Cuvée 1522, FOC, 2007
A wonderful nose of brioche, savoury bready notes and fine pastry that morphs into aromas of essential citrus oil, fresh porcini, golden fruit and autumnal leaves. Cuvee 1522 is every bit the prestige cuvee, a blend of entirely Grand Cru vineyard fruit – the Pinot Noir from the house’s historic plots in Le Leon in Ay, the Chardonnay from Mesnil-Sur-Oger and Oger. Before disgorgement each bottle spends a full 8 years in the Philipponnat cellars, no doubt contributing to the exceptional complexity and rich, dry persistence in this cuvee. For all that is going on, there’s a wonderful freshness and purity of direction with a chalky minerality, and the sort of refined bead and mousse that only extended ageing sur lie can produce. A tour de force.
critic reviews
Mainly from Ay (with a bit of Mailly, Oger and Cramant), the 2007 Grand Cru Extra Brut 1522 blends 65% Pinot Noir with 35% Chardonnay. The bouquet is clear, intense and concentrated, revealing ripe pineapple and some honey flavors along with brioche, bread and iodine aromas. On the palate, this is a highly delicate and mineral 1522 with a lean but complex body and a long, complex finish. The finish reveals refreshing and salty acidity, and it just lingers and lingers... This is an excellent grand cru that should go very well with fish and seafood, even algae. This bottle was disgorged in May 2016. Tasted at the domaine in April 2018.
The 2007 Cuvée 1522 is an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. Apricot, pineapple, pastry, chamomile, brioche and vanillin notes give the 2007 much of its racy, flamboyant personality. I don't see the 2007 as being especially ageworthy, but it is quite inviting today. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter. Disgorged September 2016.