Drappier Oenothèque 2005

Drappier Oenothèque 2005 is a vintage champagne from Maison Drappier's Réserve de l'Oenothèque, an old vintage aged for a long time on laths and then disgorged late.

The Réserve de l'Oenothèque is the living memory of Maison Drappier: old vintages, sometimes very rare, kept in the 12th-century Cistercian cellars of Urville and disgorged in small batches, sometimes even one bottle at a time, when the family judges that they fully express their birth year. 2005 is a very balanced vintage for the Côte des Bar. Its blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay rested more than sixteen years on laths, and its low dosage, made with a liqueur matured for twenty-five years in cask, preserves a mineral structure.

Key facts

• Origin: France, Champagne, Côte des Bar, Urville
• Producer: Champagne Drappier
• Vintage: 2005
• Grapes: Pinot Noir 60%, Chardonnay 40%
• Dosage: 4 g/L, liqueur matured in oak casks
• Size: 75 cl

Tasting notes

• Colour: Deep gold
• Nose: Rich, candied fruit and dried flowers
• Palate: Dried fruit to the fore, freshness of linden and quince jelly, mineral structure

Serving and storage

Serve it at around 9 to 10 °C, in a large white wine glass, and let it open up for a few minutes: an old champagne reveals itself with aeration. Disgorged late, it is ready to drink, but can still be kept for a few years lying down, in a cool place away from light.

Food pairing

Turbot with brown butter, roast lobster, poultry with morels, veal sweetbreads, truffle risotto or an old Comté. Avoid overly spicy dishes that would mask its complexity.

Further reading

Read our article on old vintages. Also discover how wine aromas evolve over time and the art of blending in Champagne. Find more cuvées in our vintage champagne selection and our gift ideas selection. Discover all of Maison Drappier in our Drappier collection.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Côte des Bar?

The Côte des Bar is the Champagne vineyard area of the Aube department, south of Troyes. Its Kimmeridgian limestone soils, close to those of Chablis, are particularly suited to Pinot Noir. It is there, in Urville, that Maison Drappier has been growing its vines since 1808.

What is late disgorgement?

Disgorgement means expelling the yeast deposit before final corking. By delaying it for many years, the house lets the wine evolve in contact with its lees, protected from oxygen: it gains complexity while keeping its freshness.

How is the bottle shipped?

Delivery is free in France for orders from €300. Every bottle is carefully packed and sent with tracking.