Philippe Gonet's Roy Soleil Earns a Médaille du Jour from La Revue du Vin de France

What happened

On 12 May 2026, La Revue du Vin de France awarded its Médaille du Jour to Philippe Gonet's Extra Brut Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Roy Soleil. The distinction, conferred by one of France's most established wine publications, places the cuvée among those singled out for particular attention on the day of assessment.

Roy Soleil carries two of Champagne's most exacting designations: Grand Cru, which reflects the classification of the vineyards from which its fruit is drawn, and Blanc de Blancs, confirming that the wine is composed entirely of Chardonnay. The Extra Brut style indicates a very low dosage, placing it at the drier end of the sweetness spectrum.

Why it matters

Recognition from La Revue du Vin de France carries genuine weight in the French wine trade and beyond. The publication's assessments are closely followed by buyers, sommeliers, and collectors, and a Médaille du Jour functions as an editorial endorsement rather than a competition result — a distinction that lends it a particular credibility.

For a Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru in the Extra Brut style, such acknowledgement also speaks to the precision required to produce a wine of this profile. With no blending grape to soften the composition, the quality of the Chardonnay and the rigour of the winemaking are fully exposed to scrutiny. The award suggests both pass that test.

Context

Philippe Gonet is a Champagne producer whose Roy Soleil cuvée sits within the Grand Cru tier of the appellation's classification system. Grand Cru status is reserved for a small number of villages within Champagne, and wines bearing the designation are understood to originate from those most highly rated communes.

Blanc de Blancs Champagnes, made exclusively from Chardonnay, represent a distinct stylistic category within the region, prized for their precision and mineral character. The Extra Brut designation further underlines a commitment to restraint, allowing the raw material and the terroir to speak with minimal intervention from added sugar. Together, these markers position Roy Soleil firmly at the premium end of the Champagne spectrum.