The Central Coast Wine Classic provides many opportunities for its guests to increase their knowledge of food and wine from around the world by offering many Symposiums on a variety of topics.
The Champagne Deutz Symposium with Fabrice Rosset provide guests with a very special opportunity to sample some of the world's greatest Champagnes , one of which only 0.012% of the population will ever have the opportunity to taste. This is what we feel is one the many aspects the Central Coast Wine Classic has to offer.
Nestled into the slops of the famous vineyards of Aÿ, France are the picturesque stone buildings of Champagne Deutz, founded a century and a half ago by William Deutz and Pierre-Hubert Geldermann.
Today, Deutz upholds the traditions of fine champagne-making handed down through five generations. Owning a significant portion of its own vineyards, Deutz selects only top quality grapes from 275 acres of vineyards in the finest crus of Champagne. The wines are slowly and carefully aged in Deutz’ chalk-walled cellars far beneath the historic village of Aÿ.
One of the oldest members of Champagne’s prestigious association of Grands Marques houses, Champagne Deutz has been making distinctive champagnes characterized by finesse, elegant vinosity and complexity since 1838.
Fabrice Rosset came all the way from France to take us through these incredible Champagnes.
More than 20 years ago, Fabrice Rosset joined the House of Louis Roederer and worked alongside Jean-Claude Rouzaud (owner of the Company) as Export Director, International Sales & Marketing Director and Vice-President. Fabrice is now Chairman and CEO of Champage Deutz.
The history of Champagne Deutz is long and colorful to say the least. Champagne Deutz was founded in 1838 as Deutz & Geldermann. The two immigrants from Napoleonic Prussia — Geldermann, a Champagne salesman, and Deutz, a negociant — opened an office with no vineyards. The cuvées were bought sur lattes, already in the bottle, and were then disgorged, the dosage added and the wines labeled
When René Deutz and Alfred Geldermann inherited the business from their fathers in the late 1860s, sales of their Champagne had been consistently rising for years. Alfred Geldermann later married René's sister, Marie Deutz, strengthening the bonds of partnership.
Deutz took its place among the great Houses of Champagne when it became a founding member of the Syndicat des Grandes Marques.
During the Great Depression, disaster was avoided when Marie Deutz reinvested a large part of her considerable personal wealth into the Company.
A new commercial director was chosen to replace Charles Van Cassel. Georges Kaminski soon had the House's sales in order, and by 1934, a normal rhythm returned to the financial affairs of Deutz: 132,530 bottles sold, two thirds on the French market. This upward curve continued through the second World War.
In 1938, just before WW II, René Lallier died, leaving the company to his son Jean Lallier. His first task was to get the winery through the war years.
These were difficult times because there was no money to buy grapes, no bottles, no horses to help work in the vineyards, and above all no men to make the wine. But paradoxically, the Third Reich did nothing to stem the flow of champagne production. In fact, the wineries of Champagne were forced to collectively produce between 15 million and 18 million bottles in five years, and obliged to supply the German Army with a set number of cases in proportion to annual production.
Up to the 1950s, Deutz & Geldermann survived on 200,000 bottles a year. Before regular commerce could be revived, the reconstitution of the champagne stocks had to be organized
André Lallier instituted modern methods of management to meet the challenges of the '80s and '90s. While maintaining many of the wine making techniques taught him by his father, André also asserted Champagne Deutz' modernity and implemented many technical upgrades in the winery - finer presses, a better tank room, and an improved disgorgement process.
"The primary materials in the making of champagne have evolved so much," he said. "The present-day grapes are healthier, better cared for, vinified in vats of stainless steel instead of wood, temperature controlled, and all oxidation is avoided."
André focused on improving Deutz' sales network in France, and production grew from 29,000 cases in 1965 to 85,000 cases in 1996.
In 1996, André retired. His son, Jean-Marc Lallier, remains as Export Director. The new President of Champagne Deutz is Fabrice Rosset, a 20-year sales and marketing veteran with Champagne Louis Roederer.
Today, the past and present live contentedly together at Aÿ, merging tradition and technology to create elegant champagnes in the timeless Deutz style.
After Fabrice told us the amazing story of Detuz is was now time to "taste" the history and he was with us every step of the way.
Brut Classic Non Vintage
Brut Classic represents the distinctive Champagne Deutz style of elegance and finesse, which has made Deutz one of the most respected of all Champagne houses. The non-vintage Champagne is matured according to traditional methods from a blend of several vintages from twenty of the best crus until it reaches a perfect balance of flavor.
Approximately 38% Pinot Noir, 32% Pinot Meunier and 30% Chardonnay
The color of the wine is an intense gold with fine effervescence that signifies long maturation on the lees. On the nose, the wine initially displays notes of hawthorn and white flowers, which are followed by aromas of toast, marzipan and ripe pears. On the palate, the wine is full bodied and elegant with the freshness of a Chardonnay and richness of a Pinot Noir. Overall, the wine is well rounded with a fruity finish
Brut Vintage 2004
Deutz Brut Vintage is created in only the best years when a vintage is declared and only 11 vintages have been released since 1974. The wines are blended from the finest crus and age at least three years on the lees, one year more than required, in order to develop a rich bouquet and flavor.
The grapes are harvested in Aÿ, Marne Valley, Côtes des Blancs, and Montagne de Reims. Of these vineyards, 40 percent of the grape supply is from Deutz vineyards that are rated 97 percent out of 100 on the Champagne classification scale.
The harvest takes place over a 10-day period, generally between Sept 15-Oct 15 and are hand-harvested using the utmost scrutiny. The grapes are then carefully transported to the grape press to be pressed using automatic and traditional Coquard basket presses. One-hundred percent malolactic fermentation is used. The wine is fermented in 3,000-gallon tanks at 62 degrees Fahrenheit for two weeks. The wines are then left to age and hand riddled in traditional riddling racks.
60% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier
Blanc de Blancs 2004
The grapes are harvested exclusively from Le Mesnil sur Oger (40%), Avize (50%) and Villers Marmery (10%). Forty percent of the grape supply is from Deutz' own vineyards, which rate 98% on the Cham¬pagne scale.
Brut Rosé Vintage 2004
Made exclusively from Pinot Noir, 80% of these grapes come from the Montagne de Reims area, and the remaining 20% come from the Marne Valley. The specific style and color is obtained by the addition of 9% of red wine, whose Pinot Noir grapes come from two plots on the Aÿ hillside called “La Côte” and “Meurtet”, both that have perfect exposure. After 4 years ageing in our cellars, its aromas have perfectly blended, and the Brut Rosé has a very subtle nose and a palate that shows remarkable power.
A precise, full and ample flavor, complemented by the richness of full-bodied, ripe fruit, emulating a high class Pinot Noir.
• With a dense, tight texture, leaving in its wake lingering notes of great elegance.
Cuvée William Deutz 1998
Created in honor of the founder of Champagne Deutz, Cuvée William Deutz is only made in years when nature bestows on the Champagne region an exceptional harvest (on average, 1 year in 3).
Cuvée William Deutz is only made available to the discerning few - only 0.012% of the population will ever have the opportunity to taste this superb champagne. The cuvée is aged a minimum of 5 years in Deutz cellars buried 25 meters (82 feet) underground to ensure ideal conditions of humidity and temperature.
55 % Pinot Noir, 35 % Chardonnay, 10 % Pinot Meunier
Powerful nose, rich and complex, that shows aromas reminiscent of baked apples, together with light and pleasant hints of preserved ginger and nutmeg, amongst others.
The entry is crisp and the wine then develops considerable finesse, also revealing delicate flavors of sultanas that evoke the charms of a sunny place. showing a full range of secondary aromas that are usually found in Champagnes that have been aged for a longer period.
Since 1838 Champagne Deutz has provided the world with one of the finest Champagnes . Having Fabrice Rosset explain the history and take us on a tasting journey was an opportuinty that will be in our memory for a very long time. The Central Coast Wine Classic really went above and beyond to provide an opportunity like this very special Symposium.
