Champagne Eric Rodez - Grand Cru - Cuvée des Crayères
Domaine Éric Rodez is located in Ambonnay, in Champagne. Son of a winegrower and mayor of the village of Ambonnay, he cultivates 6 hectares of biodynamic vines. Since 2014, Éric Rodez works with his son Mickaël, the 9th generation of the family. Since the start of his training, Éric has tried to understand the practices of different French and European vineyards. Returning to the family domain in 1982, he had the ambition to produce "Great Wines" but, to his dismay, his first winegrower's vintage (1984) was particularly poor. Destabilised, he sought advice in other regions and especially in Alsace. This led him to start with a change in floor care practices. He then carried out numerous soil analyses and adjusted his fertilization program. In the end, his reflection on soil management lasted 10 years. Secondly, he looked more specifically at the protection of the vine, biodynamics was an obvious choice on a daily basis. In 2009, further regretting that the commitment to sustainable viticulture was not recognised and valued, he chose to convert the vineyard. His commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture is therefore the fruit of long work and a fierce desire to progress towards viticulture that respects the environment. In 2012, the family estate was the first French exploitation to be certified with "High Environmental Value" (HVE).
Cuvée des Crayères is a blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%), made from a dozen wines from 4 to 5 different vintages and vinified for 20 to 25% in small oak barrels. This wine is supplemented by 45 to 50% of reserve wines to bring regularity.
Grape varieties: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay