Eric Rodez Champagne Grand Cru Cuvee Des Crayeres Extra Brut

Eric 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.

Tasting Notes
In 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. On 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.

Production
Cuvée 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.

Food & Serving
This 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.

Producer
Eric 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.