Although, at Deutz, it is unusual for the first assessments of the “vins clairs” to be carried out before the wines have thoroughly rested after their alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, i.e. before mid-January, “the results were already looking promising a month earlier”, says Deutz’ cellar master, Michel Davesne.
But that was no reason to rush into the blending and bottling “from 1 January” as permitted in the Appellation’s regulations. At Deutz “we give time to Time”.
Now, after several weeks of tasting and blending work, we can confirm that we will produce all the champagnes in our vintage range this year. With a total stock ratio which, with the addition of the 2019s, will be close to 20% vintage wines; each champagne is produced without any commercial pressure, in variable and very small quantities for our newest offering, the single-varietal/vineyard wines from the “Vignobles Maison”: Hommage à William Deutz.
First, we finalised the blend for the linchpin of our range, the Deutz Brut Classic, in a process which was, of course, both meticulous and uncompromising. The tastings of the “vins clairs” and “vins de réserve” (conducted by our CEO Fabrice Rosset and calling on the expertise of our cellar master Michel Davesne), were so impressive that we were able to produce all the vintage wines in the Deutz range again this year. This highly unusual because, of course, from among the 150 or so batches vinified separately, Deutz will only produce outstanding wines as vintages.
Hats off and all our gratitude, then, to Mother Nature and all our partner winegrowers whose grapes supplement those grown on the Deutz estates.
Despite the current situation and the short-term uncertainty this has created, we will be bottling a record volume of almost 2.8 million bottles, proof – if proof were needed – of the health of the brand and our confidence in the future.
Bottling operations will commence on 4 May 2020. Then, the “prise de mousse” will be in action for 3 to 4 weeks before the wines are aged on the lees, which is essential to obtaining the maturity needed to preserve the Deutz style.
With ageing times that largely exceed those set out by the Appellation, you will have to wait around 3 years to try Deutz’ nonvintage champagnes: the Deutz Brut Classic and Deutz Brut Rosé; 4, 5 or even 6 years for the vintage champagnes: Brut Millésimé, Rosé Millésimé and Blanc de Blancs 2019; and lastly, a minimum of 8 to 10 years for the 2019 Vintage William Deutz, Amour de Deutz and Amour de Deutz Rosé.
