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Wine Description
The Story
The Terroir, the millésime, a rare Champagne in its loveliest manifestation.
The Grande Sendrée Cuvée takes its name from a parcel of land covered by cinders after the fire which ravaged Urville in 1838. A spelling error having slipped through in a new version of the land register, it is with an “s” that this cuvée is designated today. A reproduction of an 18th century bottle found in the Urville cellars is used and the Grande Sendrée undergoes remuage entirely by hand. Since the 1999 vintage it is also available as a Magnum.
Exclusively vinified in the great years, the Grande Sendrée gathers by its raw material and the techniques used, all our know-how for the elaboration of a great Champagne wine.
The oldest vines of the best parcels are harvested with particular care. After a tender pressing that extracts only the heart of the cuvée, vinification with little pumping and very little sulfur, will give wines of remarkable finesse.
Wine Information
WINE
With 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, this perfectly balanced Prestige Champagne favors power and high expression.
Only the great years are retained for this exceptional Champagne. Head of vintage. Partial vinification in oak barrels.
Total acidity 5.6 H2SO4, assay 9 g / l.
Liquor matured in small oak barrels.
Like all Champagnes Drappier, musts flow by gravity to avoid oxidation. The use of sulfur is minimal, probably at the lowest rate of Champagne.
AGING
Aging 6 years minimum in depth in the chalk of our cellars of Reims.
TASTING
This vintage, and the magnum in particular, requires a little ventilation before appreciating the nose with notes of white and dry fruits.
Rich and complex, notes of bread crumbs and ripe fruit, pear and white peach. This Champagne is expressive today but it will get rich and flourish for more than 3 years.
FOOD
Meal at Champagne - Mushroom chicken, foie gras, desserts pastries or late evening, well after coffee.
Vintage 2002
A cold winter and a mild late spring cued for a perfect June allowing early and fast flowering. Outstanding weather conditions prevailed and the season went on without dramatic turns. Rains in August raised concerns regarding gray rot, but finally sunshine and dry conditions throughout September resulted in an abundant crop of largely healthy fruit (11,930 kg/ha). Dehydration due to wind further aided in achieving perfect ripeness and additional concentration. This, and the cool nights, helped in retaining fresh acidity and, despite the ripeness (10.3% potential alcohol), the wines did not suffer from heaviness or a lack of life. A near-perfect vintage, which produced balanced Champagnes consistently around the region. The best show an impeccable combination of freshness, power, structure and finesse. However, some have matured aromatically quicker than expected and are already past their peak. 2002 produced an abundance of spectacular champagnes, such as Dom Pérignon (the entire range), Krug Vintage and Clos du Mesnil, Piper-Heidsieck Rare, Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Ruinart Dom Ruinart and Dom Ruinart Rosé, Salon Le Mesnil and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, to name a few.
