Champagne Philipponnat
Journeying across Champagne you will inevitably come across familiar sounding names. Grand names behind which often hide grand houses that carry on their business at the global level.
It's a bit different with Charles Philipponnat. His champagne isn't well known to everyone, but it is one of the most exclusive. It was in the 17th century that the Philipponnat family moved to Mareuil-sur-AŸ in the heart of Champagne. In 1910 Pierre and Auguste Philipponnat bought a splendid winery carved 20 metres deep into the chalk bed. And today Charles Philipponnat welcomes guests into 'his' stately home with the finesse, charm and hospitality that characterise it.
Not far away at the edge of the village is the Clos des Goisses, the steepest slope in the area, facing due south and, what's more, the only 'Clos' in the whole of Champagne. Those 5.5 exceptional hectares grow mainly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which give rise to a unique vintage champagne. Production is limited, but that does not prevent it from being a worldwide success. Indeed, this champagne enjoys a top tier reputation at the great tables of the world. And the Charles Philipponnat name carries across equally well to all the other house styles, be it the Royal Reserve, full of character, the elegant rosé or the very fine blanc de blancs.
Sparkling wines from Champagne Philipponnat
from Champagne Philipponnat
Producer
Finca Montepedroso
In the heart of Spain's Rueda wine region, at an altitude of 750 metres, lies the Montepedroso estate – a place where tradition, passion and personality come together. Here, siblings Carlos and Pilar Martínez Bujanda produce a white wine from 100% Verdejo grapes that impressively reflects the terroir of the region.
Château Raymond Lafon
Located in the heart of the Sauternes area, this winery comprises 18 hectares, 16 of which planted with 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. The maximum yield by law is 25 hectolitres per hectare. The yields at Raymond-Lafon average only 8 to 10 hectolitres per hectare; in other words, one vine will produce only one glass of delicious wine. Over several pickings, the grapes are harvested one by one according to their level of maturity. In some years, this can result in up to ten selected hand harvests. This alone lets one appreciate the great value of this wine.
Domaine Thomas Collardot
A hidden treasure from Puligny-Montrachet
Domaine Thomas-Collardot is a small, family-run winery with 2.5 hectares of vineyards in the heart of Puligny-Montrachet – one of the most renowned wine-growing areas in the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy. Since 2010, Jacqueline Collardot has been running the winery with passion and respect, continuing a precious family tradition.