Intro to Henriot Brut Souverain Champagne NV – Henriot Brut Souverain Champagne NV is a delicious quality Champagne with light elegant flavours. Full tasting note and wine making – Henriot Brut Souverain Champagne is straw-gold, bright and clear in appearance with lovely delicate bubbles. On the nose the Champagne offers magnificent, vivacious character with citrus fruit aromas are followed by a floral bouquet, elderberry and vine blossom. Delicious brioche notes and the simplicity of lightly toasted bread and roasted almonds. Well balanced and harmonious on the palate, summoning flavours of brioche, together with crunchy cherries and the sun-kissed blush of white peach. Clean on the finish, with all the freshness of just-picked walnuts. The exceptionally high proportion of Chardonnay (50%), balanced to perfection with Pinot (45% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier) can be thanked for the unique character of this Champagne. More than 25 cru wines from the finest Champagne terroirs in Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims make up the blend, together with 30% reserve wines. Each year Laurent Fresnet, Henriot’s Cellar Master, is able to create the ultimate blend with outstanding consistency to replicated Henriot’s unique signature style. Each bottle is then left to rest for more than 3 years in the cool, calm surrounds of the cellars in Reims. The producer – Established in 1808, Champagne Henriot is one of the rare Champagne houses that is completely independent, and which has remained in the hands of the same family throughout its long and illustrious history. Since its founding, the Maison has been driven by the passion of individuals who have captured the essence of Champagne’s true terroir, passing this unique expertise from one generation to another. Originally from Lorraine, the Henriot family settled in Champagne in 1640. Nicolas Henriot married Apolline Godinot, who owned prestigious Pinot Noir vineyards in the Montagne de Reims. Together, they devoted their time and energy to the family vineyards and selling wine. On the death of her husband in 1808, Apolline launched Maison Henriot. In 1880, Marie Marguet, the wife of Apolline’s grandson, added to the family’s collection of vineyards with several plots in the Côte des Blancs. This firmly established Maison Henriot in the prestigious Chardonnay vineyards. Today, using the finest Blancs de Champagne which are at the heart of its history, Henriot adds an exceptionally high proportion of Premier and Grand Crus to its cuvées which come from the finest Chardonnay parcels. In order to maintain a consistent level of excellence across all of its house styles, the company strictly adheres to a set of very precise rules governing the growing and winemaking process. The Henriot vineyards are comprised of 34,000 hectares: 17 Grand Cru vineyards and 42 Premier Cru, using three grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Plant density is limited to 7,500 – 9,000 vines per hectare. Henriot believe that their wines should age for as long as possible, with a minimum age of 15 months for a nonvintage and three years for a vintage. The production process is careful and considered to achieve the very best from the grapes. All the wines are left to age in the Maison’s cellars, 18 metres below ground in ideal temperature and humidity conditions. For Champagne Henriot, Chardonnay is king and makes up at least 50% of all of its wines. Henriot believes Chardonnay to be a symbol of the finesse and elegance that constitutes the very essence of the House. Standard bearer of Maison Henriot’s savoir-faire, their Blanc de Blancs delights with its astonishing complexity and length, with Henriot ageing their wines up to three times longer to allow the Chardonnay to reach its full expression. Henriot use a high proportion of Grand and Premier Crus in their blends, mainly from the Côte des Blancs, which is widely recognised for the finesse of its Chardonnays. Drink with – Great served chilled as an aperitif
