Philipponnat

Style

Philipponnat's wines lean toward Pinot Noir and structural depth. The house uses oak for a portion of primary fermentation — chiefly on the vintage and prestige cuvées — and works with comparatively long lees-ageing.

Cuvées

• Royale Réserve Brut — the NV flagship, around 65% Pinot Noir.
• Royale Réserve Rosé — NV rosé.
• Grand Blanc — NV blanc de blancs.
• Royale Réserve Non Dosé — zero-dosage NV.
• Cuvée 1522 — vintage Pinot Noir–led blend from grand cru Aÿ and Mareuil, named for the year the Philipponnat family is first recorded in Aÿ.
• Clos des Goisses — the flagship vintage cuvée, from a steeply south-facing 5.5 ha vineyard above the Marne.

Clos des Goisses

Philipponnat acquired Clos des Goisses in 1935. The vineyard's gradient exceeds 30% in places and its strong southern exposure makes it one of the warmest sites in Champagne, allowing full ripeness even in cool years. It is typically around 65% Pinot Noir / 35% Chardonnay.

History

The Philipponnat family's presence in Champagne dates to the 16th century, but the modern house was founded in its present form in 1910 by Pierre Philipponnat. It is today part of the Lanson-BCC group but continues to operate as a distinct maison under the direction of Charles Philipponnat.