At the dawn of Champagne wines is Saint-Bernard, who knew how to get the best out of the Barrois wine region, a region today glorified by the Drappier family, near Urville: in the ballet of generations, Michel, now surrounded of his children Charline, Hugo and Antoine, produces on his domain real effervescent psalms, including the mythical Grande Sendrée, which, in its two colors, conveys the ideal of an alliance of maturity and eternal freshness.
Flavors also dear to the Bonnaire brothers, who make their cuvées, both on Cramant and on Bouzy, great wines of civilization that can be projected cheerfully into the long term, as proven by the superb 1997 or 1985.
As a neighbor, Gilles Lancelot, valiant knight of the bubble, produces wines orchestrated by a ripe fruitiness and a tapered vibration worthy of the Champagne people of the round table: the very crystalline cuvée Marie Lancelot captivates.
Equally passionate, Françoise Bedel is to the west of Champagne what Aliénor was to Aquitaine. Deeply committed to biodynamics, it produces wines of great naturalness whose oxidative notes build each cuvée: the latest, Jouvence 2012, vinified without sulphur, has all the thickness and percussion desired. As for L'Ame de la terre, its 2006 version embodies, through its radiant intensity, one of the finest expressions of the miller.
Michel Drappier La Grande Sendrée 2010
Brilliant fullness where the cherry and its stone give an intense aromatic tone with accents of dried fruits and brioche. This Elysian cuvée from Jacques Chirac should be enshrined in the Constitution! €54.10
Bonnaire Cramant Vintage 2013
Pear, citron and chalk are summoned for the first nose. The great delicacy and cramantic depth perfectly stretch this grand cru from the Côte des Blancs. 45 €
Lancelot-Pienne Marie Lancelot 2015
There is a moment of perfect grace, with a chalky expression of very pure chardonnay. The mouth full of rebound presents an elegant and saline density: the dosage at 2.8 g proves to be just right. 48 €
Françoise Price
Magnificent accents of saffron and brioche set the aromatic tone. The mouth presents a fullness and a very expressive persistence with a beautiful final radiance, enough to give wings to a creamy Bresse poultry. 70 €
