Philipponnat : Clos des Goisses Juste Rosé 2012

An expressive and delicate rosé champagne from Philipponnat

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

Produced in very limited quantities, Clos des Goisses Juste Rosé 2012 is the 9th rosé cuvée from the Clos des Goisses since 1999.

The vintage

2012 saw a winter with several episodes of frost and a cool spring, leading to uneven flowering and run-off, impacting yields. A particularly wet July gave way to an ideal end of season, advancing the ripening of the berries, their sugar concentration as well as a high proportion of malic acid, conferring a beautiful freshness.

Winemaking and ageing

Total vinification in wood. Malolactic fermentation was 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 nine years in the cellars of the Maison Philipponnat. This Extra Brut Champagne is dosed at 4.5 g/l.

Blend

Pinot Noir (68%)
Chardonnay (32%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for Clos des Goisses Juste Rosé 2012 from Philipponnat

Tasting

Colour
The colour is of a pale pink, supported by a delicate and persistant effervescence.

Nose
Expressive and delicious, the nose releases delightful strawberry and guava notes.

Palate
The palate opens elegantly, with mandarin scents. During the tasting the palate becomes more complex, through fruity (blueberry) and floral (violet, dried rose petal) notes to a fresh and lasting finish.

Food and wine pairing

Clos des Goisses Juste Rosé 2012 from Philipponnat pairs perfectly with fine dining dishes, such as pigeon roasted with raspberry.

Storage

Clos des Goisses Juste Rosé 2012 from Philipponnat can be laid down for several decades to release all of its aromatic palette.