Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 2015

Champagne Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 2015 is one of the great reference-point wines of Champagne, drawn from one of the region’s most legendary single vineyards. This Extra-Brut cuvée marries power and depth with striking freshness, capturing the essence of a warm, generous vintage while retaining Clos des Goisses’ unmistakable tension and minerality. Bottled with minimal dosage and made for long-term cellaring, it is a Champagne that rewards patience and contemplation.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2015 Clos des Goisses shows a deep, luminous golden hue with a fine, persistent bead that hints at both concentration and finesse. The nose is wonderfully expressive and layered, opening with ripe pear and mirabelle plum, followed by honeyed notes, warm brioche, subtle baking spices and a delicate iodine-like, maritime edge that speaks of its chalky terroir. On the palate, this is full-bodied, vinous and tightly structured, with a core of perfectly ripe orchard and stone fruits wrapped in vibrant, chalk-driven acidity. The mid-palate is dense and layered, showing great depth and concentration, while the texture is both creamy and firmly etched. A touch of spice and savoury licorice emerges on the long, mouthwatering finish. Still a little strict and compact in its youth, this 78% Pinot Noir and 22% Chardonnay blend has not undergone malolactic fermentation, preserving a keen, racy backbone. Disgorged in March 2024 with a low Extra-Brut dosage of 4.5 g/L, it has excellent aging potential and will evolve beautifully over the next 10–20 years and beyond, gaining further complexity and harmony.

Production
Clos des Goisses is a walled, steeply sloping, south-facing single vineyard in Mareuil-sur-Ay, one of Champagne’s most prized terroirs. The vines plunge their roots deep into pure, belemnite chalk, which confers both intensity and a distinctive saline, mineral signature. Grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness, ensuring meticulous selection in the vineyard where yields are naturally low due to the slope and age of the vines. In the cellar, Philipponnat vinifies Clos des Goisses parcel by parcel, with a significant portion fermented in oak to build texture and complexity, while carefully preserving the wine’s precision. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to maintain freshness and structure, and the wine spends extended time on its lees before disgorgement, allowing the profound character of this unique site and the 2015 vintage to fully express itself.

Food & Serving
Clos des Goisses 2015 is a gastronomic Champagne that shines at the table. Pair it with refined dishes such as lobster with butter and citrus, turbot or sole in a buttery sauce, scallops, roasted poultry with morels, veal sweetbreads, or aged Comté and Parmesan. Its structure and depth also allow it to stand up to truffle dishes and richly sauced white meats. Serve at 10–12°C (50–54°F) to balance freshness with aromatic expression. In its youth, decanting for 30–60 minutes in a wide-based carafe can help the wine open up; as it matures, simply allowing it to breathe in the glass will be sufficient.

Producer
Champagne Philipponnat is a historic, family-rooted Champagne house, with documented ties to the region dating back to the 16th century. Based in Mareuil-sur-Ay, the estate is particularly renowned for its mastery of Pinot Noir and for championing terroir-driven Champagnes long before it became a trend. Clos des Goisses, purchased by the family in 1935, is considered one of Champagne’s first and greatest single-vineyard bottlings, and has helped cement Philipponnat’s reputation among collectors and sommeliers worldwide. The house is celebrated for its low-dosage, characterful wines, its commitment to expressing origin and vintage, and its consistent presence among the top names in grower-style and prestige Champagne alike.