As Champagne Philipponnat ushers in a new era with the rebranding of its flagship cuvees, the house underscores a philosophy of continuity through change
In champagne, heritage is often counted in centuries. For the house of Philipponnat, it stretches back half a millennium. Since the 1500s, the family has cultivated pinot noir on the south-facing slopes of Mareuil-sur-Ay. Today, Charles Philipponnat and his son, François, carry that lineage forward. Yet tradition here is not preserved in amber. It is a living philosophy that is continually renewed and, now, distilled into Réserve Perpétuelle—the new identity of the house’s Brut and Non Dosé cuvees.
This rebrand replaces Royale Réserve Brut and Royale Réserve Non Dosé with a name that speaks to the wines’ essence. “Royale Réserve didn’t mean much about what the cuvee was,” says Charles. “It was old-fashioned marketing without authentic background. Réserve Perpétuelle reflects the inner nature and quality of the wine, our pursuit of excellence, and the balance of continuity with renewal.”
At the heart of this lies the perpetual reserve system, long practised by the house and now foregrounded. Rather than a special addition, it forms the foundation: a living blend renewed annually, uniting reserve wines with the latest harvest. This cycle ensures not only consistency but also depth, layering freshness with complexity. “Our perpetual reserve is not a special blend. It’s our mainstay,” explains Charles.
Pinot noir is central. “Because of where we are and what we are, pinot noir is at the heart of our identity and hence our style,” says Charles. In the Brut, it brings vinosity and outward generosity, a champagne for celebration. The Non Dosé, stripped of dosage, shows purity and restraint. Charles describes it as “more intimate, more intellectual; best enjoyed with a good book or dinner with someone you love for their wits”.
Surpassing excellence
Recognition has followed. Last year, La Revue du Vin de France ranked Philipponnat’s cuvee first in the non-vintage category. For Charles, such acclaim is not a resting place but a challenge—a duty to keep deserving the honour and to surpass it.
That sense of responsibility extends beyond craft. Philipponnat was among the first houses to print base vintage and disgorgement dates on labels, a gesture of transparency before it was fashionable. Sustainability, too, is instinct rather than strategy. “How could we forget that we’ve inherited terroirs we have cared for 500 years and not continue?” Charles reflects.
Ultimately, Réserve Perpétuelle honours time not by resisting it, but by embracing its perpetual flow. Charles hopes that, decades from now, champagne enthusiasts will say it has matured as gracefully as a great vintage, developing ever greater complexity with age.
