Champagne tasting at Maison Drappier

Tasting report from the Champagne house Drappier on December 5, 2019

A wonderful tasting that lets us appreciate the complexity of the soils in this part of the Aube, which are geologically closer to those of Chablis (50 km away) than to those of the Marne.

Wine #1 - Champagne Drappier Clarevallis

• The name comes from Clairvaux Abbey (Clara Vallis)
• Blend: Pinot Noir (75%), Chardonnay, Meunier
• Dosage: 4g/L
• Very fresh, fairly crisp and fruity, with anise and a slight touch of bitterness

Wine #2 - Champagne Drappier Brut Nature

• Nose: Slightly peppery, typical of Pinot from the Aube. The grapes are fully ripe, giving the wine balance, and its acidity is well integrated

Wine #3 – Champagne Drappier Blanc de Blancs Signature

• Blend: Chardonnay 95%, Pinot Blanc “Blanc Vrai” 5%
• Dosage: 7 g/L
• Creamy, with citrus—lemon—and floral notes and a little bitterness on the finish; most tasters found the dosage a touch high

Wine #4 – Champagne Drappier Blanc de Blancs – Grand Cru – 2012

• Chardonnay 100%
• Long aging on the lees
• Dosage: 6g/L
• Pastry notes on the nose, with spices; a fairly rich, complex wine with autolytic character, and one of the best-tasting bottles that day.

Wine #5 – Champagne Drappier Charles de Gaulle

• Blend: Pinot Noir 80%, Chardonnay 20%
• Dosage: 7g/L
• Peppery, slightly vegetal nose; round, well-balanced palate

Wine #6 – Champagne Drappier Grande Sendrée 2009

• The soil is highly distinctive because it is deeply eroded. The name comes from the ash deposited here after a fire.
• Blend: Pinot Noir 55%, Chardonnay 45%
• Time in oak + 9 years on the lees
• A mineral wine with the roundness of the vintage. Very creamy, it stands out for a finish markedly longer than that of all the other cuvées.

Wine #7 - Champagne Drappier Grande Sendrée Rosé 2008

• A rosé de saignée (Pinot Noir) with some Chardonnay added!
• A round, creamy palate full of red berries, with a lovely long finish.

> Discover all the Champagne Drappier wines available at Vins & Millésimes HERE 

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