Champagne DRAPPIER
14 Rue des Vignes
10200 URVILLE - FRANCE
Tél. : + 33 (0)3 25 27 40 15

info@champagne-drappier.com

www.champagne-drappier.com

Champagne Drappier, independent wine-growers of the Champagne

Well know the Maison Drappier located in Champagne, in Urville in the Aube vineyard.

Maison Drappier, low-dosage champagne and the least sulphite.

Located in Urville, in the heart of the Aube (Côte des Bar), in the cradle of Pinot Noir, the Maison de Champagne Drappier was created in 1808 in cellars built in 1152 by the Abbey of Clairvaux. The 60-hectares vineyard are planted in Urville where the vines are grown according to organic farming. Its champagnes, by low dosages and a rational use of sulfites are natural and authentic. The different cuvées are marked by freshness and an elegant effervescence. Michel Drappier has been managing the company since 1979, under the watchful eye of his father André Drappier, and today it is the 8th generation who manages the Maison after taking over the reins, alongside Micheline and André Drappier. The Maison is distinguished by its respect for tradition and commitment to innovation, offering fine fine champagnes with a refined style whose highlight is the Grande cuvée Sendrée.

Drappier and the resurrection of Pinot Noir in Aube.

Founded in 1808 by François Drappier in the heart of the Aube region in Urville, François Drappier manages a few hectares of vineyards. The house of champagne is gradually growing. In 1930, Georges Collot, the maternal grandfather of Michel Drappier, the current head of the house, took the initiative to replant Pinot Noir in Urville, a grape variety that had completely disappeared from this part of Champagne, which was more oriented towards Pinot Meunier. At the time, his initiative was criticized and even mocked to the point of being nicknamed, with condescension, «Father Pinot.» However, thanks to him, Pinot Noir represents 75% of the Urville village’s vines and corresponds roughly in proportion to the Drappier vineyard. 

In 1952, André Drappier, the father of Michel Drappier, came up with the Carte d'Or cuvée, a true emblem of the Maison Drappier with its recognizable yellow label. André Drappier is one of the precursors, even the forerunner of marketing by developing packaging that today characterizes a reflex of all Champagne houses. In its momentum, the development of different bottles of several capacities will go crescendo.

In 1957, the Maison, like most of the Champagne and Wine-Harvesting Houses, was to face major difficulties due to a terrible frost. This one destroys not less than 95% of the harvest. It is by observing the damage and by blaming financially the blow that André Drappier finally decided to reduce the canopy of Pinot Noir in favor of a more resistant grape, Pinot Meunier: the main grape variety in the Aube.

In 1958, the house moved into cellars built in 1152 by the monks of the Abbey of Clairvaux under the direction of the Cistercian Bernard de Clairvaux who had an annex built at Urville the abbey of Clairvaux.

The commercial development of the Maison Drappier goes well with the sandstone of the different vintages with the acquisition of new markets and sometimes pushed by unexpected brand ambassadors. As proof, Drappier seduced General de Gaulle, who had just arrived at the Elysée palace for his first term as President of the Republic. The man of 18 June (1940) will have a crush on a cuvée from the house Drappier. The story says that he ordered it for his family consumption, at home, in Colombey-les-deux-Eglises and to receive his friends or heads of states.

In 1968, Micheline, the wife of André Drappier, imagined a 100% Pinot Noir Rosé champagne offered in a white bottle. A real audacity for the time. Today, it is the 8th generation (the 3 children of Michel and Sylvie Drappier) embodied by Charline, Hugo and Antoine Drappier, who is in command, under the eye of the parents.

A vast vineyard leads in organic farming.

The vineyard of Drappier is vast with its own 60 hectares, a vineyard certified «Organic Agriculture» mainly located on the commune of Urville, and for its own needs does not fail to obtain supplies from other vintners-harvesters in a proportion roughly equal to the area it owns. This allows the family estate to produce not 1,500,000 bottles a year. Note that the village of Urville is the home land of Pinot Noir. A grape variety that reigns supreme and represents 70% of the estate, completed by 15% Pinot Meunier, 9% Chardonnay and 6% old varieties. Indeed, the House of champagne continues to cultivate forgotten and yet unforgettable grape varieties: Fromenteau, Arbane, Petit Meslier and Blanc Vrai. Indeed, the family estate is constantly looking for authenticity and naturalness, applying a policy of very low dosage and extremely moderate use of sulfites. One of the characteristics that signs the DNA of this champagne House.

Champagnes that don’t give you a headache.

The Drappier are completely opposed to the excessive use of sulphur. This bias was very early on in the House. The latter practices the lowest doses of the profession to elaborate champagnes with more natural colors with more accentuated gold and more harmonious aromas.

This peculiarity of the House, managed by the cellar master Yannick Desmarest, allows champagne to take a slower low temperature foam, producing a finer effervescence. These gravity operations preserve wines from oxidation and must allow a reduction in the levels of sulphur (between 30 mg and 45 mg of sulphur per litre), which is less than a quarter of the authorized content.

In the same spirit and philosophy of pleasant champagnes for the consumer, Drappier decided in 2007 to launch the cuvée Brut Nature Sans Soufre. This vintage is the culmination of an experimental process initiated very early in the Maison Drappier, namely in the 1980s. It was a very unusual approach at the time. This type of champagne has been a resounding success for some years with true aesthetes of champagne with more aerial, more taut but first more cerebral champagnes.

The art of ageing in the Drappier way.

The house has its famous cellars dug by the Cistercian monks in 1152. In this ideal environment of limestone and relaxing, Drappier puts its reserve wines in the «circle» (term champenois to designate the place where the reserve wines age) which includes several types of containers including some cercled « foudres ». These oak barrels are used to refine the great vintages until they are bottled. Thus, we find muids or half-muids (among the smallest containers) made of a local oak extracted from the Eastern forest planted by the Templars in the 13th century.

Drappier also placed in its cellars in 2012 a large egg-shaped lightning making the Maison Drappier the first in Champagne to equip such a container named «Ovum». With its 3,342 litres, this Foudre is the home of the finest vintages of the Maison’s flagship cuvée the Grande Sendrée.

Drappier: generous and colorful champagnes.

Maison Drappier produces champagnes that is distinctive, generous, precise and very balanced. The range is extensive and meets all the expectations of the most curious and demanding consumers. Champagne Drappier Carte d’Or, Champagne Drappier Rosée de Saignée, Champagne Drappier Rosé Nature, Champagne Drappier Brut Nature Rosé – Les Riceys, Champagne Drappier Brut Nature Sans Soufre, Champagne Drappier Clarevallis, Champagne Drappier Blanc de Blancs Signature, Champagne Drappier Quattuor Blanc de Blancs, Champagne Drappier Charles de Gaulle, Champagne Drappier cuvée Grande Sendrée… all these champagnes have a common denominator: vinosity and expressions marked by their place of production. The Cuvée Carte d'Or plays, year after year, the identity of the house. It is the classic Brut Sans Année (BSA) of the great Champagne houses that allows to recognize the style of a house, in its regularity. Carte d'Or expresses the aromas of Pinot Noir (80% of the blend). The Cuvée Brut Nature Sans Soufre also offers a great expression of Pinot Noir. Note that it is one of the most emblematic cuvées of the estate ! Finally, the cuvée Charles de Gaulle (which is not without recalling the approach of the Pol Roger Champagnes with the cuvée Sir Winston Churchill) pays tribute to the man who loved to offer Drappier during his private receptions in Colombey-les-deux-Eglises. Moreover, the famous town is not far from the Maison Drappier. “Neighbourhood” that helps or not, bad language would say the General chose proximity, It is nevertheless true that General de Gaulle had good taste in his eyes when he chose these champagnes.

Champagne Drappier cuvée Grande Sendrée 2012

This cuvée, only produced in the very great vintages, is truly the ultimate of the Maison Drappier, knowing that the Cuvée Brut Nature Sans Soufre had already raised Drappier to a very high level. Why « Sendrée » ? The name of the Cuvée Grande Sendrée comes from a plot of land covered with ash after the devastating fire in the village of Urville in 1836. Packaged in a bottle (real copy) inspired by an 18th century bottle found in the cellars of Urville, the Grande Sendrée is completely stirred by hand. For this cuvée, 35% of the wines are aged in the barrel and the aging in bottle lasts 9 years with regular manual remuages.

The Grande Sendrée is first of all a batch from plots conducted in organic farming and whose vines are based on kimmeridgian crayots covered with ashes. The soil of this plot has a large amount of limestone. In 2012, the Maison Drappier signed a very high vintage. August is hot, dry but fortunately marked by cool nights, essential factor for the perfect maturation of grapes and pure expression of fruit.

On the tasting side, Grande Sendrée 2012 does not usurp its name because the olfaction expresses smoked notes. The bubble is very fine and the cord (bubbles) refined. The palate is elegant, complex and very fresh on pear aromas. The champagne is airy, with volume in the mouth and a length on the finish that suggests a nice period. A refined cuvée.

Champagne Drappier Millésime Exception 2018

Why “Exception”? Maison Drappier wanted to «catch» the signature of a season with its various markers. As such, 2018 transcribed in this champagne a year with excellent, even remarkable climatology. This champagne is made from plots of around 25 years old and located around Urville.

Drappier Millésime Exception 2018 is a powerful, rich and complex champagne. Nice cord of fine bubbles. On the nose, aromas of citrus, vanilla expressions. The palate has a creamy texture with brioche and intense notes. The whole is of a good length, with vivacity and balance. It is a sumptuous vintage.

The great vintages of the Maison Drappier:

1900-1928-1937-1943-1945-1947-1953-1959-1962-1969-1970-1975-1978-1979-1982-1983-1985-1988-1989-1990-1996-1998-2002-2008 -2012-2015-2016-2018-2019-2021