Champagne Drappier is THE high quality négociant in the Aube, but has struggled to find good representation in the United States. Drappier was founded in 1808 in Urville, in the center of the Aube department. It was Drappier that brought Pinot Noir to the Aube in the 1930s, a move that was mocked at the time, but the variety is by far the most planted grape in the region today. A little more than half of the production comes from more than 130 acres of estate vineyard. The other part comes from long term contracts. The wines go through malolactic, with very little sulfur (they claim to have the lowest sulfur counts of any major négociant). Like Billecart-Salmon, they pride themselves on low temperature fermentation. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne buyer)