Philipponnat : Le Léon Grand Cru Extra Brut 2015

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Léon Grand Cru Extra Brut 2015 from Philipponnat

Tasting

Appearance

The color reveals a golden hue with slightly coppery highlights.

Nose

Expressive and intense, the nose initially reveals spicy notes reminiscent of gingerbread and honey. With aeration, aromas of mango and exotic fruits gradually emerge, accompanied by lightly smoky nuances of tobacco and honey that enhance the aromatic complexity.

Palate

Fruity and generous, the palate expresses notes of red-fleshed fruits, wild berries, blackberry and guava, with a light touch of vanilla. The fine, well-integrated acidity brings a zesty freshness that supports the structure on the palate. The mousse is fine and delicate. The saline finish offers remarkable length, with subtle bitter notes and delicate hints of bergamot.

Food and wine pairings

This Léon Grand Cru Extra Brut 2015 pairs elegantly with seafood and iodine-rich fish. It also creates sublime matches with Iberian cured meats such as Bellota ham or Cecina. This champagne also pairs perfectly with roasted meats such as lamb or venison, as well as washed-rind cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

For an aperitif tasting, serve this Léon Grand Cru Extra Brut 2015 chilled, between 8 and 9°C. With a meal, opt for a temperature of 10 to 12°C to encourage the expression of its aromatic complexity. This champagne can be cellared for around ten additional years and will continue to develop beautifully in a cool, dark cellar.

An exceptional Blanc de Noirs from a historic plot in the Grand Cru of Aÿ

The estate

Founded in 1910 by Auguste and Pierre Philipponnat, the Philipponnat House perpetuates a winegrowing heritage dating back to 1522, when Apvril le Philipponnat became the owner of vineyards in the locality known as Le Léon. Established in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in Champagne, the House farms around 22 hectares of vineyards classified as Grand Cru and Premier Cru. Managed since 1999 by Charles Philipponnat, the sixteenth generation of the founding family, it remains one of the last great family-owned, independent Champagne houses. Philipponnat stands out for its terroir-driven approach and its specialization in expressing Pinot Noir, producing champagnes renowned for their minerality, elegance and aging potential.

The vineyard

This cuvée comes from a historic 2.5-hectare plot located between Aÿ and Dizy, classified as Grand Cru. Planted exclusively with Pinot Noir, this plot benefits from optimal south-eastern exposure and chalky soils typical of the terroir of Aÿ. These pure limestone soils enable the Pinot Noir grapes to reach full ripeness while retaining the freshness and mineral structure that have made the Grand Cru of Aÿ so renowned. Farmed by the Philipponnat family since 1522, this plot represents one of the oldest winegrowing heritages in Champagne.

The vintage

The 2015 vintage is characterized by exceptional weather conditions. After a relatively cool spring allowing harvest at the usual dates of the third week of September, summer brought extreme drought along with remarkable sunshine. The vines experienced significant water stress until early September. Rainfall in early September restarted the vine’s metabolism and ensured satisfactory ripening. The harvest took place in completely dry conditions in Aÿ. These conditions resulted in moderate yields, ensuring optimal grape concentration, with ripeness well above the usual average.

Vinification and aging

The Léon Grand Cru Extra Brut 2015 is crafted using traditional vinification, favoring fruit preservation and avoiding premature oxidation. Malolactic fermentation is not carried out in order to preserve natural acidity and maintain the vibrancy that balances the vintage’s grape concentration. All the wines are barrel-fermented, a technique that lends a subtle tannic structure and integrated aromatic complexity. Extended aging on lees lasts up to seven years in Philipponnat’s cellars at a constant temperature of 12°C, developing maximum complexity and releasing secondary and tertiary aromas. The Extra Brut dosage of 4.25 g/L maintains the balance between freshness and vinous character without masking the wine’s personality.

Grape variety

100% Pinot Noir from the first pressing juice of exclusively Grand Cru grapes from the Le Léon plot in Aÿ.