Grand Cru Extra-Brut Réserve De Sousa

Lot presentation

Grand Cru Extra-Brut Réserve De Sousa

The wine

The Chardonnay vines criss-cross the Grand Crus of Avize, Cramant, Mesnil sur Oger and Oger, where they are meticulously cultivated to produce a delicate, fresh and lively Blanc de Blancs. The vines, on average 50 years old and planted on belemnite chalk soils, are harvested entirely by hand. Once in the winery, the Chardonnay grapes are vinified in vats to preserve the precious aromas of the Grand Cru terroirs of the Côte des Blancs. The Réserve cuvée is a blend of two or three different years, with at least 25% reserve wine in the blend.
The golden colour and elegant, persistent bubbles hold the promise of a fragrant bouquet. The nose is indeed powerful, offering floral aromas mingling with subtle hints of coffee. The full, delicious palate reveals luscious notes of honey leading to a fresh, perfectly balanced finish.

It was the First World War which oddly enough was at the origin of the creation of De Sousa champagnes. Indeed, Manuel De Sousa, originally from the Porto area, was part of the Portuguese expeditionary force called to reinforce the allies. Returning to his country, faced with a difficult economic situation, Manuel De Sousa decided to leave with his wife for the Champagne region where he had made contacts during the war. He settled there and worked hard at the service of the region’s wine growers. However, struck by a tumour, he died at 29, leaving a wife and four children. A little later, the eldest son, Antoine, met Zoémie Bondeville, the daughter of a family of prosperous Champagne wine growers with whom he would soon marry. This was the start of success for the De Sousa family. Today, it is Erik, the third generation established in France who runs the domain with his wife Michelle. Today the domain covers 11 hectares of the most beautiful terroirs of the Côte des Blancs, of which the vast majority are in grand cru with 75% of the vines over 45 years old, which is rather rare in Champagne. In addition, Erik De Sousa has gradually made the entire domain organic and then biodynamic since 1999. His wines have gained further finesse, elegance and expression of their different exceptional terroirs. An absolute must-see for lovers of biodynamic champagne, powerful, tense and offering assertive minerality.