The Producer
Founded in 1808 in Urville, in the heart of the Côte des Bar, the Champagne Drappier house is one of the great family signatures of Champagne. The modern history of the estate is mainly written from the 20th century, when the Drappier family decided to prioritize Pinot Noir, the emblematic grape of the south of Champagne. True to a philosophy of authenticity and expression of the terroir, the house has gradually established itself as a reference for generous and precise champagnes, appreciated by both enthusiasts and fine dining establishments.
The vineyard of the house is mainly located around the village of Urville, in the Côte des Bar, a region characterized by its clay-limestone soils of Kimmeridgian origin, similar to those of Chablis. This terroir, particularly suited to Pinot Noir, produces wines that are both powerful and elegant, marked by a beautiful fruit maturity. The house currently cultivates more than 60 hectares, with an increasing focus on sustainable viticulture and reducing inputs, in order to preserve the purity of the soils and the typicity of the grapes.
Today led by Michel Drappier and his family, the house perpetuates a style recognizable among all: low-dosage champagnes, often made with very little sulfur and sometimes vinified in large oak casks. This artisanal approach allows for the production of emblematic cuvées, particularly around pinot noir, which faithfully reflect the identity of the Côte des Bar and the family's commitment to sincere and expressive wines.
The Wine
PLOT: Les Truchots, vine cultivated in Organic Agriculture, plowed by horse, under the guidance of Antoine Drappier.
SOIL: Jurassic Limestone Upper Kimmeridgian (south exposure).
BLEND: 100% Fromenteau. 50% from the 2019 harvest, 50% from the 2020 harvest.
VINIFICATION: No chaptalization, nor filtration, nor clarification.
Natural malolactic fermentation. Little sulfur. 3 years of aging on slats.
AGING: 100% aged in demi-muids (600L) in local oaks from the Forest of Orient for 8 months.
Tasting
Expression 100% Fromenteau (Champenois name for Pinot Gris). This grape with a copper skin, once very present in the Aube, produced wines known as "gray". Rich, silky, and ample, the Fromenteau, very rare today, gives a golden juice with notes of forgotten fruits. In the line of non-dosed single varietals, dear to the Drappier family, this Fromenteau has naturally established itself as Brut Nature.