Champagne Drappier - Brut Carte d'Or

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Based in Urville, in the heart of the Côte des Bar since 1808, the Drappier family, headed by Michel and his children, owns 55 hectares of vineyards and has contracts for a further 50 hectares. The wines, produced mainly on soils dating back to the Kimmeridgian Jurassic period, showcase the classic Champagne grape varieties. While Pinot Noir reigns supreme, Petit Meslier, Blanc Vrai and Arbane are also grown. Committed to respecting the environment and the identity of the grape varieties, Michel Drappier creates meticulous, precise and sincere blends. A pioneer in the production of brut nature wines using healthy viticulture methods, he carefully crafts his dosage liqueur for the other cuvées.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Like almost all Drappier cuvées, the Carte d'Or, the house's signature wine, features Pinot Noir (80%), complemented by Chardonnay (15%) and Meunier. It contains 40% reserve wines, with very little oak influence. The predominance of black grapes is reflected in the rose gold highlights in the golden color and in the generous, very fruity aromas, dominated by white citrus fruit, with hints of almond and toast. It is also evident in the smooth roundness and fullness on the palate, balanced by a fresh attack and a mineral touch.

About the estate:

A renowned Aube-based winery founded in 1808. Its current owner, Michel Drappier, joined by his children Charline, Hugo, and Antoine, runs a 62-hectare vineyard planted mainly with Pinot Noir (a third of which is organic) near Bar-sur-Aube, but he also sources grapes from other areas from other winegrowers. In the cellar, sulfite levels and dosages are carefully measured. Prestigious bottles, particularly large formats, are aged in the venerable cellars dug in 1152 by monks from the nearby Clairvaux Abbey, while others are stored in Reims in cellars built in former chalk pits.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About wine:

A very pleasant freshness, reminiscent of a spring shower, the beach during a storm, and the scent of apricot sorbet while waiting for the dark clouds to disappear. Very smooth and creamy on the palate, it offers intense aromas of ripe yellow fruit and pear, with a beautiful balance between acidity and bitterness that brings density and tension to a brilliant texture.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

As always, NV Brut Carte d'Or is a classic, well-executed, and fragrant champagne. It evokes aromas of white peach, ripe orchard fruits, pastries, and spices. Medium-bodied, round and enveloping, it is delicately vinous and framed by an elegant mousse, with a beautiful, enticing finish with notes of ripe orchard fruits. This blend of 80% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Meunier was disgorged with a dosage of 6.5 grams per liter.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

Right from the start, the Pinot Noir d'Aube dominates this frank, flavorful cuvée. Full-bodied, fruity, and generous without being heavy, it is carried by a very fine effervescence. What style!

About the estate:

The Drappier family dates back to the 17th century. Formerly occupied by Cistercian monks from Clairvaux, the estate's headquarters includes 12th-century vaulted cellars. Following in his father's footsteps, Michel Drappier has been overseeing winemaking since 1979. The family owns a large vineyard in Urville (a third of which is organically farmed), supplemented by supplies from the Montagne de Reims, Bouzy, and Ambonnay. The Chardonnays come from Aube and Cramant. Drappier champagnes are colorful, generous in their aromas, and expressive on the palate with their earthy vinosity. Here we find a frank and unadorned terroir dimension, vinified with minimal doses of sulfur.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

Originally from Urville, in the Côte des Bars region, Champagne Carte D'Or Brut NV is composed of 80% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay, and a touch of Meunier. Bright straw gold in color, it is ripe and fruity in the glass and beautifully expresses its pure and generous profile with aromas of black cherries, ripe peaches, fresh flowers, and shortbread. Medium-bodied, it is compact, with concentrated maturity and a mellow mousse that rounds out the wine to the finish. Very appealing, it is perfect for the fall and winter months and can be enjoyed now or within the next 4 to 6 years.

Le Figaro vins