Eric Rodez

Edition 37 Blanc de Blancs Champagne Ambonnay Grand Cru Chardonnay

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Eric Rodez spent his formative years at Krug. This is an 9th generation family that has 9 hectares of Grand Cru vines in the village of Ambonnay that are Chardonnay & Pinot Noir.. Their vineyards are certified biodynamic and utilize highly sustainable practices. Eric, his wife Martine and their son Mickael operate the Domaine.

It is a spectacular cuvée from the moment you raise the glass to your nose. It is almost hypnotic. You feel the evanescence twirl into your nostrils. Lime with skin, kiwi, green & golden apple, lemon, underripe pineapple, green melon, white peach, sea foam, chalk powder, caramel, frothy cream, vanillin, delicate volcanics, dry limestone, lightly yeasty bread dough, some dry twig to barrel dust, white, yellow & spring flowers framed in blooming jasmine.

The mousse is soft, elegant and rich. Ripe; lime with skin, kiwi, green & golden apple, lemon, underripe pineapple, green melon, white peach, sea foam to spray, nice salinity, chalk powder, caramel, frothy cream, sea fossil dust, vanillin, hues of butterscotch candy, dry volcanics bits, white spice w/ a hint of palate heat, dry limestone, lightly yeasty bread dough to baguette crust, some dry twig to barrel dust, beautiful, delicate but zesty acidity, white, yellow & spring flowers framed in blooming jasmine with balance & length for days, perfect tension & structure-not too much or too little with elegance & beauty that lasts two-minutes and lands on delicate minerality.

Some additional cellaring, 94.

Bottled Spring 2021. Launch2024. 100% Chardonnay.
Vintages in the blend: 2020 - 28%, 2019 - 14%, 2018 - 24%, Previous vintages - 34%. Vinification: 15% in tanks and 85% in barrels. Partial malolactic fermentation. Blended with 90% reserve wine that did not undergo malolactic fermentation. 1.5g dosage. — 20 days ago

Ira, Scott@Mister and 4 others liked this

Mickaël Bourg

La Démarrante Syrah 2023

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Gamay/Syrah from the great Mickael Bourg and what a wine. Grapey nose full of life and fruit. Purple fruits galore and also some meat, savory and blood components. Wild mint, blackberry flower, sweet herbs and so much more. Joyous. Really gamey but in a sweet fruity way if that make any sense. Now the olives and meat juice goes into overdrive. That palate is giving Crozes x Cornas. So juicy and bright with terrific freshness and acidity. Really clean and so pure. Killer summer red. The nose is out of sight. Sweet, silky tannins and such insane tiny berry fruit intensity and wonderful length. So good. What a wine. This keeps getting better and better with air. Wow. So sleek and olivey and unreal purity. Maybe 9.4? Let’s see more air. — a year ago

Blake, Matt and 8 others liked this