Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 2012
AOC Champagne, 3000 ml
An icon of Champagne
- The legendary steep slope of Clos de Goisses in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ – powerful and long-lasting.
- Deep and complex, with notes of fruit, toast and spice, and a long, mineral finish.
- Pairs well with spicy dishes such as monkfish wrapped in bacon and poultry, and once matured, with truffle dishes.
Description
The Philipponnat Clos des Goisses comes from one of the most exceptional sites in Champagne: a 5.83-hectare, walled single vineyard in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The steepest south-facing slope in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ has been owned by the House for almost a century and is regarded as Champagne’s first single-vineyard terroir – a cornerstone of the House’s ongoing pursuit of excellence and perfection. This unique exposure ensures optimal ripening and lends the champagne its unmistakable intensity and depth. The Clos des Goisses is regarded as one of the most powerful and long-lasting champagnes of all, combining structure, concentration and precision with impressive elegance and mineral tension. A champagne for connoisseurs and a particular highlight with savoury dishes such as scallops au gratin, monkfish wrapped in bacon, refined poultry dishes and truffle-based dishes. Our serving tip: enjoy it from a large glass.
Celebrate the Art of Sabring!
With its elegant design, this champagne sabre is not only an impressive eye-catcher at any celebration and an indispensable tool for stylish sabering, but also the perfect gift for all passionate sparkling wine lovers.
Attributes
| Grape variety: | Pinot noir, Chardonnay |
| Producer: | Champagne Philipponnat |
| Origin: | France / Champagne |
| Other vintages: | 2010 |
| Ripening potential: | 5 to 25 years |
| Drinking temperature: | 10 to 12 °C |
| Food Pairing: | Coquilles Saint Jacques on lentils, Mussels au gratin, Wild fowl, Succulent chicken breast with cream sauc, Risotto with ceps |
| Vinification: | bottle fermentation |
| Harvest: | hand-picking, strict selection |
| Volume: | 12.0 % |
| Note: | Contains sulphites |
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.
Pinot noir
Blueprint of the terroir
No other variety expresses its terroir as precisely as Pinot noir. It is a sensitive, fragile grape. But when it succeeds, it gives the world some of its very greatest wine plants. It especially excels in Burgundy, where it has been cultivated for at least 700 years. Even in the middle ages, it was considered so precious that it was kept separate from other grapes so as to not diminish its value. The finest examples are delicate and fragrant with aromas of cherries and red berries. With maturity, notes of forest floor, leather and truffles enter as well. An irresistible fruity sweetness still shines through, even after several decades. The Pinot noir does well in cool locations: in Switzerland and in Germany, where it is known as Blauburgunder and Spätburgunder respectively; in Alsace and in South Tyrol, in Oregon, New Zealand and Tasmania. Not least, it yields fantastic champagnes. It is a wonderful culinary companion. With its soft tannins and charming bouquet, it meshes with everything, from Güggeli and cheeses to fried fish.
Chardonnay
King or beggar?
Hardly any variety of vine shows such a broad spectrum of quality as the Chardonnay. Its wines range from faceless neutrality to breath-taking class. It is an extremely low-maintenance vine, which explains why it is grown around the world – even in places where it probably should not be. The aromas of the Chardonnay variety are not very pronounced: a bit of green apple, a little hazelnut; in warmer latitudes, also melon and exotic fruits. The wines are often defined by maturing in casks. They develop more or less subtle notes of butter, toasted bread and vanilla. The grapes achieve their highest expression in their region of origin, Burgundy. Its heart beats in the Côte de Beaune: one might think of the plant growth of Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet. With their finesse and complexity, they can survive for decades. Chardonnay also achieves first class in some Blanc-de-Blancs champagnes. It additionally yields great wines in the Burgundian Chablis, and increasingly in Australia and Chile. A simple rule of thumb for pairing with food: When butter and cream are involved, you cannot go wrong with Chardonnay.
France
France – Philosophy in a bottle
According to French philosophy, wine should be an expression of the soil and climate. They use the word “terroir” to describe this. Terroir makes every wine different, and many especially good. French wine is regarded worldwide as an expression of cultural perfection. The French believe that humans are responsible for the quality of the berries, the vine variety for their character, and nature for the quantity. This philosophy can be expressed succinctly as: “the truth is the vineyard, not the man.”
