Cuvée des Caudalies Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut

Wine Description for Cuvée des Caudalies Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut by De Sousa

Colour & Appearance

A deep, radiant straw yellow. In the glass, it reveals a fine, soft and incredibly creamy perlage with an almost silky mousseux that unfolds elegantly.

Nose

The nose opens with a fascinating, deep spiciness. Aromas of golden-brown toasted, salted-butter toast combine with mellow, oven-stewed yellow apple. These are joined by noble notes of salted hazelnuts and cashews, finely underlaid by dried hayflowers and the unmistakable, cool minerality of wet blackboard chalk.

Palate

On the palate, a masterful balance between power and discipline is revealed. The entry is characterised by a melting, creamy texture. Yet immediately, the delicate, gripping phenolic structure takes hold. It contours the wine along the edges of the tongue, building a subtle, vibrant tension and lending it enormous pressure and mineral drive.

Finish

An aristocratic, incredibly precise and almost endless finish that truly lives up to its name – carried by a profound, salty chalk minerality and the finest notes of maturation.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes originate from renowned Grand Cru vineyard sites of the Côte des Blancs, first and foremost from Avize. The vines are deeply rooted in pure chalk and boast an extraordinary average age of 60 years. The soil is gently ploughed with horses to prevent compaction.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Chardonnay. Spontaneous fermentation and complete ageing in classic 228-litre oak barrels (approx. 8% new oak) without filtration or fining. This non-vintage cuvée owes its immense complexity to a proportion of around 50% of a Réserve Perpétuelle maintained since 1995. The dosage is a dry 5 g/l.

Food Pairings

A magnificent food companion. Outstanding with turbot with beurre blanc, the finest scallops or matured Comté.

Special Features

The De Sousa estate works biodynamically out of deep conviction and is Demeter-certified. An intellectual Champagne far from the mainstream, perfectly uniting texture and freshness.