De Sousa Champagne Cuvee 3A Grand Cru

50% Avize, a village classified as a Grand Cru Chardonnay, located at the heart of the Côte des Blancs, a terroir where the purest chalk in all of Champagne, composed of belemnite, is found. These fossilized shells dating back millions of years lend freshness, minerality and finesse to these wines which stand out for their personality.
For this cuvée, we have made a selection of grapes grown on over 50-year-old vines, and have vinified them carefully in 225-litre oak barrels.

25% Aÿ, a village classified as a Grand Cru Pinot Noir, located where the Marne Valley meets the Mountain of Reims. The slopes' unique, full southern exposure and irregular topography allow the Pinot Noir grape to express its aromas of ripe fruit while allying power and finesse. These old vineyards are still planted with old varieties of Pinot Noir that produce small fruit with unique aromas.
This historic village boasts sedimentary and limestone soils in which there is a high proportion of chalk.

25% Ambonnay, a village classified as a Grand Cru Pinot Noir, located on the Mountain of Reims, a vast, forest-covered plateau where the grape vines are planted in chalky soils. The forest plays the role of balancing the cold, evening air that descends onto the plain with the warm air produced during the day that rises toward the summit.
We have chosen to maintain our vines that were there planted in the 1950s. They have low yields but the grapes show greater maturity and more concentration.

Unlike Chardonnay, a fragile, delicate varietal, Pinot Noir is vigorous and is well-adapted to limestone soils to yield wines that stand out for their power and consistency and are well-supported by good structure. The aromas are very elegant, boasting highly sought-after red berry notes. Avize, Aÿ, and Ambonnay are the only three villages in Champagne classified as Grand Cru whose name begins with an "A". This explains how this cuvée got its name, but what makes it unique is its composition of 50% Chardonnay from Avize blended with 50% Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Ambonnay.

Two varietals, three Grands Crus that each lend their own personality to the cuvée.