Clos des Goisses 2011 casket

With the Clos des Goisses 2011, Philipponnat shows its finest site in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ: a steep, south-facing, walled chalk plot. The cuvée is 61% Pinot Noir and 39% Chardonnay, with 37% of it fermented in oak. There is no malolactic fermentation, and the dosage of 4.25 g/l keeps the wine dry and precise. Eight years of ageing precede its release. The Bettane & Desseauve guide awards it 18.5 out of 20 points, and the Guide Hachette two stars.

The bouquet is spicy and toasty. On the palate the champagne is fresh and mineral, with sour cherry and spice, powerfully built and long. Serve it at 10 to 12 °C in a wide white wine glass, briefly decanted beforehand. Game, truffle, caviar and soft cheese make good partners. It can be cellared for many years and comes in a gift box.