Champagne Philipponnat "Clos des Goisses" Extra Brut 2016
(Champagne, France) - [JS 97] [DM 97] [WE 97] [WA 96+] [WS 96] [JD 96] [VM 95]

About the Domaine:
The Philipponnat family has cultivated vines around Ay since 1522. Its history is closely tied to Pinot Noir and the vineyards of the Grande Vallee de la Marne. In 1935 the family acquired Clos des Goisses, establishing one of Champagne's pioneering single-vineyard wines.

About this Champagne:
Clos des Goisses comes from a steep, south-facing chalk hillside in Mareuil-sur-Ay. The producer's current technical sheet describes a walled vineyard of 5.83 hectares. Its warm exposure gives ripe fruit, while chalk soils and the avoidance of malolactic fermentation help preserve freshness.

The 2016 Vintage:
A difficult first half of the year brought spring frosts, persistent rain and limited sunshine. Warm, dry weather arrived in August, allowing steady ripening and healthy fruit. Philipponnat harvested from September 19 to October 3.

Blend & Winemaking:
68% Pinot Noir and 32% Chardonnay. The 2016 was vinified entirely in wood, without malolactic fermentation, then aged on its lees for eight years in the house's cellars. The producer's technical sheet lists an Extra-Brut dosage of 4.25 g/L.

Tasting Notes:
The producer describes a golden Champagne with elderflower, white fruit, salted caramel, vanilla and ginger aromas. A creamy palate develops pear and peach flavors, finishing with saline freshness and white pepper.

Food Pairing:
Pair with fish, lobster or soft cheeses. The producer recommends considering decanting to help the wine open.

Ratings & Reviews

97 Points - James Suckling:
"Berries, citrus, fantastic white peaches, pears and mangosteens on the nose. Sandalwood, licorice and sweet almonds, too. It has excellent depth, concentration and freshness. Serious yet very enjoyable. The peach flavors are stunning. Fermented in 100% wood without malolactic conversion. 68% pinot noir and 32% chardonnay. 4.5 g/L dosage. Disgorged March 2025. Drink or hold." - Claire Nesbitt (Jul 2025)

97 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"So fragrant and inviting on the nose, peach, pear and white flowers and a kiss of toast. Some buttery pastry, nutty, white chocolate and vanilla aspects too which are lovely. Round and filling, delicate mousse but so lively. Comple and charming this really extends vertically and horizontally. Super refined and graceful yet there's lots of life and character with racy acidity and spiced ginger. Lots of potential for this wine that was only disgorged in March of this year. (Drinking window: 2026–2050.)" - Georgina Hindle (Jul 2025)

97 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Balanced and finessed in every way, this one pulls you in with Gala apple, white roses, bergamot, fine chalk, and a touch of gooseberry on the nose. The palate is a transportive wave of joy, like wandering from a sun-drenched garden straight into a Parisian pastry shop. Racy acidity carries a long finish of citrus zest and almond. Pure bliss, irresistible now, and with plenty more to give in time." - Anna-Christina Cabrales (Nov 2026)

96+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"Disgorged in March 2025 with a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter, Philipponnat’s 2016 Clos des Goisses has turned out beautifully, opening with aromas of pear, peach and spring flowers mingled with lychee and a subtle hint of ginger. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, simultaneously textural and racy, with a concentrated core of ripe fruit and racy acidity, concluding with a long, sapid finish laced with lemon zest. While characteristically demonstrative—befitting a site of southern exposure—it is not an exuberant Clos des Goisses but rather a harmonious rendition. It shares some of the traits seen in the 2013, though with slightly less incisive spine of acidity. Charles Philipponnat notes that the harvest began on 19 September and that yields were relatively modest. The wine was vinified exclusively in oak—specifically, 228-liter barrels previously used in Burgundy—and did not undergo malolactic fermentation. The final assemblage consists of 68% Pinot Noir and 32% Chardonnay. (Drinking window: 2026–2050.)" - Kristaps Karklins (Jul 2025)

96 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A sleek, finely meshed Champagne, with a mouthwatering range of ripe blackberry, passion fruit and pear fruit. With its silky mousse and harmonious integration, this is lithe in feel, especially for the vintage. That elegance belies a depth of flavor and focus, with notes of toast point, chopped hazelnut, chalk, verbena, oyster shell and candied ginger joining the fruit profile and expanding on the palate and through the long, long finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged March 2025. Drink now through 2041. 1,880 cases made, 100 cases imported." -Alison Napjus (Dec 2026)

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Brilliant yellow-straw in color, the 2016 Champagne Clos Des Goisses Extra Brut is showing beautifully today, with pâtisserie, fresh shortbread, flowers, lemon curd, red berries, cherry, vanilla bean, pastry cream, bright citrus, and fresh oats. Full-bodied, it has tremendous depth without heaviness, with a refined mousse and focused, refreshing acidity. Always barrel fermented without malolactic fermentation, it retains crystalline salinity and increasing mineral intensity as it opens, with that stony character lingering through the long finish. Drink 2027-2046." - Audrey Frick (Nov 2026)

95 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2016 Extra-Brut Clos des Goisses is soft, delicate and open-knit. Gentle floral and tropical inflections open first in an airy, gracious Clos des Goisses that is more finesse than power. It will be fascinating to see how the 2016 evolves in the coming years. Today, it's elegant, light on its feet and very easy to drink, naturally with less of the textural intensity of more favorable vintages." -Antonio Galloni (May 2026)
Drinking window: 2026–2046.