29/05/2025
I will say again: Champagne Drappier offers perhaps the best value in all of kosher wine. Forget the fact that this is world class Champagne, produced by the same family since 1808, and that methode champenoise wine takes potentially the most effort on behalf of the winemaker, and that the produce in the appellation of Champagne is more prized and pricey. There is a reason Champagne commands great prices.
Now I'm not saying $50 or $60 is inexpensive for anything, let alone 750ml of fermented grape juice. But truly great wine is often expensive to produce and renown names can carry larger price tags based on prestige.
But what most stands out to me is the fact that Champagne Drappier sells for only about $10 (about 20-25%) more than its non-kosher sibling. Compare that to other famous French labels. Château Pontet-Canet sells at about a 250% premium. Lascombes almost double, etc. Added cost should be no surprise. There are more hands involved in kosher winemaking, including the cost of the supervision label itself (not to mention everyone else taking a cut on the path from winery to your table).
So it's a breath of fresh air to pay within the same stratosphere as the rest of the free world. When you consider the excellent quality, it's rare air.
Cuvée Carte d'Or is probably my favorite of the Drappier line. As with most Drappier, it's produced primarily from Pinot Noir. I don't know the blend (if there is even one) in the kosher, but I am trying to find out. The NK is 80/15/5 PN/Chard/PM. This is likely a Blanc de Noir. Nerd stuff: Grown in limestone soil and chalk, undergoes MLF, unfiltered. 5% aged in oak, 40% reserve. Low sulfur. Dosage is 6.5 g/l.
In the glass, pale vermilion gold, Wonderful, complex aromatics of white peach, lemon curd, quince, patissière, light nuttiness, brioche. The palate shows complexity, full body, small, focused, creamy mousse, bright acidity, and tart fruit. Long finish. Can't get enough of this wine. Incredibly, it's mevushal, too.
$53, 12%abv, mevushal
Royal Wine Corp.
