Eric Rodez
Grand Cru Champagne from certified organic cultivation
Region: Montagne de Reims
Annual production: approx. 45,000 bottles
Size: 6 hectares
Grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Eric Rodez produces Champagne in the 8th generation. Like no other, he masters the complex art of assemblage in an almost magical way. He laid the foundation for this expertise during his years at Krug as cellarmaster, where he was responsible for the house's Grand Cuvée, until he began his work as an independent RM (Récoltant-Manipulant) in 1984.
He is now supported by his son Mikhael in the family business, and at his initiative, the Rodez family has also started vinifying single vineyards. Since little assemblage is required for these, it was not an easy step for Eric. However, today this Champagne house divides its creations into Assemblage, Single Vineyards, and Terroir Wines (different vineyards from one area). The masterpieces created by father and son are virtually unsurpassed in their filigree quality and finesse.
Equally innovative, Eric began converting to biodynamic viticulture in 1989, which has been multi-certified organic since 2017. One should approach him cautiously on the topic of harvest quantity, as grapevines, like those of other producers that bend to the ground under the weight of countless grapes, are not his goal: «Every year we harvest increasingly larger yields and thereby endanger the quality of the product, on whose reputation our very existence depends!» he explains.
Regarding the vinification of individual plots, Eric Rodez, influenced by his time at Krug, is almost obsessive: from 35 plots, he vinifies 60 different base wines, some with malolactic fermentation, some in tanks, but the majority in used wood. He is convinced that wood gives Champagne additional complexity and depth. Thus, the two Rodez annually develop blends and compositions that are even more complex than their ingredients. Rightly, Eric compares this creative process to that of a musician and composer, exclaiming: «Every year a completely new symphony is created!».
Rodez Champagnes are characterized by a distinct «vinosity», coupled with multifaceted complexity, finesse, and elegance. The house stands for sustainability and is Demeter-certified, as well as «certifié Agriculteur Biologique et Biodynamique» and «certifié Haute Valeur Environnementale».