- One of the oldest and most prominent houses in Champagne with little to no sulphur across the range
The nose suggests juicy white peach and fresh pear with some added floral notes such as jasmine thanks to the Pinot Blanc. The sensation is very mineral-driven, with pleasant biscuit and cream showing a supple and seductive finish.
We are thrilled to have such a wine in our midst and you should show this off to your friends at your next dinner party. The forgotten grape is always a great conversation starter.
About The House
Since 1808 the Drappier family has used its skill to select parcels of land, which are particularly well exposed and extremely rich in limestone. They are located in the small village of Urville in the Côte des Bar where Pinot Noir, the predominant grape variety, finds its purest expression and allows the production of very elegant, aromatic wines. With an annual production of some 1.5 million bottles, they are considerably larger than a small grower, but not quite of the size of the Grande Marques in and around Reims and Epernay. Drappier is one of the foremost producers in the region which is highly respected amongst its peers like Cédric Bouchard, Marie-Courtin, Vouette et Sorbée, and Jacques Lassaigne. They own 55 hectares of vineyards and use another 50 hectares under contract with other growers. A an interesting historical fact is that Charles de Gaulle (the Former Minister of the Armed Forces in France) was very fond of their Champagne and they named a cuvée after him. Amongst their range of excellent cuvée’s, they have a range including a ‘Sulfur free’, ‘Zero dosage’, and a ‘blanc de blancs’ that contains a forgotten grape called Blanc Vrai.
Technical Details
Only the juices from first pressing – the cuvées - are used with mechanical low-pressure presses and use of gravity to avoid pumping, which avoids oxidisation. Minimal use of sulphur; Natural settling; Alcoholic fermentation for roughly 2 weeks at low temperature; followed by total and natural malolactic fermentation; No filtering.
Assemblage – 100% of the wines are made in stainless steel vats in order to preserve as much freshness as possible. After bottling, the cuvée is aged for at least 2-3 years on lees. Dosage: 8 g/L
Food Pairings
Pair with freshly shucked Oysters with fresh lemon juice.
