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First unsulfured Champagne released
August 5, 2009
Carolyn Evans Hammond
Drappier Champagne has released the first unsulfured bubbly from the region - Brut Nature Zéro Dosage Sans Souffre NV, a Blanc de Noirs.
The new Champagne means the Drappier family - all of whom are allergic to the preservative - can now freely drink their own product.
'When I taste sulfur I really feel it, which is why we limit it in all our wines,' winemaker and director Michel Drappier told decanter.com.
Sulfur has been added to wines for centuries but Drappier believes it is not necessary if the fruit is very high-quality and certain vinification techniques are used.
'It has been very difficult to create a pure and fresh unsulfured Champagne. First, vinifications failed due to uneven quality of the grapes and different levels of oxidation during the process,' he said.
Unsulfured Champagne costs more to make and doesn't last as long as sulfured versions, raising a question of commercial viability but Drappier isn't concerned.
'Demand is outstripping supply for our new Champagne. We could sell three or four times as much.'
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I must say that I don't understand this item of "news" at all. This wine has been on the market for two years now—Drappier began selling it in 2007, when it was based on the 2004 harvest. Was this the first time it was released in the UK? The first time it was sent to your offices? Not very timely reporting on your part.
Peter Liem, France
Just checking: In the copy of this article mention was made of 'the first unsulfured bubbly'. It may be the first unsulfured Champagne but it is not the first unsulfured bubbly.
I am sure there are many. Villiera has been producing Brut Natural since 1998. M&S have had it on their shelves in the UK for 3 years.
It has a big following in South Africa and I know of at least one other producer that is also producing one here.
We are about to release our 2007 vintage and the 2006 was awarded a Decanter Silver!
Not a big deal, I am pleased Drappier are making a Sulfur Free Champagne - I will look out for it - but just passing it on.
Cathy Brewer, South Africa
I must admit Charline Drappier, Michel's daughter told decanter.com that this was the first year of release but it is clear now that she erred. A call to Michel Drappier just confirmed that the Brut Nature Zéro Dosage Sans Souffre NV “was first released to the public in 2008 and it is the first unsulfured Champagne on the market.” It is a non-vintage so the harvest it was based on is irrelevant. It is not perfectly timely, agreed, but the facts in this story remain accurate.
Carolyn Evans Hammond
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