Drappier : Clarevallis Extra Brut

A superb and flamboyant wine from Drappier, the latest rendition of the NV Extra-Brut Clarevallis, disgorged in March 2024 with a dosage of four grams per liter, is derived entirely from the 2019 vintage. Displaying an attractive pink-salmon hue, it opens from the glass with aromas of cherry, mandarin and apricot mingling with hints of lychee. Full-bodied, fleshy and muscular at the core, it reveals impressive depth and harmony. The palate is layered and animated by tangy acids and a pillowy mousse, concluding with a chalky, delicately perfumed finish. Readers will recall that this cuvée pays homage to the Abbey of Clairvaux, whose monks pioneered viticulture in Urville.

There’s a zesty drive to this accessible Champagne, with flavors of macerated raspberry, tangerine peel, macadamia and chamomile riding the soft, foamy mousse. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Blanc Vrai. Disgorged November 2023. Drink now. 200 cases imported.

This cuvée from organic plots around Drappier's home in Urville is arguably the most vivid and precise in Drappier's entry range, a truly charming and fragrant balance between breadth, succulence and brightness. Pouring with a light pinkish hue, there's plenty of peach, pear and orange blossom aromas with a subtle tow of lees-ageing creaminess and a gentle mousse which complements the natural weight of fruit. A vivid and consistently enjoyable blend of 75% Pinot Noir, 10% Meunier, 10% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Blanc.

Notes of almonds, white flowers, apples, grapefruit and white peaches. It’s elegant and creamy on the palate, with bright acidity and a soft mousse. A blend of 75% pinot noir, 10% pinot meunier, 10% chardonnay and 5% blanc vrai (pinot blanc). From organically grown grapes. Unfiltered. 4g/L dosage. Drink now.

The NV Extra Brut Clarevallis blends 75% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier, 10% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Blanc from organically farmed, horse-ploughed plots in Urville. The wine appears almost golden with a gentle pink shimmer and offers a creamy texture from the start, with a nose of crunchy, crisp red apple. A frothy mousse enlivens the slightly peppery palate, which is equally crunchy and crisp. This rustic yet fresh-faced Champagne has much verve. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: April 2024. - Anne Krebiehl MW

Pale straw yellow with copper reflections and a fine, persistent mousse. Delicate floral nuances of hibiscus, elderberry and some liquorice on the nose, with white peach fruit and a hint of plums too. The palate is taut and tightly meshed, with a core of subtle red berry backed by a fresh acidity. The subtle herbal savouriness continues into the salty-mineral finish, making for a versatile food companion.

The NV Champagne Clarevallis Extra Brut is a blend of 75% Pinot Noir, 10% Meunier, 10% Chardonnay, and a splash of Blanc Vrai, all from the estate’s organically farmed vines, and exhibits a rich copper/straw color in the glass. The nose opens to an assertive profile that needs some time to blow off before revealing notes of candied strawberries, fresh flowers, bread dough, and spiced orange. It’s generous and full on the palate, with a mouth-filling, fluffy mousse and a juicy feel through the mid-palate and finish. It is drinking well now and will likely show its best over the next 6–8 years. It saw 4 grams per liter dosage and was disgorged in November 2023.