Champagne Rodez (Biodynamic)

The Rodez family has been making wine for nine generations, beginning as far back as 1757.  The estate of Champagne Rodez is located in the Grand Cru that is Ambonnay, the heart of Pinot Noir country, and spans an area of 6.12 hectares.  The property consists of 35 parcels of vines, and the grape varietals planted are 62% Pinot Noir and 38% Chardonnay.  The vineyards are planted at a fairly high altitude (about 130 meters), and are situated on a clay-limestone soil, two factors which are ideal for growing Pinot Noir.

Eric Rodez, current vineyard manager and head oenologist for the estate, has worn many hats in his day.  Not only was he at one time the Mayor of Ambonnay, but he was also formerly an oenologist at Krug where he developed his winemaking/blending methods that would later be employed on his own estate.  Eric, along with his wife Martine and son Mickael, manages all aspects of the winemaking process at Champagne Rodez.

It was while traveling in Alsace and other wine growing regions that Eric gained an appreciation for organic and biodynamic vineyard practices.  It is through these methods that he believes the resulting wine truly expresses the characteristics of the terroir.  Eric hesitates to use the word organic, because he is not certified, but as a grower he uses no pesticides, fertilizers, or synthetic sprays on his plants.  In 2012, Champagne Rodez was the first French agricultural domaine to receive the Haute Valeur Environmentale certificate for their efforts towards organic and biodynamic farming and water management on the estate.  In the vineyard, Eric plows his soils and limits his yields through careful pruning.  Vinification is done in either oak barrels or enameled steel vats.  The annual production of the estate is about 45,000 bottles.

Overview: Champagne of body and spirit made by the marriage of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.  Straight, round, generous, the Cuvée des Crayères is made on average from a dozen different wines from 4 to 5 different vintages, with 50 to 55% of the wines vinified in small oak barrels, with 65 to 70% reserve wines helping to bring homogeneity.

Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Origin of the Grapes: Terroir d’Ambonnay-Les Grandes Ruelles, Les Bouités, La pierre aux Larrons, Les Cheminots, Les Secs, Les Fournettes, Les Agusons, Les Beurys, Les Hauts Tourets

Average Age of the Vines: 30 years old

Vinification: Out of tank for 42%, out of barrels 58%.  Partial malolactic fermentation (with malo 65% and without 35%)

Tasting Notes: This Champagne has a delightful golden hue with luminous highlights.  The nose reveals floral and mineral notes and, upon aeration, red and white fruit savors.  The palate is fresh and generous, playing with notes of spring berries.

The Vines: In the vineyard, Eric plows his soils and limits his yields through careful pruning.

Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Vinification: Vinification takes place in either oak barrels or enameled steel vats.

Aging: 80% of the wines are matured in small oak barrels and are composed of 30% reserve wines

Tasting Notes: Golden color. Long, complex, but also sensual, the nose has hints of white fruit. The palate is creamy with notes of exotic fruit on the finish. This cuvee combines power and strength without added sugar.

Overview: This brut Champagne is the achievement of the association of the Pinot Noir of maceration (40%), Pinot Noir (30%) and Chardonnay (30%), the latter bringing delicacy and elegance. The winemaker also resorts to the stored wines, up to 40%.

Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir of maceration, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Origin of the Grapes: Terroir d’Ambonnay, contrées: Les Grandes Ruelles, Le Moulin, Les Bouités, La Pierre aux Larrons, Les Cheminots, Les Hauts Tourets

Average Age of Vines: 32 years

Vinification: Out of tank for 20%, out of barrels 80%.  Partial malolactic fermentation (with malo 49% and without 51%)

Tasting Notes: The color is marked by the maceration of Pinot Noir.  The nose is complex, powerful, long, with a predominance of red berry notes.  The palate is smooth and powerful, with hints of subtle oak.

Overview: This is a brut Champagne produced exclusively out of several harvests of Chardonnay, from different years.  For this cuvée, the winemaker usually blends 5 or 6 vintaged productions in order to ensure the same delicacy along the years.  This Champagne is very flowery, delicate, and sensual.

Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay

Origin of the Grapes: Terroir d’Ambonnay, “Regions of Heart in Mid-Coast”: Les Secs, La Loge, Les Genettes, Les Morins, Les Champsaults. “Regions of Spirit”: Les Crayères, Les Agusons, Les Cheminots, La Grande Ruelle

Average Age of the Vines: 31 years old

Vinification: Out of tank for 18%, out of barrels 82%.  Partial malolactic fermentation (with malo 20% and without 80%)

Tasting Notes: It is of a subdued gold color, with touches of green.  The nose is both fruity and floral, and expresses hints of chestnut after swirling.  The attack is good, vinous, with an elegant gustatory persistence.

Overview: This brut Champagne is produced from Pinot Noir harvests only.  For this cuvée, the winemaker generally blends 5 to 6 vintaged productions to make sure the cuvée will keep its character.  It is even better-balanced and meatier than the Blanc de Blancs.  It is complex, with a slight hint of red fruit, very elegant, offering a longer finish.

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Origin of the Grapes: Terroir d’Ambonnay, “Regions of heart in Mid-Coast”: Les Beurys du Haut, Les Goisses, Les Secs, Les Fournettes, Les Genettes, Les Hauts Touret, Les Vaux Saint Basles.  “Regions of Spirit”: La Pierre aux Larons, Les Bouités, Les Grandes Ruelles

Average Age of the Vines: 33 years old

Vinification: Out of tank for 20%, out of barrels 80%.  Partial malolactic fermentation (with malo 30% and without 70%)

Tasting Notes: Light gold in color, with shades of copper.  It offers a fruity nose, together with flavors recalling spring after rotation.  The attack is dense, meaty, filling the palate with flavors of citrus fruit.

Overview: This Champagne is exclusively made out of the juices from several years’ first pressings of the best vintaged productions.  Among the choices of wines offered by Champagne Rodez, the Cuvée des Grands Vintages is the Champagne one wishes to offer to celebrate the important moments of one’s life, with its golden color, with hints of copper and sometimes of light orange.

Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Average Age of the Vines: 34 years old

Origin of the Grapes: Terroir d’Ambonnay, contrées: Les Secs, Les Beurys, Les Goisses, Les Genettes, Les Vaux Saint Basle, Les Fournettes, Le Noyer Saints Pys, Les Morrins

Vinification: Out of barrels 100%; no malolactic fermentation

Tasting Notes: The expressive nose will immediately reveal enticing aromas of toffee and marmalade.  It benefits from a good cellaring potential, the elegance of which will be appreciated through a full, powerful, and flavorsome palate.

Overview: This wine is the culmination of work begun over 25 years ago and expresses the soul of the noble terroir from which it is produced.  The role of the winemaker is limited to respecting the integrity of and working with the terroir.

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Origin of the Grapes: Terroir d’Ambonnay contrées: Les Beurys

Exposure: East

Average Age of the Vines: 35 years old

Vinification: In small oak barrels, no malolactic fermentation, no artificial refrigeration, no filtration

Tasting Notes: This wine has a sensuality which comes from the terroir and is supported by a minerality that comes from the chalk present in the soils

Overview: The result of over 25 years of work on the domain, the «Lieux Dits» are Champagne cuvees that reveal the complexities of the soil from which they originate. The role of the winemaker is limited to respecting the original musical integrity.  The name of the plot, “La Pierre aux Larrons,” refers to a stone located in a wasteland, hearkening back to the Gallo-Roman era.

Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay

Soil: 55 cm deep layer of soil before chalk

Exposure: East

Average Age of the Vines: 42 Years

Harvest:  October

Vinification: 100% in small oak barrels.  No malolactic fermentation, no industrial cold stabilizing, no filtration – but a lot of passion.

Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay

Origin of the Grapes: Les Genettes is a plot in Ambonnay with a southeastern exposure and slightly deeper soils than Les Beurys.

Exposition: Southeast

Soil Before Chalk: 45 cm

Average Age of the Vines: 39 years old

Harvest: September

Vinification: In small oak barrels, no malolactic fermentation, no artificial refrigeration, no filtration

Aging: 5 years on the lees

Post-Disgorgement Aging: 1 Year

Tasting Notes: Fresh notes of crisp apple, zesty grapefruit, and balanced oak at the start. 5 years of aging on the lees lends a roundness and lovely texture to the mouthfeel. Elegant minerality and a long, lingering finish.

Overview: This wine is the culmination of work begun over 25 years ago and expresses the soul of the noble terroir from which it is produced.  The role of the winemaker is limited to respecting the integrity of and working with the terroir.

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Origin of the Grapes: Les Genettes is a plot in Ambonnay with a southeastern exposure and slightly deeper soils than Les Beurys.

Average Age of the Vines: 41 years old

Vinification: In small oak barrels, no malolactic fermentation, no artificial refrigeration, no filtration

Tasting Notes: Tasty and sweet, this wine sees all its generosity enhanced by minerality provided by the methods of the winemakers.

Location: Les Fournettes is a southeast-facing parcel on the western side of the village where the topsoils are deeper, about 65 centimeters.

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Average Age of the Vines: 27 years old

Tasting Notes: Chalky minerality, elegant vinosity, and fruitiness.

Vinification: Vinified in small oak barrels; no malolactic fermentation

Overview: This Champagne is a pure expression of this single plot of terroir called La Grande Ruelle.

Exposure: East

Average Age of the Vines: 35+ years old

Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Vinification: In small oak barrels. No malolactic fermentation, no cold stabilization, no filtration.

Aging: Sur lies for 5 years.

Overview: Always vintage, this Champagne is produced from a blend of 5 to 7 parcels of the domain. Empreinte expresses the winemaker’s vision of the vintage in Ambonnay.

Vinification: In small oak barrels, no malolactic fermentation, no cold stabilization, no filtration.

Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay

Origin of the Grapes: Terroir d’Ambonnay contrées: Le Noyer Saint Pys, Les Secs, Les Agusons, Les Champsaults

Average Age of the Vines: 39 years old

Tasting Notes: The single grape variety of Empreinte de Terroir seeks only to emphasize the characteristics of the vineyard terroir, across the vineyards, and waltzing across the vintages.  For some vintages, the comparison of varieties bring an extra dimension.  Clear, bright gold color.  The bouquet expresses floral notes and fragrances of young, white peach. The finish is long with lovely, woodsy notes of bark and vanilla.

Overview: Always vintage, this Champagne is produced from a blend of 5 to 7 parcels of the domain. Empreinte expresses the winemaker’s vision of the vintage in Ambonnay.

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Origin of the Grapes: Terroir d’Ambonnay contrées: Les Gennettes, Les Beurys, La Goisse, Les Bouités

Average Age of the Vines: 42 years old

Vinification: 100% small oak barrels; no malolactic fermentation, no cold stabilization, no filtration.

Tasting Notes: The single grape variety of Empreinte de Terroir seeks only to emphasize the characteristics of the vineyard terroir, across the vineyards, and waltzing across the vintages.  For some vintages, the comparison of varieties bring an extra dimension.

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Plot: Les Beurys

Exposition: East

Soil Before Chalk: 35 cm

Average Age of the Vines: 40 Years

Harvest: September

Vinification: Maceration for 3 days. 100% vinified in small oak barrels. No malolactic fermentation.

Grape Varieties: 50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay

Origin of the Grapes: Les Fournettes, Noyer Saint Pys

Exposition: South

Soil (before chalk): 55 cm

Average Age of the Vines: 42 years old

Harvest: September

Vinification: Maceration for 2 days. 100% in barrels. No malolactic fermentation.

Tasting Notes: Notes of ripened red and black fruits permeate the bouquet, complemented by an infusion of spices. This is an exceptionally elegant and delicate Champagne – perfect on its own or served as an apertif.

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Origin of the Grapes: Les Beurys, Les Goisses, Les Secs, Les Fournettes, Les Genettes, Les Bas Tourets, Les Vaus Saint Basless, La Pierre aux Larrons, La Grande Ruelle

Average Age of the Vines: 32 years old

Bottling Date: Spring 2008

Vintage Blend: 45% 2007, 30% 2006, 13% 2005, 8% 2004, 2% 2002, 2% 2000

Vinification: 75% in barrels. Partial malolactic fermentation (35%)

Dosage: 4 g/L

Bottling Date: Spring 2010

Grape Variety: 58% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay

Origin of the Grapes: Terroir d’Ambonnay – Les Grandes Ruelles, Le Moulin, Les Champsaults, Le Noyer Saint Pys, Les Secs, Les Fournettes, La Pierre aux Larrons, Les Agusons, Les Beurys

Average Age of the Vines: 29 years old

Vintage Blend: 42% 2009, 26% 2008, 11% 2007, 9% 2006, 10% 2005, 2% 2004

Vinification: 35% in barrels. Partial malolactic fermentation (35%)

Dosage: 5 g/L

Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Origin of the Grapes: Terroir d’Ambonnay – Le Noyer Saint Pys, Les Morins, Les Genettes, Les Champsaults, Les Secs, Les Bermonts, Les Crayeres, Les Agusons, Les Cheminots.

Average Age of the Vines: 32 years old

Vintage Blend: 41% 2007, 20% 2006, 17% 2005, 15% 2004, 3% 2003, 4% 2002

Vinification: 70% in barrels. Partial malolactic fermentation (30%)

Dosage: 5 g/L

Overview: Long before it was famous for the effervescence of its wines, Champagne produced still wines. In the 17th century, the vineyard extended over more than 55,000 hectares, and white wines represented the majority of production. With this red wine, Coteaux Champenois, the winemaker would like to express other sensory notes derived from the vineyard.

Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Plot: Les Bouités

Harvest: September

Vinification: 100% in oak barrels

Tasting Notes: Elegant, fruity, and fresh. The tannins are well balanced and the mouthfeel is remarkable.