Champagne Pierre PÉters
Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
Rodolphe Péters
Over the last several decades Champagne Pierre Péters has become one of the most recognizable names on the best-curated wine lists across the US, offering generations of sommeliers, collectors and those with a penchant for the finest bubbles, reflections on the expansive terroir rooted in Champagne. In many ways a flagship of “Grower Champagne,” the domaine serves as a guide in the quest for authentic purity, finesse and complexity by the simple act of doing things right. It is an inertia built on excellence.
As one of their biggest fans, Grand Cru Selections has played a distant yet active role in this perpetual energy, introducing the pleasures and possibilities by popping bottles with countless friends, colleagues and growers on many occasions. Our official partnership with Rodolphe, Fabienne and the Péters family has just begun and we are honored to carry further their remarkable reputation.
-
Pierre Péters is a grower Champagne house whose vineyards are located in Le Mesnil sur Oger, at the heart of the Côte des Blancs.
The story begins in 1840, when Gaspard Péters, a Luxembourger married a young French woman who owned a vineyard in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. He began to cultivate vines and sold the entire harvest, as did his son. But by 1919, his grandson, Camille Péters, decided to vinify the estate's first vintage of champagne. The financial crisis of 1929 further convinced him to continue down the path of in-house bottling.
After his death in 1944, his five children divided the family vineyard equally (0.99 ares). Among them was his son Pierre Péters, who sold his first vintage in 1947. In 1959 he bought the land from one of his sisters. His descendants, François Péters and his son Rodolphe worked during the second half of the 20th century to expand the vineyard of the Pierre Péters estate.Since 2008, Rodolphe Péters has led his family estate and has largely consolidated his family's holdings. Today, he oversees 20 hectares of vines predominantly in the grand cru of Les Mesnil-sur-Oger where 45 of their 63 parcels are located.
And while the Péters name is heavily identified with the village of Le Mesnil, only one wine - the single vineyard Les Chêtillons is pure Mesnil with the others being grand cru blends from the villages of Oger, Avize, Cramant and Chouilly.
-
The Côte des Blancs is a long steep slope that forms the eastern edge of limestone-capped plateau just south of Épernay. This escarpment is highly eroded, exposing the bedrock of Cretaceous chalk below.
Located in the southern part of the Côte des Blancs, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger enjoys one of the most storied terroirs in Champagne. Here, the vineyards are located on an east-facing hillside that has good water drainage and water-absorbing chalk soils. This unique terroir protects the land from the harsh western winds and creates the perfect humidity levels for growing Chardonnay at its most intensely mineral, racy and finessed character.
-
The domaine is focused on environmental sustainability with it’s farming, by avoiding pesticides and herbicides and managing yields through cover crops and regular ploughing.
-
Rodolphe believes it is vital to press soon after picking (no later than 6 hours after grapes are picked), and is meticulously selective at pressing.
He ferments in small stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures parcel by parcel and kept on the lees. And all wines go through malolactic to soften their natural high acidities without diminishing their inherent power and development.
Rodolphe believes in dosage. 'Champagne needs sugar,' he says,“it is a great support for the wine being in harmony.'
Wines
Cuvée de Réserve Brut
The flagship Champagne at the estate; composed exclusively of Chardonnay from grand cru villages of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Avize & Cramant. Generally about 45% current vintage and 55% perpetual reserve going back to 1988. Dosage is normally between 6-7 gm/L.
Réserve Oubliée Brut
Drawn from a perpetual cuvée of reserve wines used for the nonvintage blanc de blancs. Containing wines dating back to 1988. Here the base wine is aged an extra year in tank before tirage to create a mature, but not oxidative Champagne. Aged under cork.
Rosé for Albanne Brut
Named after Rodophe’s daughter. It’s 60% Chardonnay from Les Mesnil and 40% Pinot Meunier Saignee from Champagne Geoffroy, a great grower in Cumieres, known for his saignée wines. First vintage was 2009.
Cuvée L’Esprit Millésime Brut
A multi-parcel blend of chardonnay sourced from specific parcels selected for complexity and character, including Le Mesnil Monts Martin, Oger Belles Voyes and Plantes d’Oger, Avize La Fosse & Cramant Chemin de Châlons. Dosage is between 4.5-5.5g/L.
Cuvée Spéciale Les Chétillons
Les Chétillons, located just southeast of the village of Le Mesnil is the source of the domaine’s most iconic cuvée. The family acquired 3 plots here in 1930 and has been making this single-vineyard champagne since 1971. It’s depth relies on the interplay between three different parcels within the vineyard, with vines ranging from 70 to between 35/35 years. Dosage is between 3.5-4.5 g/L
L’Étonnant Monsieur Victor Brut
This wine blends the best tank of the latest vintage of (Les Chétillons) with the best tank of Réserve Oubliée, (perpetual reserves starting from 1988 aged under cork and released after a long period of lees aging. Each release bears a label designed and drawn by Victor Péters, Rodolphe’s son, an artist, in the style of a famous artist or painting.Aged under cork for 6 years in the cellar. Dosage is between 3.5 - 4.5 g/L.