CHAMPAGNE DE SOUSA ET FILS

Representative of the third generation, Erick De Sousa directs since 1986 this estate of 9 ha. Established in the middle of the Côte des blancs, one of the great areas of Champagne in the south of Epernay, the vineyard is located, moreover, on classified soils Grand cru like Avize. It is there also that Chardonnay is expressed best. This beautiful area profits from an ideal south-eastern orientation, a maximum sunning (beautiful maturity of the grapes) and from a chalky ground which get for the very characteristic champagnes smoothnesses, elegance and vividness. Érick de Sousa chose malolactic fermentation in order to make the wines rounder and more supple, and it passes its cold wine to keep all the transparency with its Champagne. He works in biodynamy and has just bought 3 ha more on Avize Grand Cru (Chardonnay 100%). “This cultivation method aims at giving again with the vine a natural balance and redynamiser the microbiological life of the ground which is the driving belt of the elements of the soil to the vine. The biodynamy develops and reinforces natural defenses of the vine and the assistance to express its maximum qualitative potential. We thus plow the vines with the plow to weed them and air the ground. We work out our own compost, bring to the vine preparations containing minerals, of plants (nettle, camomile, dandelion, valerian…) and other natural elements. We leave the 2003, one vintage particular since this year we had much sun and heat, it was the year of the heat wave, one obtains with tasting much aromas of ripe fruits, of quince, pineapple. It is a Champagne very round, fleshy, very supple, very very full which has much fullness. For the cuvée des Caudalies, resulting from old vines matured out of barrels of oak, I voluntarily block malolactic fermentation, which enables him to keep much freshness. For the wines, it was a very beautiful year, there is a beautiful minerality which is essential well too. We are working on a new vintage since I obtained in hiring new vines of Pinot noir with Avize, Ambonnay and Ay (3 has, because it is the initial one of the three communes). On the 17 grand crus of Champagne there are only these three soils which start with letter A. We work out a vintage 50% Pinot noir and 50% Chardonnay, we do not know yet proportioning, we currently work there, this vintage will leave to the end of the year or next spring. I am always in perpetual research. I have a request on behalf of the importers and, with these vines in grand cru recently, it was the occasion to create an additional vintage, since I made only Blanc de blancs before. This Champagne is of a beautiful vivid color because of the Pinot noir, the aromas “pinotent” (raspberry, strawberry…). On these two quite distinct soils, the first, in Ambonnay, the soil king of the Pinot noir, we have the chance to have old vines planted in 1950. I did one prunes severe so that when the year is favorable, I can produce Coteaux champenois rouge there. L' different portions out, very calcareous, is located at Ay. We will assemble the wines resulting from the two soils of black Pinot with the Chardonnay of Avize. This vintage will symbolize the complementarity of these three soils.

COORDONNEES
Owner's name : Erick et Michelle de Sousa
Who's in charge : Erick et Michelle de Sousa
Adress : 12, place Léon Bourgeois - BP 2 51190 Avize
Phone : 03 26 57 53 29
Fax : 03 26 52 30 64
E-Mail : champagnedesousa@vinsdusiecle.com
Top French Wines Site : www.topfrenchwines.com/champagnedesousa
Personal website : www.champagnedesousa.com