Henriot Cuve 38 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru (1.5 Liter Magnum) with Gift Box
- Decanter
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James
Suckling
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Decanter
Not the first time I’ve witnessed the otherworldly freshness that can be sustained by annually refreshing a grand old solera, but I was stunned by the unbridled joy of youth radiating from this glass. The wisdom of maturity is articulated in secondary richness, but it’s still far from tertiary in its development. It will effortlessly take another 25 years in its stride.
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James Suckling
Very complex and integrated fruits with savory elements and a super smooth textural delivery make for an attractive Champagne. Plenty of minerally notes. Poached apples and brioche build through the palate, while there's a central, chalky, mineral focus around which it all hinges. A blend of Chouilly, Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, the base blending process began in 1990 and each year a little of the new vintage is added to the blend in stainless steel and 1,000 magnums are bottled off.
Founded in 1808 by Apolline Henriot, Henriot is one of the most historic Champagne Houses with more than two hundred years of heritage and savoir-faire. When she founded the house, it was Apolline's desire to "shine a light on her lands through a Champagne." Guided by a manual about viticulture and winemaking in Champagne written by her great-uncle, she had a profound understanding of the vines and the environment in which they take root, (known today as terroir). Apolline believed that "wine is written in the vineyard," a founding principle that continues to guide the house through today's environmental challenges.
Since 2020, Henriot has focused on the preservation of the vineyards and the terroirs under the leadership of Cellar Master and Vines Director Alice Tétienne. Born and raised in Champagne, she is one of the youngest and the few females in Champagne to hold the position and has an impressive background in viticulture, oenology, and communication. Tétienne was awarded the “Best Winemaker of the Year” in 2020 by Trophées Champenois, named a “Top 100 Master Winemakers” by the Drinks Business in 2023 and shortlisted as "Sparkling Winemaker of the year 2023" by IWC.
She founded Alliance Terroir in 2020, a collective that works together in favor of the preservation of the terroirs in the context of global climate warming and the need to account for environmental and societal challenges. This includes training and support of grower partners through the HVE (“Haute Valeur Environementale”) and VDC ("Viticulture Durable en Champagne") certification processes, to conduct the vineyards in sustainable ways, and adapting to climate change. She has also demonstrated an actionable approach in sustainability through carbon reduction and recycling.