Cuvée des Caudalies Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Veilissement Prolongé 2008

Wine Description for Cuvée des Caudalies Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieillissement Prolongé 2008 by De Sousa

Colour & Appearance

Intense golden yellow with amber reflections, testament to ten years of maturation on the lees. The mousse presents itself with fine, elegant bubbles and persistent perlage – a visual harbinger of the complexity to follow.

Nose

This Champagne demands patience. Initially closed, a compact minerality of chalk and flint dominates – typical of Avize. With air contact, an opulent bouquet unfolds: mango, kumquat and star fruit meet dried apricots, honeycomb and caramelised almonds. These are joined by vanilla and brioche from oak ageing, whilst citrus peel and elderflower provide freshness. The nose of a Champagne that has long since left its youth behind.

Palate

On the palate, the true greatness of this Blanc de Blancs reveals itself: profound structure, precise acidity and that mineral tension which characterises Grand Cru Chardonnay from Avize. The oak ageing imparts subtle toasted notes and creamy texture, without obscuring the crystalline purity. Despite its maturity, the wine remains vibrant, almost quivering – a balancing act between oxidative complexity and youthful freshness.

Finish

Impressively long and persistent. The minerality lingers, accompanied by brioche and hazelnut. A finale that invites the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes hail from Grand Cru Avize, the heart of the Côte des Blancs. The vines, over 50 years old, are deeply rooted in chalky soils and yield concentrated, mineral base wines – the very essence of what Chardonnay can be.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Chardonnay, fermented and aged in oak. Disgorged on 30 May 2018 – ten years on the lees. This extended maturation („Vieillissement Prolongé“) bestows upon the Champagne its extraordinary depth and complexity.

Food Pairing Recommendations

More than an aperitif: this Champagne calls for grilled turbot, scallops with saffron sauce, langoustines or a mature Comté. Also a revelation with calf’s sweetbreads or truffle risotto.

Special Characteristics

A Champagne for connoisseurs, embodying De Sousa’s philosophy: biodynamic viticulture, old vines, oak ageing and patient maturation. The 2008 vintage is considered one of the great ones in Champagne – precise, long-lived, classical.