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On the eye: The colour is light yellow with lovely golden highlights, while the bubbles are very fine, forming an excellent bead of effervescence.
On the nose: The nose is delicious and mineral, revealing notes of red fruit (candied raspberries and strawberries) and fresh hazelnuts.
On the palate: The attack is lively and fresh, with excellent structure. Notes of dried fruit (hazelnut) appear, followed by touches of rosemary and chopped parsley. The finish is long, revealing pastry notes (brioche, buttered bread).
Wine Description
The Story
Since 1808, Champagne Henriot, one of the last independent and family-owned houses in Champagne, has pursued a tradition of excellence – a fragile balance between delicacy, intensity, and purity. For seven generations, the family has selected only the very best vineyards, concentrated on the purity of chardonnay and has upheld the utmost respect for time in order to ensure the cuvee has an opportunity to reach its full expression.
The choices made in blending perpetuate the house style: chardonnay reigns in proportion (fifty to sixty percent). It brings finesse, elegance, richness and freshness. Pinot noir gives essential structure. Pinot meunier contributes fruit complexity. Non vintage wines may contain as many as fifty different crus in precisely orchestrated balance, with roughly twenty percent reserve wines. It is again Champagne Henriot’s task to impart a distinct personality to its wines. These wines, which may be a decade in age and are tasted at least every three months, comprise the house’s library, guaranteeing the perpetuity of its style.
Wine Information
The year 2006 started with a dry winter, which created a slight water deficit for the vines. Spring was cold on the whole, with a cool spell that lasted from end-May to the start of June. This period was followed in the second half of the month by quite warm weather, with higher-than-average temperatures. August was cool, with violent storms and heavy precipitation. The sun and warm weather returned at the beginning of September. At that time, all indices were
satisfactory, confirming a quality harvest to come. It started on 13 September in sunny weather, with very healthy grapes.
Vintage 2006
A cold winter and springtime frosts laid the foundations for this vintage of abundant yields (12,997 kg/ha). Uneventful flowering was followed by exceptionally hot and sunny weather, which lasted until August. A dank August left producers fearful but fortunately warm, bright conditions in September redressed the balance. Harvest commenced on September 9th, producing grapes high in sugar level but notably low on acidity. The general health of the grapes was sufficient, producing wines which excel over the preceding 2005 vintage, another warm and ample year. The year's greatest wines are supple and expressive and despite the richness they escape being overly heavy. Overt and welcoming upon launch, the best come with excellent capacity for ageing. Winey, and richly fruity characters, most Champagnes regrettably miss some tension and finesse. Wines of the vintage include Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, Krug Vintage and Dom Pérignon Rosé.
