Very mature and intense, Clos des Goisses is an open, aromatic wine, although closed when young.
Appearance: Amber Gold, intense, bright and crystal-clear. Slight coppery reflections. Creamy effervescence from numerous very small bubbles.
Nose: Powerful, ripe and full of personality. Small red and black fruits, slighty jammy. A rich and exotic spicy-sweet aroma arrives. Rose, sandal wood, and almonds.
Palate: Fleshy, well balanced between vinosity and acidity. Volume is simply extraordinary. Explosive fruit combines with astounding minerality and acidity. Flavours arrive of honey, aniseed, grilled almond and old brandy. All these elements find their origins in the very special terroir that is Clos des Goisses and make for an uncommon style of Champagne very seldom tasted.
Wine-making for Clos des Goisses is totally traditional. Its only originality resides in the absence of malo-lactic fermentation, which is systematically avoided. Thus, the wine maintains a vivacity and freshness that balances its alcoholic strength, its intensity, its roundness without masking any of its body and aromas and, on the contrary, contributes to its persistence. Wood, in this elaboration philosophy, is only partially used (30%); rather as a minor element in blending only there to increase complexity.
Champagne House comment: Ageing in our own cellars is not so much destined to round it out, but rather to add still greater dimension and complexity. Ideal ageing is from 8 to 10 years, the prime of life for Clos des Goisses. At this age, the wine attains its greatest complexity without having lost its freshness. It is at this point that dégorgement is carried out and the wine readied for sale. The structure of the wine is such that it will age gracefully for decades if kept in an adequate environment (cool and dark). One should not be afraid to decant Clos des Goisses before service to let the wine reveal its full potential.
Belonging exclusively to Philipponnat, the Clos des Goisses is an exceptional vineyard of 5,5 Ha enclosed by walls, with an impressive gradient of 30 to 45°, facing full south, where Philipponnat produces the most powerful of Champagne wines. Always vintaged, very lightly dosed, this uncommon wine is characterized by incredible length and body, in which Pinot Noir characteristics predominate.
This fabulous wine for great occasions, extraordinarily mineral and intense is also a marvelous companion for gastronomy matching game, mushrooms and even cheeses.
Along the banks of the River Marne and close to the Mareuil sur Aÿ Roman church, which is situated in the middle of its own vineyards, Champagne Philipponnat produces wines with an exceptional house style. The main courtyard opens onto a beautiful classic façade situated just behind a gate stamped with the family coat of arms. Here lies the heart of Philipponnat - its XVIIIth Century cellars where, shielded from the world, its wines slowly mature.
Don't Pay: $400
WBW Rating: 98/100
Closure: Cork & Wire
Region: Champagne, France
