Champagne Drappier Carte d’Or Brut NV

Description

Champagne Drappier Carte d’Or Brut is the main non-vintage cuvee from Drappier.

Champagne Drappier was founded in 1808 and remains owned by the Drappier family. Their vineyards today cover a thousand “hommées” (more precisely, 55 hectares) of land owned by the domaine located around Urville, where Pinot Noir, the predominant grape variety, finds its loveliest expression and allows the production of very elegant, aromatic wines. They also have some 50 hectares in contractual arrangements with other growers in the Côte des Bar, Montagne de Reims, and Côte des Blancs. In the early 20th Century Pinot Noir had fallen out of favour in Champagne, but sensing Pinot Noir’s potential Drappier were one of the first Champagne Houses to start replanting Pinot Noir vines (to some ridicule from their neighbours). Extremely low levels of sulphur are used, the liqueur d’expédition is matured for over fifteen years in oak and demi-johns; and Drappier is the only house to ferment every format, from half-bottles up to the gigantic 30-litre Melchisédech, in the bottle in which it is sold. Although their wines are predominantly Pinot Noir based, they are not heavy.

Champagne Drappier Carte d’Or Brut is a blend of 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier. 5% of the wines are matured in barrels for 1 year to enrich the cuvée. Dosage is 7 g/l.