Philipponnat : Cuvée 1522 Grand cru 2014

Bright yellow gold. Delicately smoky, roasted walnuts, some red berry confit and orange zest. Finely tart, full-bodied notes of tobacco and honeydew melon fill the palate with a chalky impression and soft foam; energetic, vibrant acidity lends traction. Harmonious, juicy finish.

Disgorged in March 2021 with 4.5 grams per liter dosage, Philipponnat's 2014 Extra-Brut Grand Cru Cuvée 1522 exhibits aromas of crisp yellow apples, stone fruit, buttery pastry and citrus oil. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and elegantly vinous, with a layered core of fruit, bright girdling acids and a seamless profile, it's beautifully balanced and should age with considerable grace. As I've written before, this cuvée derives its name from the year in which the Philipponnat family settled in Ay, and it's intended to foreground the virtues of the wines of that village.