2016 Philipponnat Clos des Goisses

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.

A vintage about elegance and finesse, and leading with a powdery floral perfume, the 2016 Champagne Clos Des Goisses Extra Brut opens with notes of fresh strawberries, white peach, pastis, and stone fruit. With a medium to full-bodied frame, it will take some time to flesh out. It’s not overblown in richness., but has a supple, refined mousse and a focused freshness of acidity. Made from 68% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay, it was entirely aged in oak. It might not be the longest for aging, but it has finesse and elegance now. Drink 2027-2040. 4.5 grams per liter dosage.

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.