De Sousa Cuvée 3A Extra Brut Grand Cru NV

Grape Makeup:

50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay

Sweetness Level:

Extra Brut

Ageing on Lees:

3 years

Price:

$$ (V)

Cellar:

5-10 years

What

Biodynamic, organic grower with Portuguese and Avizoise heritage, beloved for its robust, powerful old-vine chardonnay.

Where

Avize, Côte des Blancs; 11 hectares of vines in 42 plots across several Grand Crus, all on chalk soils; 60% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir, 10% meunier.

Why

Cuvée 3A combines three “A” Grands Crus: 50% chardonnay from Avize and pinot noir from Aÿ and Ambonnay (25% each) to create a blend of great balance and harmony.  The vineyards in all three have primarily chalky soils and old vines (50 years old in Avize, some even older in Ambonnay).

What else

Try the perpetual cuvée “Cuvée de Caudalies,” which exemplifies the house style and is one of the most admired multi-vintage prestige cuvées in the region.

Tasting Notes

Very nutty and a little sweaty, the nose sings of roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes, even honey glazed carrots. Gloriously toasty and rich on the palate, this is elevated by beautiful acidity, creating great tension. A robust tannic structure underneath (almost like in a red wine) has plenty of flesh packed around it. A gently nutty toastiness lingers on the finish but there is still acidity and Meyer lemon fruit there, which persists for ages along with the dark toasted notes.

Try It With

Meaty dishes with beef or lamb that complement the roasted root vegetable vibes.

When To Drink

Main course or after dinner

Perfect For

The person who claims they don't drink wine less than a decade old.

Tatler Tip

The striking label of this bottle (or several of De Sousa's other cuvées, like Mycorhize) make it a fantastic choice for displaying prominently, perhaps as your house champagne.

TL/DR

Robust, rich and nutty.

Supplier

Champagne Asia