Read our profile on Champagne Pierre Péters, a domaine that aims for enviornmental sustainability in its winemaking, plus see which wine to try.
Region: Côte des Blancs, Champagne
Village: Le Mesnil-sur Oger
Grape varities: Chardonnay
Vineyard area: 20 hectares
Rodolphe Péters is a fourth-generation winemaker at his family’s 20ha estate in Le Mesnil. The Péters name is heavily identified with this village, as nearly three-quarters of the estate’s vineyard holdings are located here, although only one of its wines – the single vineyard Les Chêtillons – is pure Mesnil, with the rest being grand cru blends from the villages of Le Mesnil, Oger, Avize and Cramant.
The domaine aims for environmental sustainability in its viticulture, eschewing pesticides and herbicides, and yields are managed through cover crops and regular ploughing. Péters vinifies all of his wines in stainless steel tanks, as he believes that this better retains the original purity and character of the fruit. His Champagnes demonstrate the fine acidity and prominent chalkiness typical of the Côte des Blancs, focusing more prominently on refinement and harmony than on overt concentration. While they’re delicious in their youth, they are also excellent candidates for long ageing, developing a wonderful complexity and depth over time.
Wine to try: Pierre Péters, Les Chêtillons, Brut Blanc de Blancs, Côte des Blancs 2007
Address: 26 rue des Lombards, 51190 Le Mesnil sur Oger, France
Website: www.champagne-peters.com/
