Thanks to its extreme exposure to the sun, Clos des Goisses produces a Champagne of unequalled intensity.
A Legendary Terroir
You need to travel to Mareuil-sur-Ay, in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage site, to witness the extraordinary location of Clos des Goisses for yourself. Its sharp slope, unique in the region, overlooks the Marne canal and is encircled by low walls and small stairways.
Passing the base of the hill every day, Pierre Philipponnat saw the potential of this unique terroir, which had been practically abandoned since the phylloxera crisis, World War I and the Great Depression of the 1930s. And so he acquired it in 1935, ignoring the friendly advice of his fellow merchants to stick to blending, and went on to create the Champagne region’s first ‘mono-cru’, or cuvée parcellaire as it would be called today.
Its slope, across almost six hectares and fourteen plots, varies from 35 to 45°. It is the most pronounced slope over such a large surface area in the Champagne region. The hillside’s south-facing aspect, combined with its slope, is the main feature of the Clos des Goisses micro-climate, which is the sunniest in the region. The grapes’ intense ripeness is a direct result of this. The mineral tension of the chalk, which is almost flush with the surface of this heavily eroded hillside, balances out the maturity of the fruit. This paradoxical equilibrium between intensity and mineral tension is the natural inspiration for all the House’s cuvées.
Vinified mainly in wooden barrels without malolactic fermentation, aged for nine to eleven years in the cellar and with a low dosage (4 g/l), this always-vintage Champagne is impressive for its depth and exceptional persistence in the mouth. The ultimate reflection of the House’s quest for excellence, Clos des Goisses is attracting more interest than ever from discerning enthusiasts, who are well aware of its value.
