Beautiful Champagne Drappier
When it comes to wine, I not just interested in the wine itself but also the story behind the wine…. Where does it come from? Who created this beautiful wine? What is the history behind the glass?
Drappier is considered one of the finest boutique champagne producers in the world. It was founded in 1808 by Francois Drappier in Urville, Aube which is located in Côte des Bar subregion of Champagne, France. But wait…. The story doesn’t start there…. the story began 2000 years ago when the Romans first planted vines in the area. Fast forward to 1152 when Saint Bernard, the founder of Clairvaux Abbey, built the Abbey’s cellars where Drappier is now located. The Drappier family started in 1604, about the same time as the Ruinard house -both selling upholstery in Reims. It wasn’t until 1803 that one of his ancestors moved to Urville to begin the family legacy of winemaking. The cellars in which the wine is stored are among the oldest and most extensive in Europe, and were the only cellars that were not damaged during the two world wars or the fires that raced through the area in the 1950s. In 1952 they launched their flagship yellow label Carte d’Or Cuvée, a dedication to quince jelly, it’s yellow fruit aromatics are found in every bottle.
Drappier is a seven generation grower-producer house which prides themselves on creating wines that focus on the terroir’s unique characteristics - it’s distinctive Jurassic Kimmeridgian soil and individualistic character of the varietals. They are highly regarded as innovators of the area…. Case in point - In the 1930s the family were the first to plant Pinot Noir to the region which, at the time, was considered ridiculous. Now over 86% of the region is covered in Pinot Noir. Today they not only have the classic Champagne varieties of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier but also less known ones such as Petit Meslier, Blanc Vrai and Arbane. The end result are gorgeously complex, savory wines with character that are fresh and dry thanks to little dosage.
Their vineyard practices are organic. One third is cultivated organically and the rest with sustainable and natural principles. They are the first house to have reduced carbon footprint with the use of solar and wind energy. The winemaking has AS LITTLE human intervention as possible in order to highlight the natural colors, aromas and flavors of the wines. Basically, let nature be center stage and reflected in the glass. Their wines are range from non-vintages brut, rosé, blanc de blancs, zero dosage (blanc de noirs), the cuvée made in honor of Charles de Gaulle, vintages, and the prestige cuvée Grande Sendrée.
This particular wine, their Carte D’or has a lovely, bright acidity, balanced with a creamy mousse and texture. It is a blend comprised of 80% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay and 5% Meunière. Flavors and aromas of green apple, cherry, peach, lemon, brioche, pastry, cream, white blossom, wet stone, ginger, hazelnut and bitter almond finish.
I paired this gorgeous wine with Nova Scotia Smoked Salmon & Capers. The crisp acidity and flavors meld perfectly with the unctuous, silky salmon. An even better pairing was the bubbles in the bottle with the bubbly seafoam of the ocean, which was the inspiration for the below pictures.
