A clos champagne is a champagne which is made from the grapes of a single walled vineyard which creates a very special microclimate. Historically, a clos was an enclosed vineyard, surrounded by “a wall or a hedge that a horse could not jump over”. Today there are 39 known clos in Champagne and some are synonymous with the most exclusive wines in the world, while others are some of the best kept secrets in fizz.
1. Clos des Goisses
Premier Cru
Located just outside the village of Mareuil sur Ay in the Montagne de Reims, the Clos des Goisses is a vineyard with an incline between 30 and 45 degrees, which has been represented by the name Gois or Goisse meaning ‘a very steep slope’. Pierre Philipponnat pruchased the land in 1935 and quickly decided to buck the blending trends in Champagne and showcase its potential as a single vineyard wine. This became the original “clos champagne” and therefore had to be first on the list.
Owner of the Clos: Champagne Philipponnat
Cuvée of the Clos: Clos des Goisses, Les Cintres, Petits Cintres
Size of the plot: 5.5 ha
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Price (€): 140 – 240 depending on the vintage
Bottles per Vintage: 3,000 – 11,000 bottles
2. Clos du Mesnil
Grand Cru
Purchased in 1971, the walled plot in the heart of the Le Mesnil sur Oger led to what has now become a House of Krug legend. Before its acquisition by Rémi
This Article was originally published on Champagne Every Day
