Philipponnat : Grand Blanc 2019

Tasting characteristics and advice for Philipponnat Grand Blanc 2019

Tasting

Appearance

The color shows a pale yellow to golden hue, bright and crystalline, threaded with fine, persistent bubbles that reflect the elegance of this Champagne.

Nose

The nose reveals delicate aromas of acacia honey and fresh almonds at first. With aeration, the bouquet develops notes of candied apricot, subtle vanilla, buttery toasted bread, and discreet mineral nuances, creating a harmonious, refined whole.

Palate

The attack is generous and silky, with a fine structural presence. The palate expresses a delicate balance between mineral intensity and aromatic finesse, accented by notes of lemon citrus and green apple. The chalky minerality—hallmark of the Côte des Blancs terroirs—shows clearly mid-palate and carries through to a long, elegant finish, leaving a lingering impression of fresh chalk, citrus, and toasted bread.

Food and wine pairings

Grand Blanc 2019 is best enjoyed as an aperitif or alongside refined dishes. It pairs beautifully with a platter of oysters, lobster poached in butter, fried calamari, fish ceviche, a crab-and-avocado salad, a vegetable quiche, or asparagus. Creamy poultry dishes and aged goat cheeses also make excellent matches.

Serving and cellaring

For an aperitif tasting, serve Grand Blanc 2019 between 8 and 9°C. With food, opt for a slightly higher temperature, between 10 and 12°C, to fully reveal its aromatic complexity. This Champagne can be cellared until around 2029 under optimal conditions of temperature and darkness.

A Blanc de Blancs with remarkable mineral elegance

The estate

Officially founded in 1910 by brothers Auguste and Pierre Philipponnat, the Philipponnat House draws on an exceptional family heritage dating back to 1522, when Apvril Le Philipponnat received land in Aÿ. Since 1997, the House has been part of the Lanson-BCC group while preserving its identity as a winegrowing house. Charles Philipponnat, the family’s sixteenth generation, now leads the estate alongside cellar master Thierry Garnier. Renowned for its environmental commitment and its mastery of Pinot Noir—particularly thanks to the prestigious Clos des Goisses acquired in 1935—Philipponnat is among the most respected Champagne houses, ranked as the 11th most admired brand in 2023.

The vineyard

Grand Blanc 2019 comes exclusively from Chardonnay parcels located in the most prestigious terroirs of Champagne. The grapes come from Grands Crus and Premiers Crus of the Côte des Blancs, notably Vertus, Trépail, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger, complemented by parcels in Grauves. These vineyards sit on soils of pure chalk with a high content of active limestone, giving the wines their hallmark minerality and distinctive freshness that define the great Champenois blanc de blancs.

The vintage

The year 2019 begins with a winter alternating mild, humid periods and cooler spells, without fully replenishing water reserves. April proves unsettled with nighttime frosts and frequent showers, while May remains cool and rainy, increasing pressure from fungal diseases. The turning point comes in June with the arrival of summery conditions, encouraging rapid flowering. Two heatwaves in June and July speed up ripening, offset by cool nights that preserve acidity. Harvest runs from September 11 to 21 in excellent conditions, delivering healthy, balanced, aromatically concentrated grapes, marking 2019 as an outstanding vintage.

Winemaking and aging

Grand Blanc 2019 is made exclusively from first-press Chardonnay juice. Vinification is carried out mainly in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, complemented by the fermentation of part of the crop in neutral oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation is deliberately avoided on the portion aged in wood to preserve freshness and natural acidity. The wine then undergoes extended aging for at least six years on the lees, developing complexity and depth while maintaining the hallmark liveliness of the house style. After disgorgement, a precise dosage of 4.5 grams per liter brings subtle balance without masking the wine’s purity.

Grape variety

This Blanc de Blancs Champagne is 100% Chardonnay