At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Champagne, Côte des Blancs
- Village
- Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
- Main grape
- Chardonnay
- Signature style
- Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne
- Defining feature
- Grower producer using grapes from its own vineyards
The Producer
Rodolphe Péters joined the family house in 2007 after twelve years of experience in companies close to wine and Champagne. He took control of the family estate in 2008. Pierre Péters is based in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs and spans six family generations.
The house is a grower producer, so its wines come exclusively from its own vineyards. The estate farms about 20 hectares of Chardonnay, with vines averaging 30 years old. Its vineyard practices are certified HVE, France's Haute Valeur Environnementale designation. The wines are raised on their lees and tasted regularly during development.
Grand Cru refers to Champagne's highest village classification, while Blanc de Blancs denotes a white wine made from white grapes. Here, the grape is Chardonnay.
Place
Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is the home village in the Côte des Blancs. The Chardonnay vineyards are mainly located in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Avize and Cramant, giving the estate holdings across four named communes.
Les Chétillons is a named place where Pierre Péters owns three parcels of vines older than 45 years. Each parcel is vinified separately before the wines are assembled into a vintage single cru cuvée. Single cru names keep one named origin on the bottle, while separate parcel vinification keeps the wines distinct until blending.
Wines
Pierre Péters Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is the lower dosage counterpart to the house's flagship Blanc de Blancs. Dosage is the small addition of sugar made after the second fermentation, so lower dosage leaves the wine drier.
Cuvée de Réserve blends the latest harvest with reserve wines spanning more than 20 years. Pierre Péters L'Esprit 2020 is a 2020 sparkling wine. The Per Gessle Selection Cuvée The Improver is also a sparkling wine.
In The Glass
The Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut opens with meringue, red apple, lemon, brioche and light toast. The palate is gently refreshing, with soft acidity, delicate texture and creamy effervescence. White florals, stone fruit and citrus carry through a very long finish, followed by lingering toasted stoniness and ample chalkiness.
Final Word
Pierre Péters makes Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne from its own Chardonnay vineyards in and around Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, with the range extending from broad house blending to separately vinified Les Chétillons parcels.
Sources
- champagne-peters.com/en/home
- www.champagne-peters.com/en/node/25
- www.champagne-peters.com/en/winemaking
- www.champagne-peters.com/fr/vignoble
- shop.klwines.com/products/details/2023309
- gismondionwine.com/tasting-notes/202110/champagne-pierre-peters-blanc-de-blancs-extra-brut-nv/?note=36078
- raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz/reviews/pierre-peters-extra-brut-grand-cru-blanc-de-blancs-champagne-nv