Based in Mareuil sur Ay, in Montagne de Reims, Philipponnat holds a long history tracing back to 1522, and at some stage supplied the King of France Louis XIV.
Their approach is based on their exceptional Terroir, enabling them great maturity to deliver flavourful, powerful and well-balanced Champagne. The house is one of the most prestigious ones, ranked as #18 most admired brand by Drinks Business Magazine in 2019. To many, the house remains one of the best kept secret in Champagne!
The name of Royal Réserve goes back to the ancestors of the Philipponnat family, vineyard owners, wine-merchants and winemakers, suppliers to Louis XIV, magistrates and Royal Mayors of Ay. The essential characteristics of the Mareuil sur-Ay terroir, where mainly Pinot Noir grapes are grown, are predominant in this cuvée. It offers a superb balance between structure, vinosity and a long finish.
Blend: 65% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Meunier. First press juice of mainly Grand and Premier Crus grapes from the heart of the Champagne wine-growing area.
Vintage: 20 to 30% of reserve wines are aged in wooden barrels using the solera system to blend with base vintage and incorporate older wines without losing freshness.
Vinification: Vinified using traditional methods to avoid premature oxidation. Partial malolactic fermentation and reserve wines aged in casks to allow the aromas to develop complexity.
Dosage: Moderate (8g/litre) to maintain a balance between freshness, fruitiness and vinosity without masking the wine’s character and purity.
Aging: Aged on the lees in the House’s cellars at a constant temperature of 12°C for three years, far longer than the legal minimum requirement of 15 months.