Read more
2015 Clos des Goisses, 2015 La Rémissonne,
2015 Le Léon
The 2015 vintage is a prime example of the House’s savoir-faire. Despite a surprisingly dry summer that plunged Champagne’s vines into an unusual state of water stress, the little autumn rain allowed the fruit to reach high levels of ripeness. This dry vintage could have run the risk of being a little astringent, so it was necessary to push this ripeness far into the season. Happily, the generous sun at the end of summer was particularly beneficial for our hillside vineyards with full southern exposure, and the wines reached ABVs of 13 and above, a rare occurrence in Champagne. Under this radiant weather, the House’s iconic varietal, Pinot Noir, unleashes all its power, counterpointed by the freshness of a fine and balanced Chardonnay. This exceptional year translated into three vintage cuvées: 2015 Clos des Goisses, 2015 La Rémissonne and 2015 Le Léon.
2015 Clos des Goisses: the most iconic
Clos des Goisses, which has belonged to the House for nearly a hundred years, is the oldest vineyard in Champagne, and the steepest. Perfectly angled for full southern exposure, its 45° incline stands out among the rest.
The 78% Pinot Noir and 22% Chardonnay that make up the blend for the 2015 Clos des Goisses cuvée all comes from these 5.83 hectares enclosed by walls and hedges. The ageing regimen for this remarkably bold Champagne is nine years, kept at a constant temperature of 12°C in the House’s historic cellars in Mareuil-sur-Ay. The extra-brut dosage (4.25 g/litre) allows the minerality and vinous expression of this exceptional vineyard to be fully expressed.
Floral on the nose, with a few touches of fruit and vanilla, 2015 Clos des Goisses reveals itself on the palate: notes of citrus, of bergamot, of citron and white peach are elegantly unveiled in perfect balance. 2015 Clos des Goisses is the perfect fine wine to pair with salt fish, lobster, or even soft cheeses in a few years.
2015 La Rémissonne: the most gourmet
This cuvée comes from the eponymous, multi-centenary plot in Mareuil-sur-Ay: La Rémissonne. Planted to Pinot Noir and classified as Premier Cru, this parcel is adjacent to Clos des Goisses, just above the House’s caves.
Produced under oak, the 2015 La Rémissonne cuvée presents the classic Mareuil profile: the deeper, more clay-rich soil than that of Clos des Goisses imparts more roundness. Its Extra-Brut dosage (4.5 g/l) upholds the balance between fresh and vinous elements with incredible purity. Its extended sur-lie bottle ageing completes the tertiary complexity of this fine Champagne.
The 2015 vintage, the second expression of this single-plot cuvée after the 2009, offers an expressive, elegant nose, with notes of yellow fruit, apricot and quince. Floral and vanilla touches follow, highlighting its subtleness. The palate, round and delectable, recalls yellow fruits, beyond the classic citrus, marrying delicacy with generosity. This cuvée will exalt fine fish, game and foie gras.
2015 Le Léon, anchored in history
The grapes that make up the blend for the 2015 Le Léon cuvée come from a Grand Cru-classified plot planted solely to Pinot Noir, the House’s flagship varietal. This plot in the hamlet “Le Léon”, which gives the cuvée its name, is part of Philipponnat family history: clues of its origin can be found in ancient archives attesting that it belonged to Apvril le Philipponnat, our ancestor, as long ago as 1522.
Vinified in oak in confidential quantities, the 2015 is the third vintage produced from this single-plot cuvée, after the 2009 and the 2014.
