Nikos Daditsios was lucky enough to find himself in Champagne, tasting Deutz champagne from its source. He’s here to tell us all about it.
A trip to Paris is a dream in itself. You may prefer to spend your time in museums, wander the alleys of Le Marais browsing the tiny shops, or even enjoy a cheese and wine meal or a six dinner in the City of Light’s fine dining restaurants. Paris will surely keep you interested.
However, if you are a champagne lover you’ll know that the region that produces this liquid gold is located is less than an hour from the center of Paris. So what do you do? In our case, you give in to temptation. Without any second thoughts, we booked our tickets on the state-of-the-art TGV train. Forty-five minutes later we were in Reims.
Reims (pronounced Rems) is in the Champagne – Ardennes region, 130km from Paris. This city has played a very important part in the history of French royalty, as this was where each King of France was crowned. Coincidentally, it’s also the place where the favorite drink of French royalty is produced. We’re talking about none other than champagne!
Although it’s the northernmost wine production area in France and therefore the coldest, Champagne’s climate creates ideal conditions for a number of very interesting wines. Champagne grows just three varieties of grape: two red – Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – and one white – Chardonnay. At the epicenter of champagne production are the city of Reims and the town of Epernay. However, the entire region of the same name produces the delectable drink.
Full of vineyards, the area is stunningly beautiful. Our destination was the picturesque village of Ay, home to one of the most famous champagne houses, the boutique Deutz winery. They’re one of the oldest members of the renowned champagne producers’ Club des Grandes Marques, which they joined in 1838. Ever since, Deutz have created unique champagnes, impeccable in finesse, elegance and complexity.
Our tour of the facilities which was in fact conducted by a descendant of the founder, Jean Lallier-Deutz, started from William Deutz’s house, which now houses the company headquarters. This mansion is truly unique in beauty, maintaining a rare old-timey rustic glory as it has escaped modernisation. It truly highlights the boutique character of this small winery.
Crossing the beautiful garden of the house, you reach the small road on which the winery stands. You can’t help but feel impressed once you take a look at the house’s champagnes maturing slowly, carefully arranged in their bottles. They lay in cellars carved in limestone, 5km in length, 20m underneath the historical village of Ay. That is the moment when you realize why champagne constitutes the very essence of the wine world.
Of course, we couldn’t leave without tasting some representative samples of this champagne house’s work. Moving to the bright tasting hall, we were fortunate enough to taste:
Deutz Brut Classic
The main house champagne. Intensely golden thanks to the maturing of the yeast. Aromas of flowers, marzipan, baked bread and mature fruit (pear, apple). The freshness of the chardonnay and the potency of the pinot noir create a champagne that’s full but elegant at the same time, with a finesse, silky texture and pronounced fruity finish.
Deutz Blanc de Blancs
It’s considered one of the strongest, most balanced and round chardonnays to ever come out of Champagne. This champagne is characterized by a precise finesse and can be aged for a long time. It’s paired with seafood, lobster and grilled white fish.
Cuvee Williams Deutz
A bright golden hue over warm colors of mature wheat. Fine, multiple bubbles. Aromas of flowers, exotic fruit (mango) and caramelized fruit flavors. An excellent combination of power and finesse. Long, aromatic and fruity finish. It accompanies gourmet meals.
Amour De Deutz
Amour de Deutz is a rare champagne. Born of the romance of the grand crus of the Chardonnay variety with the naturally chalky terroir, it proudly displays the allure of is youthful freshness which gradually softens as it ages, revealing the essence of the grapes in a harmonious expression of all the senses. A unique, sophisticated champagne.
Thanking our hosts for their hospitality and having consumed a few exquisite glasses of champagne – testament to the exceptional job the Deutz house does – we returned to Paris contented, promising ourselves we’d soon return to the wonderful Champagne.
