Ernest Rapeneau: Brut

Ernest Rapeneau: Brut

The Cuvée

Ernest Rapeneau is a négociant from Hautvillers, the village considered the cradle of champagne. The house works with over a hundred pressoirs as grape suppliers and accordingly relies on the diversity of assemblage rather than a single winemaker's signature. The Brut is the entry-level cuvée: classic, easy-drinking, with citrus, ripe fruit and a hint of florals. Cleanly made, but rather generic, one for uncomplicated moments. Best served chilled at around 46°F, otherwise it noticeably loses freshness and tension.

My Tastings

A classic Brut that's easy to drink, but ultimately comes across as somewhat too generic. Citrus, ripe fruit, a hint of florals, nothing bothersome about it, but also nothing that really sticks with you.

Important with this champagne: The drinking temperature should ideally be around 46°F. If it gets warmer, it noticeably loses freshness and tension.

The price is fair, but flavor-wise it's in the "tried it once, that's enough" category for me. Perhaps Ernest Rapeneau's Blanc de Blancs or Premier Cru are more convincing, but the entry-level Brut remains unremarkable for me.

This isn't a champagne for special occasions, but one for uncomplicated situations where you don't want to overthink things. At the same time, there are numerous grower champagnes in the same price range that offer significantly more.

Details

Producer Ernest Rapeneau
Cuvée Brut
Category Brut (Négociant)
Terroir Hautvillers, Vallée de la Marne
Style Brut, entry-level cuvée
Highlights Citrus, ripe fruit, florals, uncomplicated

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