2015 Philipponnat Le Leon Extra Brut
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Tasting notes
The 2015 Champagne Le Leon Aÿ Extra Brut pours a medium copper/straw color and is expressive on the nose but has a more floral and mineral aromatic profile compared to the La Rémissonne. It offers a slightly toastier profile with soft umami notes as well as porcini, red plum, and orange peel. The palate has a good deal of structure and more depth, with a more profound and intense mineral persistence and drive as well as a very long finish. It demands time in the cellar as it’s a more tension-packed wine. Drink 2027-2047.
Critic scores
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Crafted entirely from Pinot Noir and planted on the very steep slope of Le Léon parcel in Dizy, Philipponnat's 2015 Le Léon displays a solar, complex bouquet of spices, red berries, guava, white fruits, spices and baked bread. Full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's rich and dense, with a more austere, phenolic mid-palate than La Rémissonne and a long, chalky, beautifully fine-boned and mineral finish accompanied by a delicate gastronomic bitterness. Disgorged with 4.5 grams per liter dosage and produced at only 3,732 bottles, this is one of my favorites in the lineup. It was vinified in barrels with no malolactic fermentation.
The 2015 Extra Brut Le Léon shows all the stature, power and intensity of Aÿ. White pepper, mint and chalk give the 2015 its brilliant upper register of aromatics. Readers will have to be patient though, as the 2015 needs time to settle down. Time in the glass allows some of its breadth to come through. The 2015 was fermented in oak, with blocked malolactic fermentation. It’s an absolutely gorgeous Champagne from Philipponnat. Dosage is 4.25 grams per liter. Disgorged: October 2023.
About the producer
Champagne Philipponnat, an historic family estate that has been cultivating the region for an extraordinary 500 years, has been producing Champagne on the Clos des Goisses site since 1935. Charles Philipponnat is currently at the helm of the Champagne House.