This blanc de blancs originates from the Grand Cru terroirs of the Côte des Blancs, principally Avize, Cramant, Oger, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The De Sousa estate cultivates 9.5 hectares in Avize, a village at the heart of this prestigious slope, on soils composed 100% of white chalk — or belemnite chalk — of rare purity. These limestone soils provide perfect drainage while maintaining a steady water reserve through capillary action. The vines, averaging 43 years of age, develop deep root systems to extract minerality and tension. East-south-east exposure, altitudes between 100 and 200 metres, and sunlight reflected by the chalk: every element here serves the expression of Chardonnay in its purest, most incisive form.

Erick De Sousa converted the estate to organic farming in 1999, obtaining organic certification in 2010 and Demeter biodynamic certification in 2013. Grapes are hand-harvested from vines, three-quarters of which are over 45 years old. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts, without chaptalisation, each parcel vinified separately. The wine includes 25 to 30% reserve wine aged in oak barrels, ensuring continuity and complexity from one blend to the next. Ageing on lees extends for a minimum of 24 months. The dosage, reduced to 5-7 grams per litre in an Extra Brut style, preserves the purity of the fruit and the razor-sharp minerality characteristic of the De Sousa style.