Philipponnat 1522 Grand Cru is a Grand Cru Champagne of the 2014 vintage, made by Philipponnat. The name of Cuvée 1522 is a tribute to the year in which the Philipponnat family settled in the village of Ay. This is a village in the heart of the Champagne region. Apvril le Philipponnat owned vines at Le Léon, between Ay and Dizy in the Champagne region, from 1522.
Vintage 2014
According to the website – the word from the Cellar Master – the following describes the condition of the vintage. 2014, a year with chaotic weather and full of surprises. A mild and rainy autumn and winter were followed by a superb spring, warm, dry and sunny, leading to a very early bud break. Summer was particularly rainy and temperatures were autumnal by the end of August. Considering the rainy weather, grape soundness was satisfactory, notably with very low levels of grey rot, and no powdery or downy mildew on the clusters. The year was unusual in that sour rot and spotted wing drosophila appeared in certain sectors. Due to fast picking and strict sorting during the harvest, the quality of our intake was very sound with a fairly exceptional average weight of clusters. The harvest took place from 13 to 25 September 2014.
Making of the Philipponnat 1522 Grand Cru
This Philipponnat 1522 Grand Cru champagne is made with 81% Pinot Noir and 19% Chardonnay. The Pinot Noir grows in the Léon vineyard, thus, one of the most traditional properties. The Verzy vineyard is the source of the Chardonnay. The wine stays 08 years on the lees. The dosage is minimal, only 4,25 gr/l, therefore, this is an Extra Brut Champagne.
Analysis of the Champagne
In the glass, the Philipponnat 1522 Grand Cru Champagne presents itself in a golden straw color, brilliant, with very fine perlage. In the nose, it shows complex aromas of pear, almonds, spices and brioche, with slight peppery notes. On the palate, this Champagne is dry and fresh, with a wonderful perlage, underlining the aromas and ending in a long and pleasant finish.
We enjoyed this wine to begin celebrating my wife’s birthday. A truly marvellous champagne!
