Champagne Philipponnat - Royale Réserve Rosé Brut

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Refined fruitiness, superb finish—at its best.

About the estate:

Philipponnat continues its family legacy in Champagne. Based in Mareuil-sur-Ay, the house is famous for its Clos-des-Goisses, the largest vineyard in all of Champagne (5.5 hectares), which overlooks the Marne River from a steep cliff and has been in the family’s ownership since 1935. Since 1997, it has continued to thrive under the leadership of Charles Philipponnat. The vineyard is managed with a focus on the essential practices that preserve its integrity. In the cellar, the barrels and large oak casks set the tone and define the complex, rich, and precise style of all the cuvées. One detail also highlights the attention paid to the wines here: the back label specifies the dates of bottling and disgorgement (which reveal that the aging period far exceeds the norm), as well as the dosage and the origin of the blend. With packaging that reflects the elegant simplicity and distinction of all the cuvées, everything here converges toward perfection.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

The Philipponnat family has owned vineyards in Aÿ since the early 16th century; as wine merchants and winemakers, they have a coat of arms dating from the late 17th century and a château in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, acquired in 1910. The crown jewel of their 22-hectare estate (comprising 1er Cru and Grand Cru vineyards) is the Clos des Goisses, purchased in 1935, which produces the house’s most famous vintage prestige cuvée. It is one of the few walled vineyards in Champagne and also the largest (5.5 hectares), situated on a steep hillside overlooking the Marne’s lateral 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 the cellar master since 2005.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Based on the 2015 vintage with 40% reserve wines, the Brut Rosé Royale Réserve was disgorged in August 2019 with a dosage of 9 grams per liter. Revealing a lovely bouquet of red apples, honeycomb, cherries, peaches, and beeswax, it is medium-bodied to full-bodied, rich and indulgent, with a generous fruit core, lively acidity, and a refined mousse.

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

About the wine:

This is a delicate, well-defined, and floral rosé, with a decadent touch of fruit that gives way to an alluring floral note.

About the estate:

Having joined the Lanson-BCC group in 1997, this mid-sized house is self-sufficient in both its sourcing and winemaking. It has made a name for itself in the high-end Champagne segment thanks to the renewed character of its Clos des Goisses. The brand’s rise is also a testament to the decisions made across the entire range by its president, Charles Philipponnat, who has been in office since 2000. He introduced cooler temperatures to the winemaking process, reoriented the blends toward a higher proportion of Pinot Noir, and increased the capacity for aging in oak on lees without stirring or malolactic fermentation. His goal? To infuse the spirit of vintage wines into non-vintage champagnes. 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

About the wine:

This Champagne is full-bodied and fruity, with notes of ripeness and a fragrant acidity. The red fruit flavors have a light structure while still exuding elegance. The finish lingers on the fruit. Drink now.

James Suckling