Coteaux Champenois, Rouge AOC 2020

Wine Description for Coteaux Champenois Rouge AOC 2020 from De Sousa

Colour & Appearance

Deep ruby red with luminous garnet reflections – a wine that visually reveals its origins from a cool climate and chalk-rich soils.

Nose

Concentrated, extract-rich red fruit dominates with impressive intensity: wild raspberries and redcurrants in the foreground, complemented by the tart elegance of lingonberries. Pomegranate syrup lends the bouquet a sweet depth, whilst subtle spicy notes provide complexity. A beacon Pinot with a clear message.

Palate

The rich red fruitiness is fanned out by an agile, wide-spanning arc of acidity that comprehensively defines the texture. The wine’s cool character allows sour cherry and redcurrant to shine. The chalk influence of the terroir is palpably unfiltered – mineral, precise, almost stony. Fine-meshed, delicate tannins provide structure without dominating. A Pinot Noir of unadorned authenticity that equally reveals both latitude and Grand Cru origin.

Finish

Long-lasting and cool, with persistent red fruit and mineral resonance. The acidity carries far and promises excellent development potential.

Terroir & Origin

From approximately 70-year-old vineyards in the heart of the Montagne de Reims, Grand Cru commune of Ambonnay. The chalk soils fundamentally shape the wine and bestow upon it that cool minerality which distinguishes it from more southerly Pinots.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Pinot Noir, hand-harvested and spontaneously fermented. Gentle maceration with pumping over for 8 days, followed by approximately 12 months‘ maturation in wooden casks. A respectful, non-interventionist vinification that places fruit and terroir in the foreground.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The cool acidity and mineral structure make it an ideal companion for grilled sardines, veal escalopes with red wine butter or, surprisingly, also for roasted butternut squash with harissa and Raz El Hanout butter – the spicy aromas harmonise wonderfully with the wine’s fruit concentration.

Special Features

Micro-production of only 347 bottles in the 2020 vintage. A rare still wine from Champagne that proves Ambonnay produces not only great sparkling wines but also exceptional red wines. Ageing potential: 5–7 years.