“I tasted a range of Philipponnat wines recently and was blown away by their sheer quality and distinction.” Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com
Champagne’s 2012 vintage continues to thrill and excite us – the only setback being the relatively small volumes on offer. Today, for the first time, we’re delighted to be able to offer magnums of Philipponnat’s lovely cuvee “1522” from the stellar 2012 vintage.
Read More“flat-out delicious” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com
Number crunchers might have noticed that next year marks an impressive 500 years since the first documentation of Philipponnat owned vines in Champagne.
The specific plot named in those deeds was Le Leon, in Aÿ –the very plot that today forms the basis of of “1522”. The candle sticking out of the top of the Jeroboam at next year’s birthday bash ought to be an especially big one….
“This is a Pinot Noir-dominated blend from some of Champagne’s finest vineyards and tastes as fine and beautifully balanced as many champagnes that are quite a bit more expensive. It should age well too.” Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com
Were it not for the iconic Clos des Goisses in the Philipponnat portfolio this cuvee would be an impressive and justified high-point in the range. It is vinified much like Goisses, partially in barrique, only partially completing its Malo, before spending a full eight years sur lie in the Philipponnat cellars. It’s 100% Grand Cru fruit too – 70% Pinot Noir from the Le Leon and plots in Mailly, 30% Chardonnay from Verzy. The resulting champagne is exceptionally fine, with swathes of golden fruit and bright acidity. It as intense as it is fresh - probably the two guiding principals of the entire Philipponnat range.
“Full-bodied, vinous and concentrated, it's elegantly muscular, with terrific depth at the core, racy acids and a seamless profile.” William Kelley, Robertparker.com
We all know that magnums offer more than twice the drinking experience of a single bottle. This is exponentially true for Champagne, where the glass bottle in your hand is such an integral part of the production process. With larger gatherings on the horizon, surely there’s no better way to celebrate than an oversized bottle of champagne from one of the region’s most sought-after addresses.