Winemaker Notes
For lovers of pure sensations we have created a 100% Pinot Noir cuvée with no dosage. It contains only the wine's natural residual sugar at less than 2g per bottle. Moreover, the use of an absolute minimum of sulphur gives the wine the freedom to express itself totally. On the nose there is crisp and at the same time ripe fruit. On the palate it is upright and pure, with abundant finesse and freshness.
Vermilion gold in color. Nose of freshly pressed black grapes, of red, white and citrus fruits. Ample palate with flesh of vineyard peach and bouquet of aromatic herbs. Small spicy notes in the finish. A fine, tightly knit Champagne of great purity.
Ideal as an aperitif. The perfect accompaniment for seafood, sashimi or even soft goat's cheese.
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesEditors' Choice
A firm version, yet well-knit and lacy in texture, offering aromas and flavors of juicy white cherry, raspberry, salted Marcona almond and honeycomb. Delivers hints of spices and herbs on the finish. Drink now.
Although the vines in Urville were originally planted by the Romans 2000 years ago, it was Saint Bernard, founder of Clairvaux Abbey, who had cellars built in 1152.
Seven centuries later, in 1808, the family domaine was created -- today, it is headed by Michel Drappier, and cultivated according to organic and natural principles. Urville is an area in which Pinot Noir thrives, however, Drappier also cultivates "forgotten" grape varieties: Arbane, Petit Meslier and Blanc Vrai.
Rather than ultra-sophisticated, sometimes overdone, wine, the winery prefers authenticity and a natural approach, limiting usage of sulphites.
Associated with luxury, celebration, and romance, the region, Champagne, is home to the world’s most prized sparkling wine. In order to bear the label, ‘Champagne’, a sparkling wine must originate from this northeastern region of France—called Champagne—and adhere to strict quality standards. Made up of the three towns Reims, Épernay, and Aÿ, it was here that the traditional method of sparkling wine production was both invented and perfected, birthing a winemaking technique as well as a flavor profile that is now emulated worldwide.
Well-drained, limestone and chalky soil defines much of the region, which lend a mineral component to its wines. Champagne’s cold, continental climate promotes ample acidity in its grapes but weather differences from year to year can create significant variation between vintages. While vintage Champagnes are produced in exceptional years, non-vintage cuvées are produced annually from a blend of several years in order to produce Champagnes that maintain a consistent house style.
With nearly negligible exceptions, . These can be blended together or bottled as individual varietal Champagnes, depending on the final style of wine desired. Chardonnay, the only white variety, contributes freshness, elegance, lively acidity and notes of citrus, orchard fruit and white flowers. Pinot Noir and its relative Pinot Meunier, provide the backbone to many blends, adding structure, body and supple red fruit flavors. Wines with a large proportion of Pinot Meunier will be ready to drink earlier, while Pinot Noir contributes to longevity. Whether it is white or rosé, most Champagne is made from a blend of red and white grapes—and uniquely, rosé is often produce by blending together red and white wine. A Champagne made exclusively from Chardonnay will be labeled as ‘blanc de blancs,’ while ones comprised of only red grapes are called ‘blanc de noirs.’
A term typically reserved for Champagne and Sparkling Wines, non-vintage or simply “NV” on a label indicates a blend of finished wines from different vintages (years of harvest). To make non-vintage Champagne, typically the current year’s harvest (in other words, the current vintage) forms the base of the blend. Finished wines from previous years, called “vins de reserve” are blended in at approximately 10-50% of the total volume in order to achieve the flavor, complexity, body and acidity for the desired house style. A tiny proportion of Champagnes are made from a single vintage.
There are also some very large production still wines that may not claim one particular vintage. This would be at the discretion of the winemaker’s goals for character of the final wine.