Champagne Deutz Pays Tribute to William Deutz with Pinot Pair
At The Peninsula London on Wednesday, Champagne Deutz released a tribute to its roots with two refined Grand Cru Pinot Noirs from the 2018 vintage. The post Champagne Deutz Pays Tribute to William Deutz with Pinot Pair appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Champagne Deutz has launched two new single-vineyard expressions from the 2018 vintage - Hommage à William Deutz La Côte Glacière and Hommage à William Deutz Meurtet - both crafted from Pinot Noir grown on the celebrated slopes of Aÿ. The wines were officially unveiled on 10 June at The Peninsula London, with a masterclass hosted by cellar master Caroline Latrive.
The new wines mark a tribute to the house’s founder, William Deutz, who was said to be “immensely captivated” by the hillside vineyards of Aÿ upon his arrival in the region in the 19th century. The two bottlings are intended to reflect the “splendour of the Aÿ terroir in elegant and refined wines for connoisseurs”.
Both cuvées come from parcels that performed exceptionally in the 2018 vintage. La Côte Glacière 2018 is described as “opulent, generous and rich”, while Meurtet 2018 is more restrained, showcasing a “velvety texture” and “balanced and fresh” profile. Both are made entirely from Pinot Noir and classified as Grand Cru, with an RRP of £125.
A legacy
Founded in Aÿ in 1838, Champagne Deutz is one of the historic names in the region and a founding member of the Syndicat des Grandes Marques de Champagne. Though firmly rooted in its home terroir, the house has had a long-standing relationship with the UK, exporting 143,000 bottles in its founding year alone. By 1897, Deutz was shipping 450,000 bottles annually to Britain, which then accounted for over 60% of its global sales. Its emblematic Goldlack cuvée - created in 1846 and inspired by the famous 1811 comet - became a fixture at major British events, including Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee and royal banquets, with The Morning Post noting in 1884: “No other brand has gained a popularity to a greater extent in this country than that of Deutz & Geldermann.”
That deep relationship with Britain continues today, as Deutz maintains its reputation as a producer of elegant, terroir-driven Champagnes, underpinned by a philosophy of non-interventionist winemaking and long ageing. The house works with grapes sourced within a 20-kilometre radius of Aÿ, with over 70% coming from Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites, and over 12 hectares under estate ownership in Aÿ itself - the only cru in Champagne classified 100% Grand Cru for both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Under Latrive’s stewardship, Deutz remains committed to what it calls the “vocation of pleasure”: producing Champagnes that are luminous, fresh, and profound, offering “moments of emotion” for those who drink them. The new Hommage à William Deutz wines are parcel-based expressions created to honour both the land and legacy of the maison. Their release reflects the house’s broader philosophy, where time - whether in the vineyard, during fermentation, or in the cellar - is considered an essential ingredient.
