Philipponnat : Cuvée 1522 Grand cru "Long Vieillissement" 2003

A long-aged vintage champagne that entices with its balance and complexity

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 that has kept in the spirit of a family business. Owned by the house since 1935, the legendary Clos des Goisses is one of the oldest and most prestigious clos in the Champagne region. This jewel is the source of rare and exceptionally powerful champagnes.

The House of Champagne Philipponnat oversees an exceptional vineyard of 20 hectares of Premier and Grand Crus in Aÿ, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ and Avenay.

The vineyard

The name of the Cuvée 1522 Grand Cru de Philipponnat refers to the date when the Philipponnat family settled in the village of Ay. This cuvée comes from the finest vineyards of the house, notably the historic plots of "Léon" in Ay.

The wine

Produced in very limited quantities, Cuvée 1522 Grand Cru "Long Vieillissement" by Philipponnat is a tribute to time and perfection. Resulting from a meticulous selection among the illustrious terroirs of Champagne, this exceptional cuvée is named "Long Vieillissement", because of its 20-year ageing period in the cellars of the house, followed by a disgorgement six months before being released on the market.

The vintage

The year 2003 sticks in the memory as a year of extremes. A cold winter punctuated by several frosts preceded a spring that began under mild, dry and sunny conditions. Between 7 and 11 April, the most devastating frost of the last seventy years destroyed 43% of the vineyard. The mild weather in May was offset by heavy hail in early June, which had a severe impact on the vineyards. Hot, sunny weather accompanied the flowering before giving way to a dry, scorching summer, accelerating the ripening process of the grapes. The harvest began on 29 August, an earliness not seen since 1822. Despite this unstable climate and very low yields, the perfectly ripe and healthy grapes revealed a rare quality.

Assemblage

Pinot Noir (70%)
Chardonnay (30%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Cuvée 1522 "Long Vieillissement" 2003 from Philipponnat

Tasting

This vintage delights with its harmonious expression of two grape varieties making up its blend. The Chardonnay combines a full and supple structure with a beautiful richness. The Pinot Noir is well-balanced and gives off delicious notes of candied fruit, jam and butter.