Philipponnat : Clos des Goisses 2013

The elegance and aromatic expression of an iconic Champagne

The estate

Established for nearly five centuries in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, the Philipponnat Champagne House is one of the historic names of the Champagne region. Singularity, excellence, generosity and simplicity are the values that guide this house which maintains its family-owned spirit. Owned by the house since 1935, the legendary Clos des Goisses is one of the oldest and most prestigious clos (walled vineyard) in the Champagne region. This jewel is the source of rare and exceptionally powerful champagnes.

The vineyard

Philipponnat looks after exceptional vineyards of 20 hectares of Premiers and Grands Crus in Champagne, located in Aÿ, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ and Avenay. The Clos des Goisses extends over 5.8 hectares of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines planted on a 45° slope. The name comes from the old Champagne dialect "gois," meaning a very steep hillside. On pure chalk soils facing south, the Clos des Goisses is one of the warmest terroirs in the Champagne region with temperatures 1.5°C higher on average than in the rest of the region. Because of its steep slope, the Clos des Goisses vineyard is worked by hand with extremely rigorous monitoring of the plots, excluding the use of synthetic herbicides and insecticides. The soil is worked with ploughing and weeding to eliminate weeds.

The wine

Each vintage of this Clos des Goisses comes from a rigorous selection of the highest quality plots in this exceptional vineyard.

The vintage

The cold and sunny winter gave way to a mild April that advanced the vineyard’s budburst. This advance was slowed down by the coolness and heavy rainfall recorded in May, as well as in mid-June during flowering at Clos des Goisses, resulting in low yields. While June was particularly wet, putting pressure on the vineyard’s health, July was milder, slowing down mildew pressure. The hot, dry and sunny conditions of August lasted until the beginning of the harvest in early October. Perfectly ripe, the high quality grapes produced a vintage that is delightfully fresh and elegant.

Winemaking and ageing

Partial vinification under wood for 47%. Malolactic fermentation is not carried out in order to preserve the natural acidity of the wine and to counterbalance the powerful expression of the terroir. This champagne was aged for a minimum of 8 years. This Extra Brut Champagne is dosed at 4.25 g/litre.

Blend

Pinot Noir (85%)
Chardonnay (15%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Clos des Goisses 2013 from Philipponnat

Tasting

Colour
Supported by a lovely effervescence, the colour is of an intense golden hue.

Nose
The nose is beautifully elegant, mingling floral (elderflower) and fruity (redcurrant, red fruits) scents with delicious toasted notes.

Palate
Harmoniously combining richness and minerality, the palate delights with its fruity notes (blackberry, small red fruits) as well as its lingering finish which has a freshness and finesse typical of this vintage.

Food and wine pairing

Iodized fish, lobster or soft cheeses are fine partners for this Clos des Goisses 2013 from Philipponnat.

To serve

In order to let it express the fullness of its personality, it is recommended to decant this exceptional champagne before tasting it.

Storage

Having reached perfect maturity after prolonged ageing in the house cellars, this highly refined champagne will continue to evolve over the coming decades, provided it is kept in the appropriate conditions.