Champagne Deutz - Cuvée William Deutz 2006 Brut

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

With its notes of citrus zest and its crisp, delicate minerality, this elegant wine unfolds gracefully on the palate and reveals a magnificent, delicate finish.

About the estate:

After a final harvest in 2022, which will be remembered as excellent for the quality of the grapes, Michel Davesne handed over the keys to the cellar to Caroline Latrive, but the fundamentals of this beautiful house in Aÿ, founded in 1838, remain unchanged. Most of the grapes are sourced from within a 30-kilometer radius of Epernay, the three grape varieties are honored, and the wines are vinified in stainless steel vats, as is the storage of reserve wines. The range is well constructed, except for the non-vintage rosé, which could benefit from more depth. We particularly enjoyed the blanc de blancs, the Amour cuvée, and of course the William Deutz and Hommage à William Deutz.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Since 1838, Deutz has been renowned for the elegance of its fine wines. The William Deutz cuvée, made from the three traditional Champagne grape varieties (67% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, and 5% Meunier), will certainly live up to this reputation. The nose, with its great freshness, evokes acacia before shifting toward anise and menthol. The pleasure intensifies on the palate, where one finds opulence and a rich, indulgent character, underscored by notes of honey, vine peach compote, and damson plum. A vintage of great substance, which shines with its complexity and finesse.

About the estate:

Originally from Aachen, wine merchants William Deutz and Pierre-Hubert Geldermann founded this prestigious house in 1838. Long a family-owned business, the company joined the Roederer group in 1993. Renowned for its meticulous blends (30 to 40 different crus for its Classic brut), it owns 46 hectares of vineyards and sources its grapes from within a 30 km radius of the grand cru Aÿ, in the Grande Vallée de la Marne. In 2023, after 26 years as president of the house, Fabrice Rosset handed over the reins to Marc Hoellinger, while Michel Davesne retired and passed the keys to the cellar to Caroline Latrive, who joined from Ayala.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

Here is a vintage that has reached an admirable level of maturity. The palate is dense, revealing lovely notes of yellow fruit and a subtle toasty hint on the finish. Very well-balanced.

About the estate:

This authentic house, part of the Rouzaud family (Louis Roederer champagnes), is making its mark and establishing the consistency of its range with a well-established, precise, and vinous style. In a minor revolution, Marc Hoellinger, a defector from LVMH, succeeded Fabrice Rosset, who had been at the helm of this house for a quarter of a century. Owner of significant land in Champagne, particularly in the Montagne de Reims, Deutz continues to produce champagnes that are faithful to their terroir of origin, predominantly Pinot, which are classic, elegant, deep, and straightforward. Each year, the house produces a beautiful Brut Classic, precise and structured, with fine bubbles. A master of black grapes, Deutz also excels in blanc de blancs with Amour de Deutz, a wine that is both racy and invigorating. As with the previous edition, the rosés are subtle and very well-balanced. We are pleased to note that the rest of the range is also up to standard.

Wine Spectator

Gilbert & Gaillard

About wine:

A luminous golden color. The nose is deep and complex, blending dried fruit, honey, toasted almonds, and pastry notes... On the palate, there is a remarkable balance between winey richness, freshness, and an airy quality that enhances this elegant and persistent aromatic profile.

James Suckling