnay-only Champagne shaped by a notably broad blend of reserve and current wines. Its multi-vintage composition and use of small oak barrels give the cuvée a distinctive approach within the classic Blanc de Blancs style.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe cuvée is normally assembled from around 15 wines spanning five to six different vintages. About 70% of the wines are vinified in small oak barrels, while 40% do not undergo malolactic fermentation. These choices bring together barrel influence and the freshness associated with Chardonnay; details on vineyard sites and harvesting methods are not provided.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eServe well chilled, around 8–10°C, with oysters, shellfish, sushi or a delicate white fish dish. Its dry style also works well as an aperitif. Decanting is generally unnecessary for Champagne; open shortly before serving to preserve its freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eric Rodez","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54255507079505,"sku":"XW-33428","price":92.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/eric-rodez-champagne-blanc-de-blancs-extra-brut_33428_1.jpg?v=1783459102"}],"url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/collections\/eric-rodez.oembed","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}