September 16, 2025
A trip to the Champagne region wouldn’t be complete without a visit to some grower champagne houses. Here are some of our recommendations. Drappier Millesime Exception 2013
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Champagne Drappier is neither a Grande Marque nor strictly a grower, they have 60 hectares of vineyards in the Aube, the southern area of Champagne around its winery in the village of Urville. It also buys in two thirds of its supply from vineyard owners in the appellation to craft around 1.8 million bottles annually. Drappier's focus is on sustainability and is Champagne’s first carbon-neutral producer, with an increasing number of its vineyards certified organic, currently 15 ha are certified organic. They are also well known for lower sulphur dioxide additions and low dosage and because of this my suggestion is to enjoy the champagnes at their freshest consume them in the first few years after release.
The Millesime Expection is the vintage cuvee of Drappier, created from individual years of exceptional quality. Half of the wines are aged in older oak barrels for 12 months and it all completes the malolactic fermentation, help to create the soft creamy texture as the vineyard soils are Jurassiic Kimmeridgian limestone another factor helping to encourage the minerality element in the champagne.
Weather: 2013 was characterised by a particularly late growing cycle. The never-ending winter was followed by a very cool, late spring. we had to wait until the start of July for flowering to begin – something we hadn’t seen in Champagne for quite some time! Fortunately, summer was glorious with plenty of sunshine, record temperatures and very low rainfall, ideal for the ripening of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The temperatures were cool for the October harvest and the resulting wines are elegant and fresh – the signs of a “classic” vintage.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Premier Cru
Grape Varieties: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 4 years
Dosage: 5.6 g/l
Disgorged: January 2019
Drink: Now to 2035+
Tasting Note: Both fresh and opulent, this vintage champagne shows classic aromas of brioche, hazelnut and citrus, with a great creamy texture on the palate, very fine bubbles, and a long, dry finish.
The Millesime Expection is the vintage cuvee of Drappier, created from individual years of exceptional quality. Half of the wines are aged in older oak barrels for 12 months and it all completes the malolactic fermentation, help to create the soft creamy texture as the vineyard soils are Jurassiic Kimmeridgian limestone another factor helping to encourage the minerality element in the champagne.
Weather: 2013 was characterised by a particularly late growing cycle. The never-ending winter was followed by a very cool, late spring. we had to wait until the start of July for flowering to begin – something we hadn’t seen in Champagne for quite some time! Fortunately, summer was glorious with plenty of sunshine, record temperatures and very low rainfall, ideal for the ripening of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The temperatures were cool for the October harvest and the resulting wines are elegant and fresh – the signs of a “classic” vintage.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Premier Cru
Grape Varieties: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 4 years
Dosage: 5.6 g/l
Disgorged: January 2019
Drink: Now to 2035+
Tasting Note: Both fresh and opulent, this vintage champagne shows classic aromas of brioche, hazelnut and citrus, with a great creamy texture on the palate, very fine bubbles, and a long, dry finish.
