2015 Drappier Grande Sendree

From an organically certified vineyard in Urville, the 2015 Grande Sendrée, disgorged in October 2024 with a dosage of four grams per liter, has turned out beautifully. It opens in the glass with aromas of orange marmalade, ripe pear and dried apricot mingling with notes of brioche and bourbon vanilla. On the palate, the wine is medium- to full-bodied, elegantly muscular and textural, with a rich core of fruit underpinned by considerable tension. Tangy acids lend energy and drive to a wine that concludes with a long, gently bitter finish. A blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, it is entirely vinified in foudre.

55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay from their famous post-1836-fire vineyard on Jurassic Kimmeridgian soils in the Côte des Bar that was certified organic in 2014 according to the Drappier website (although the back label suggests it's in conversion to organic). Drappier was the first certified carbon-neutral champagne producer, they claim. Vineyard map on the back label. One-third of the blend was aged in oak. Disgorged October 2024 after 8 or 9 years on lees. Interestingly mature nose with more than simple autolysis and strong hints of peach. Still considerable fruit on the palate with a little oak-influenced structure and then a dry finish. An admirably distinctive wine. (JR)

The 2015 Brut Grande Sendrée comes from a single site on Kimmeridgian clay. This blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay includes just over a third of base wines that were fermented in foudre. The wine shows a golden color, with aromas of melted butter and fresh shortcrust pastry that immediately promise richness. On the palate, these buttery notes combine with mellow, ripe apple flesh on a rounded, generous frame, while the mousse is just a little too frothy. Definitely a Champagne for the table. Dosage is 5.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: October 2024.