Champagne PHILIPPONNAT
The Philipponnat style
The Philipponnat style relies on balance between intensity and freshness. The intensity results from: 1) the dominance of Pinot Noir in the blends , particularly that of our very well southern-facing vineyards from the South of the Montagne de Reims. 2) the search for an optimal physiological maturity of the grapes due to slightly late grape picking. The freshness ensues from the use of never less than 30% Chardonnay, and particularly from the use of only the first pressing (the Cuvée), a very moderate dosage which protects the aromatic freshness and the natural minerality of the wines. An essential portion of vintage wines and of Clos des Goisses are matured in oak barrel to increase their complexity. Wines matured in oak, as well as a part of those matured in steel tanks are not subjected to malo-lactic fermentation in order to increase and adjust the perception of acidity and freshness.
A commitment to excellence Making wines
Along the banks of the River Marne and close to the Mareuil sur Aÿ Roman church, which is situated in the middle of its own vineyards, Champagne Philipponnat produces wines with an exceptional house style. The main courtyard opens onto a beautiful classic façade situated just behind a gate stamped with the family coat of arms. Here lies the heart of Philipponnat - its XVIIIth Century cellars where, shielded from the world, its wines slowly mature.
Cultivating the Philipponnat style
The range of Philipponnat Champagnes are designed to be appreciated by a broad spectrum of wine lovers. From its flagship Brut Royale Réserve to the connoisseur's choice, Clos des Goisses, Philipponnat Champagnes are full-bodied, structured yet still fresh and distinctive due to the dominance of the Pinot Noir grape. Between 600,000 to 700,000 bottles are produced each year.
Selecting its ambassadors
Philipponnat has always reserved its Champagnes for true connoisseurs. The best wine merchants, Michelin-starred restaurants, sommeliers, chefs and private clubs are the natural ambassadors of the House. Thanks to their support, Philipponnat wines are enjoyed in more than 50 countries.
A treasure within the cellar
In the Philipponnat Treasure Vault, very old vintages age slowly. Some of them are more than 50 years old and are testament to the extraordinary longevity of the House's wines.
An enduring tradition since 1522 Deep roots
XVIth-XVIIth: April le Philipponnat has owned an estate in Aÿ since 1522 and two House Cuvées, named after this year, honour him today. The emblem of the House, the red and gold checkerboard family coat-of-arms, was registered with the French Heraldry in 1698, even though the Philipponnat family had been established in the heart of Champagne for almost two centuries by that stage. Second Empire: Owners of vineyards and wine traders in their own right, the Philipponnats devote themselves to the production of Champagne. 1910: Auguste and Pierre Philipponnat settle in Mareuil sur Aÿ and start using the old wine cellars (XVIIIth Century) of the castle and give their House its modern commercial momentum despite the onset of the First World War and a widespread phylloxera crisis.
A great insight
1935: Pierre Philipponnat acquires the Clos des Goisses, a unique vineyard on the southern flank of the Gruguet hill. Breaking with the tradition of blending in Champagne, he creates a remarkable single-vineyard wine. The following generations go on to further develop the reputation of the House, first in France and then abroad.
A new momentum
1997: Philipponnat joins the Boizel Chanoine Champagne Group. Charles Philipponnat, grandson of Auguste, is brought in to run the House and brings the required energy to its international development. Since then, Philipponnat continues to expand and receives growing acclaim from both wine critics and the world of Haute Cuisine. 2003: The new wine making facilities as well as the barrel room are completed in Mareuil sur Ay, the ultimate stage in production of quality wines at Philipponnat.
A remarkable heritage in the heart of champagne The pinot noir king
The Philipponnat vineyards are predominantly planted with Pinot Noir and are located in the heart of the Premiers and Grands Crus appellations from the south of the Montagne de Reims : Mareuil sur Aÿ, Aÿ, Avenay, and Mutigny. Each vineyard bears an evocative name: Remissonne, 28 verges, La Dure, l'Ecluse, la Croix des Goisses, Buisson Saint-Loup, les Valofroy...
An unrivalled vineyard
Clos des Goisses is a five and a half hectare site where a number of rare qualities coincide to produce an exceptional wine in which the House rightly takes pride. Overlooking the Marne, a south-facing hillside is divided into plots of land encircled with walls and accessed by small stone-steps, such is the steepness of the slope. All work is performed by hand on this unique site. Receiving the maximum possible amount of sunshine, the grapes there reach a superior maturity, proof of a strong, complex and extremely mineral wine, which can age for more than 30 years.
Long-term relationships with growers
Philipponnat has been linked for generations to growers with some of the best calcareous terroirs of the Côte des Blancs, the Marne River Valley, the Montagne de Reims and the Riceys, working with them to select the grapes needed to perfect Philipponnat blends.