Champagne Deutz reveals single vineyard project

Champagne Deutz has unveiled a new single vineyard, single variety concept with the launch of its Hommage à William Deutz range, made exclusively from Pinot Noir sourced from two individual parcels in Aÿ.

Fabrice Rosset, CEO of Champagne Deutz

Part of the Cuvée William Deutz Vintage collection, Hommage à William Deutz 2010 Parcelles d’Aÿ, named after its founder William Deutz, is a 100% Pinot Noir Champagne sourced from two plots above the family house in Aÿ, purchased by William Deutz in individual parcels in 1838 – the year the house was founded.

The two vineyards – La Côte Glacière (1.92 hectares) and Meurtet (2.42 hectares) – are within the protected UNESCO World Heritage site for Pinot Noir.

“When we embark on the blend following the harvest we have all these wines to choose from and it just happens that Pinot Noir from these two plots always come out well,” explained Fabrice Rosset, CEO of Deutz speaking to the drinks business.

“I said to myself this is so delicious why don’t we explore the possibility of a single grape and single vineyard. So after 15 years of observation of these two plots, we decided to keep some for a vintage.”

The inaugural Hommage à William Deutz release will be the 2010, made from a blend of grapes sourced from both of these vineyards, hence the name “Parcelles”.

“At the time of the harvest we have to be very specific in terms of sourcing and in 2010 we combined the fruit of these two plots and ended up with Hommage à William Deutz 2010 Parcelles d’Aÿ, as oppose to a single vineyard,” explains Rosset.

“What is good though is that most good things happen by accident. It’s a wonderful wine to start with for this range. The next vintage, which will not be 2011 because it was problematic for Pinot Noir, will be the 2012 and we will have the opportunity to taste two wines of a mono cépage.”

The next two Hommage à William Deutz wines will be from the 2012 Vintage, due to be released in two years time, made from grapes sourced from each vineyard  separately. The pair will be the first-ever single vineyard Pinot Noirs from both La Côte Glacière and Meurtet.

As its name suggest, the collection will pay homage to William Deutz, who founded Champagne Deutz in 1838, with its release announced ahead of the house’s 180th anniversary next year.

Commenting on the purpose of further innovation in Champagne, Rosset added: “It’s not a matter of ego but I like to show to the world that we can do these things. There are so many styles and there is a huge diversity in Champagne and I want to show what we can do, because we have the proper raw materials and the talent of winemakers.”

Intended as an entry point to the prestige Cuvée Wiliam Deutz Vintages, around 6,000 bottles of the 2010 Hommage à William Deutz 2010 Parcelles d’Aÿ have been produced, and will retail at around £95, available from UK agents Gonzalez Byass UK.