Grauves grower Champagne with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, low dosage cuvées, and mature Millésime Brut.
The producer
Champagne Driant-Valentin is a Vigneron Indépendant in Grauves, in the Côte des Blancs. Émile Driant founded the estate in 1920, and David Driant and Jacques Driant manage it today. The 7.5 hectare vineyard is planted to 50% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier. The range includes a 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut, Dosage Zéro and Millésime Brut. Its vintage wines show complex, honeyed maturity, with the 2002 vintage carrying citrus, bread crust, butter and orange aromas.
Known for
Low dosage vintage Champagne
Notable facts
Émile Driant founded the estate in 1920.
Champagne Driant-Valentin is based in Grauves in the Côte des Blancs.
David Driant and Jacques Driant manage the estate as a Vigneron Indépendant.
The 7.5 hectare vineyard is planted to 50% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier.
Blanc de Blancs is made from 100% Chardonnay.
The story
The Great Grandfather's Dosage
In 1920, Émile Driant founded the wine estate. Today, David Driant and Jacques Driant manage it in Grauves as a Vigneron Indépendant. The house's dosage philosophy reaches back to the great-grandfather's cuvées, which were dosed lightly despite the practice of his contemporaries. The current range includes Extra Brut and Dosage Zéro, alongside Blanc de Blancs and Millésime Brut. Millésime Brut carries complex aromas, honeyed notes and great maturity, while the 2002 vintage has citrus, bread crust, butter and orange aromas.
From the atlas
Champagne Driant-Valentin
Grauves Vigneron Indépendant Champagne with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, a low dosage philosophy, and a range that includes Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut and Dosage Zéro.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Champagne
Village
Grauves
Appellation
Champagne
Vineyard area
7.5 hectares
Main grapes
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
Producer type
Vigneron Indépendant
The Producer
Chardonnay makes up 50 percent of the plantings, Pinot Noir 40 percent and Pinot Meunier 10 percent. David Driant and Jacques Driant manage the estate today as a Vigneron Indépendant. Émile Driant founded it in 1920.
The modern facilities include vats and a pneumatic press. The house's dosage philosophy reaches back to the great-grandfather's cuvées, which were dosed lightly despite the practice of his contemporaries.
Place
Grauves places the house in the Côte des Blancs, within the Champagne appellation. Champagne is a sparkling wine appellation made by a second fermentation in bottle, which creates the fine bubbles in the finished wine.
Wines
Blanc de Blancs is the pure Chardonnay cuvée, a white Champagne described as fresh, delicate and mineral. Extra Brut is presented as a Champagne with character and delicacy. Dosage Zéro contains no added dosage. Dosage is the final sugar addition after disgorgement, so zero dosage leaves the wine without that addition.
Millésime Brut is the vintage expression. The range includes Millésime Brut 1998, 2002 and 2007. Millésime Brut has complex aromas, honeyed notes and great maturity. The 2002 vintage shows citrus, bread crust, butter and orange aromas, with high acidity, a lighter body, fine carbonation and pleasant length. The reserve expression and the 1998 vintage both use 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir.
Final Word
Cuvée l'Harmonie received a Silver Medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in 2024.