Champagne Philipponnat - Royale Réserve Brut

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Philipponnat continues its family history in Champagne. Located in Mareuil Sur Ay, the house is famous for its Clos-des-Goisses, the largest vineyard in Champagne (5.5 hectares) overlooking the Marne River, which it has owned since 1935. Since 1997, it has continued to grow under the leadership of Charles Philipponnat. The vineyard is managed with respect for the essential practices required to preserve it. In the cellar, the barrels and casks set the tone and signature of the complex, rich, and precise style of all the cuvées. One detail sums up the attention paid to the wines here: the back label specifies the dates of tirage and disgorging (which show that the aging process is much longer than usual), as well as the dosage and the origin of the blend. From the elegant, understated packaging to the pedigree of all the cuvées, everything here converges towards perfection.

Decanter

About wine:

Few producers succeed as well as Philipponnat in producing non-vintage wines dominated by Pinot Noir. The latest edition features ripe apricots, orange citrus, and pale raspberries, supported by the precise energy of lemon zest and the subtle resonance of a perpetual reserve aged in oak at 34%. Highly expressive, this is an irresistible NV.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Powerful and harmonious, blending white flowers with spicy and slightly smoky notes inherited from partial aging in reserve wine barrels, the nose promises a great champagne. This impression is confirmed on the palate, which is round and harmonious, with sweet aromas of quince and a long finish where the spices are combined with the freshness of grapefruit. "Surely the mark of fine reserve wines and long aging," concludes one taster.

About the estate:

The Philipponnats have owned vineyards in Aÿ since the early 16th century. As wine merchants and producers, they have a coat of arms dating from the late 17th century and a château in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, acquired in 1910. The jewel in the crown of their 22-hectare vineyard (comprising premier cru and grand cru plots) is the Clos des Goisses, purchased in 1935, which produces the house's most famous prestige vintage cuvée. It is one of the few walled vineyards in Champagne and also the largest (5.5 hectares), located on a steep hillside overlooking the Marne Canal and the river itself. The non-vintage cuvées derive their style from the addition of reserve wines aged in wood according to the solera principle, or perpetual reserve. Thierry Garnier has been cellar master since 2005.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About wine:

Freshness and fruity intensity reminiscent of sweet apple, summer pear, and a touch of bergamot. The palate is round and smooth, carried by a charming dosage that tempers the acidity. Thanks to soft bubbles and a pleasant bitterness, the pleasure is intense.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

NV Brut Royale Réserve reveals an elegant, floral bouquet with notes of white flowers, spring blossoms, ripe orchard fruits, and lemon oil. Medium-bodied, ripe, textured, and supported by a chalky extract, it is fresh with a delicious finish. A fine effort.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

Unblended, Royale Réserve is delicious, yet smooth and mouthwatering. A high-quality introduction that showcases all the work put in by the distillery. We also applaud the very reasonable pricing policy in an inflationary climate.

About the estate:

Joining the Lanson-BCC group in 1997, this medium-sized house is self-sufficient in terms of both sourcing and production. It has made a name for itself in the high-end champagne market thanks to the renewed personality of its Clos des Goisses. The brand's rise is also a reward for the choices made across the entire range by its president Charles Philipponnat, who has been in post since 2000. He introduced cold vinification, shifted the blends towards more Pinot Noir, and increased the capacity for vinification in wood on lees without bâtonnage and without malolactic fermentation. His goal? To integrate the spirit of vintage wines into non-vintage wines. The wines tasted confirm the excellence and precision observed recently, starting with the Brut Royale Réserve. A house at the top of its game.

Wine Enthusiast

James Suckling

About wine:

Complex, smoky nose of orange blossom, green apple, licorice, chalky minerality, and toasted bread. Refined palate with fine mousse, lively acidity, and a tight, taut, clean finish.