The Producer
Founded in 1808 in Urville, in the heart of the Côte des Bar, Champagne Drappier is one of the great family signatures of Champagne. The modern history of the estate mainly unfolds from the 20th century, when the Drappier family decided to prioritize Pinot Noir, the emblematic grape of southern 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 estate 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 estate 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 estate 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 iconic cuvées, particularly around Pinot Noir, that faithfully reflect the identity of the Côte des Bar and the family's commitment to sincere and expressive wines.
The Wine
PLOT: Les Truchots, vineyard cultivated in Organic Agriculture, plowed by horse, under the guidance of Antoine Drappier.
SOIL: Upper Jurassic Kimmeridgian limestone (south exposure).
BLEND: 100% Fromenteau. 50% from the 2019 harvest, 50% from the 2020 harvest.
VINIFICATION: No chaptalization, filtration, or clarification. Natural malolactic fermentation. Little sulfur. 3 years of aging on laths.
AGING: 100% aged in demi-muids (600L) in local oak from the Forêt d’Orient for 8 months.
Tasting
We rediscover the taste of wines from yesteryear, with a 100% Fromenteau expression (the Champagne name for Pinot Gris). This grape, with its coppery skin, was once very present in the Aube and produced wines known as "gray." Rich, silky, and ample, Fromenteau, now very rare, gives a golden juice with notes of forgotten fruits. In the lineage of non-dosed single varietals, dear to the Drappier family, this Trop m’en Faut has naturally established itself as Brut Nature. After an experimental phase with the 2015 harvest, the revival of this grape continues today with a blend of the 2019 and 2020 vintages.
Its name "Trop m’en Faut" is a play on words derived from "Fromenteau." The principle of this pun invented by Rabelais in the 16th century is to swap certain syllables of a phrase to create another. This outdated name could be translated as "So good that I can never have too much!"
Pale gold color, straw yellow. Floral notes, softened by notes of mirabelle and apricot.