Hippolyte Blanc de Pinot Noirs 2002

A rare, fully mature library release named after the house's founder, this 2002 vintage (typically a Pinot-dominant blend with Chardonnay) showcases the legendary structure, balance, and longevity of one of Champagne's modern benchmark vintages.

The nose is deep, tertiary, and gloriously complex, unwinding with aromas of baked golden apple, dried figs, and candied orange peel, closely integrated with decadent autolytic layers of toasted brioche, dark honey, brown butter, roasted pecans, and a distinct flinty-saline minerality. On the palate, it exhibits immense vinous presence and depth, supported by a soft, integrated, and velvety mousse. The concentrated core of dried stone fruits and warm spice is held firmly in place by a remarkable, vibrant spine of acidity that refuses to fade despite two decades of aging. It finishes with incredible authority and length, leaving a long, savory trail of walnut skin, dark caramel, and lingering chalky salinity.