Philipponnat’s tête de cuvée, the 2016 Champagne Grand Cru 1522 Extra Brut is 70% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay, with the Pinot Noir coming from Aÿ and Verzy and the Chardonnay from Mesnil-sur-Oger. It pours a copper straw hue and is highly aromatic, with rounded layers of spice along with notes of graham cracker, apricot, almond, and orange sherbet. Full-bodied without feeling too broad, it has a chalky, rich texture with a noble feel and a savory, mineral-tinged backbone. Long and mouthwatering on the palate, with a food-friendly, rounded feel, it has the intensity and power of the three sites where it originated and is a beautiful blend. Drink 2024-2044. 10,574 bottles were produced. Disgorged in October 2022, with 4.5 grams per liter dosage.

A glimmering, faint rose gold color with pinpoint, persistent bubbles, the Cuveé 1522 Extra Brut 2016 is a Grand Cru selection of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay made mostly from the Philipponnat “Leon” parcel in Aÿ. Fermented largely in stainless steel with a small percentage vinified in oak barrels, none of the base wines underwent malolactic fermentation before aging eight years on fine lees. The nose is quite honeyed and redolent of summer berries, crisp red apple, wet chalk and toasted brioche that have an alluring precision. Taut and fresh at first, the medium to full-bodied palate has spirited, chalky acidity, abundant red bramble fruit concentration and mouthwatering salinity on the finish. Disgorged October 2022. 10574 Bottles produced.

Raspberries, red apples, pie crust, cloves and grapefruit peel on the nose. Nicely fruity with delicious red berry notes coming to the forefront. Very fine bubbles. Excellent tension, too. Dry. 70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay. Disgorged October 2022. 4.5g/L dosage. Drink now.

93+ The 2016 Philipponnat “Cuvée 1522” is crafted this year from a blend of seventy percent pinot noir and thirty percent chardonnay. Most of the pinot noir in this bottling hails from their historic vineyard of Le Léon in Aÿ, augmented by some additional fruit from the grand cru village of Verzy. All of the chardonnay comes from Mesnil-sur-Oger this year. A portion of the vins clairs for the Cuvée 1522 in 2016 were barrel-fermented and did not go through malolactic. The wine spent six years aging sur latte and was finished with a dosage of 4.25 grams per liter after disgorgement. It offers up a beautiful bouquet of apple, white peach, complex chalky soil tones, pâtissière, white flowers, a whisper of buttery oak and a touch of citrus zest in the upper register. On the palate the wine is bright, crisp and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent complexity and mineral undertow, refined mousse and a long, focused and seamlessly balanced, vibrant finish. This is a beautiful bottle of Champagne that is just starting to drink well and will be even better a decade down the road.

A minerally version, with generous smoke and chalk notes that transition to reveal black plum, whole-grain toast and Meyer lemon peel flavors. Vivacious, with both bright, well-knit acidity and a lively bead. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged October 2022. Drink now through 2028.

The 2016 Extra-Brut Cuvée 1522 is a very pretty wine, especially for the vintage. Spice, dried pear, mint and chamomile are some of the notes that grace the 2016. There's lovely aromatic presence and enough mid-palate pliancy to make for highly enjoyable drinking for at least the next handful of years. The 1522 is built on a core from Aÿ (Le Leon), plus fruit from Verzy and Mesnil. Disgorged: September 2022. - Antonio Galloni