Like many of the best of Champagne’s grower producers the Rousseaux’s have been growing vines for more than a century in the Grand Cru village of Verzenay, beginning in the late 1800’s. A walk up and down the streets in the village will reveal to you the number of family members, cousins, aunts and uncles that are involved in making wine here. The family lineage to the vines that seems almost de rigueur these days is written in the family DNA but Adrien, a fourth generation winemaker, is anything but typical. Adrien’s grandfather Paul bottled his first Champagne in the beginning of the 20th century and his father Denis created the current brand Rousseaux- Batteux in 1976.
Adrien has been in charge of the estate since 2012. He manages 2.6ha of vines spread across Verzenay, Verzy, Louvois and Villers-Marmery. The plots are small and generally old, the average age of vines is over 50 years old. There is some new wood, around 10% on the wines but only to, ‘preserve a subtle sweetness and light exposure to oxygen’ to compliment the fruit from the vineyards. There are never any pesticides or herbicides used and the health of the vines is of the utmost importance.
VINTAGE: 2018/2019
BLEND: 100% Pinot Noir
DOSAGE: 3 g/l
LEES AGEING: 3 years
VINEYARDS: Verzenay
Tasting Notes:
Light golden straw color. Medium on the nose and fine small bubbles, light creamy texture, the wine is elegant and has quite a long finish. Red apple, yellow apple, brioche, biscuits, rhubarb. Absolutely wonderful with some French goat cheese.
Give this 100% Grand Cru Pinot Noir Champagne A Try, You Won't Be Disappointed!