If you haven’t had an exceptional mature champagne like this, you’re missing a treat!
The Cuvée des Enchanteleurs” was Champagne Henriot’s Tête de cuvée, which in Champagne, refers to the top of the range of a specific house or grower’s wines. I say “was” because 2000 was the last vintage for this prestige cuvée. It has been replaced by Cuvée Hemera.
The Cuvée des Enchanteleurs is a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from six of Champagne’s 17 Grand Crus. For Pinot Noir: the villages of Mailly, Verzy, and Verzenay from the lime-stone rich soils of Montagne de Reims. For Chardonnay: Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, and Chouilly from the chalky soils of the Côte des Blancs.
Henriot has historically aged their Champagne much longer than the regional laws require. For a vintage Champagne, law requires a minimum three years of aging, but the 2000 “Cuvée des Enchanteleurs” rested for over 12 years in Henriot’s dark, 60-foot-deep cellars that holds a steady temperature in the low 50s. After disgorgement, a dosage of 8.5 grams/liter was added in order to mirror the vintage and opulent style of the house according to Somm Select.
Aromas – Buttered toast, roasted hazelnuts, quince paste, apricot preserves, lemon curd, honey with hints of mushroom. and yellow flowers.
Body – Full-bodied, elegant, complex and harmonious with a very delicate creamy mousse.
Taste – With some time in the glass and approaching cellar temperature, there are layers flavors including apricot preserves, lemon curd, honey, and yellow plum. The generous character of this champagne is nicely balanced with a slightly oxidative character that I very much enjoy and lingering minerality.
Finish – Long finish
We shared this bottle of wine with friends on Open That Bottle Night. If you haven’t had an exceptional mature champagne like this, you’re missing a treat!
About Champagne Henriot
“Founded in Reims in 1808, Champagne Henriot is one of the few remaining family-owned houses with over two hundred years of independence. Over the years, the house has cultivated an audacious approach and a distinctive, luminous style of its own, guided by the pursuit of the purest expression of Chardonnay.
The Henriot family’s strong relationship with Cellar Master Laurent Fresnet and partner growers is essential in creating each Henriot cuvée and maintaining its uncompromising quality standards. With the use of an exceptionally high proportion of reserve wines, as well as predominantly Premier and Grand Cru vineyards, Champagne Henriot produces a distinguishable freshness and quality in each cuvée.
Today, the Henriot family’s expertise is backed not only by their storied history in Champagne but also in their celebrated triumphs in both Burgundy and Chablis with Bouchard Père & Fils, William Fèvre and Château de Poncié” according to Wine.com
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I have some Henriot—maybe I should forget it in the cellar!
Quality Champagne ages well better than most think! Can be hard to hold off though. #YOLO!