Happy Hour Tasting Featuring Champagne Henriot with Special Guest Kelly McFadden

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.”

Mark Twain

Can you have too much Champagne?

And one of my favorite Champagne houses is Champagne Henriot.  We host a tasting with this house every year and include a Champagne from Henriot in almost all of our high-end Champagne Tastings.  This is the first Happy Hour style event we have hosted with Henriot and we have our good friend Kelly McFadden here to introduce the wines an of course I will be here to make sure everyone gets enough Champagne.

This happy hour event we have six Champagnes and each is paried to a specific appetizer to showcase the versitility of this wine in terms of pairing with different types of food.  Champagne is the perfect wine for breakfast, lunch, dinner or late night.  The fee for this tasting is $175 + tax, for reservations e-mail andy@winewatch.com or call 954-523-9463.

Champagne Henriot Happy Hour Tasting
with Special Guest Kelly McFadden
Thursday, March 21st
6:00pm

NV HENRIOT SOUVERAIN BRUT CHAMPAGNE
List Price: $46.50             Your Price: $40.92
Toasty smokey notes to the bouquet very complex and rich with hazelnut and light ginger spice. Around 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir usually 20% reserve wines going back as far as 4-5 years. Lovely richness on the tongue with a fresh dough and nutty quality coming through on the finish, with pear and apple fruit lemon citrus and a smoky character on the finish. Finish 40 Excellent

NV HENRIOT BLANC DE BLANC CHAMPAGNE
List Price: $75.00             Your Price: $66.00
(93 Points) Rich and toasty, this is a textbook Blanc de Blancs, with firm acidity, a creamy, refined texture and flavors of hazelnut, toasted brioche, apple pastry, lemon meringue, ground spice and subtle, smoky mineral. A finely tailored wine. Drink now through 2020. –AN Wine Spectator Issue: Nov 30, 2011

NV HENRIOT ROSE BRUT CHAMPAGNE
List Price: $75.00             Your Price: $66.00
Strawberry and red cherry fruit on the nose with notes of red plum and red licorice spice along with rose petal floral notes. Light red cherry wild strawberry fruit with lovely creamy mousee very elegant and rich with lovely freshness 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay the pinot Noir is red and then blended into the Chardonnay to maintain a consistent color. Finish 45 Most Excellent

2006 HENRIOT CUVEE HEMERA BRUT CHAMPAGNE
List Price: $187.50          Your Price: $165.00
Henriot Hemera, taking its name from the Greek goddess of daylight, has been launched as the house’s new top Champagne and replaces Cuvée des Enchanteleurs.  The delicate bubbles form a steady stream of mousse with divine effervescence. The Champagne is brightly-tinged and golden yellow in appearance. The bouquet offers a wealth of elegant aromas, featuring notes of white flowers, linden leaf, and underpinned by a hint of vanilla. Candied fruit notes of apricot at the front of the palate pave the way for a hint of spice. The quintessence of the great terroirs. The magnificent freshness on the palate contrasts with the nose. Precise and mineral, a layer of iodine and saline accents are the characteristic of the most prestigious chalk parcels of the Côte des Blancs. This freshness complements the notes of ripe peach, nectarine and grapefruit. Notes of pastry and spiced fruit impart the lengthy finish. Uniquely irresistible. The low dosage of this cuvee plays its part in retaining and enhancing the natural beauty of the primary fruit.

2016 HENRIOT L'INATTENDUE GRAND CRU, CHAMPAGNE
List Price: $150.00          Your Price: $132.00
(94 Points) When Gilles de Larouzière took the reins chez Henriot and tasted the vins clairs of the 2016 vintage with his team, one cuvée from Avize stood out from the crowd enough that it seemed to merit a tirage of its own. The result is the 2016 Brut L'inattendue, disgorged after four years on the lees with four grams per liter dosage. It's a demonstrative, expressive Champagne, bursting with aromas of white peach, crisp orchard fruit and confit lemon mingled with subtle hints of buttery pastry, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and attractively vinous palate, its fleshy core of fruit complemented by a pretty pinpoint mousse. Already drinking well, it's testimony to the exciting things happening at this historic house.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2008 HENRIOT BRUT CHAMPAGNE MILLESIME MAGNUM
Price: $245.00                   Your Price: $215.60
(96 points)  “An undramatic, cloud-filled season came right in a late harvest in October. A textbook cool vintage of great ageing potential. The perfect 50/50 balance of mineral-stamped Chardonnay and powerful, masculine Pinot makes this a champagne for patient drinkers, as it will take time to reach its peak. Vibrant acidity is joined by notes of white flowers and that magnificent mineral structure. (ME) “ (6/2018)  Decanter

Menu
Shoestring Fries with Parmesan and Truffle Oil
King Salmon and Mango Tartar In Phyllo Cup with Mint Oil
Baby Bliss Potatoes filled with Creme Fraiche American Sturgeon Caviar, Hard Boiled Egg and Chive
Foie Gras Torchon Hot Dogs on Brioche Buns with Champagne Mustard
Panko Breaded Chicken Bites Served with Spicy Plum Catsup
Mini White Balsamic and Fresh Fruit tart
The fee for this tasting is $175 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.  Please let us know when you make your reservation if you have any dietary restrictions and chef Toni will be happy to accommodate you.

Alice "Champagne Henriot is on a quest for excellence; we pay attention to every detail. My objective is to perpetuate the House's philosophy, signature chardonnay-driven style, and respect the goal that Apolline Henriot set out for in the beginning: to produce beautiful champagnes that are representative of the region and terroir."

CELLAR MASTER ALICE TÉTIENNE
Born and raised in the Champagne region, Alice Tétienne has spent the majority of her life in the vines, relishing putting her hands in the soil and deeply curious about the diversity of terroir that exists all around her. A believer that excellence comes when vineyards can truly express themselves, Tétienne and the house of Champagne Henriot share a passion for the pursuit of the purest expression of Chardonnay from selected grapes in the finest terroirs of the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims. In her role as Cellar Master, Tétienne dedicates her time to the vineyards where she focuses on protecting the soil and vines, maintaining the finest terroir, and preserving Champagne Henriot’s signature style of acidity and freshness. Tétienne was awarded the “Best Winemaker of the Year” in 2020 by Trophées Champenois for her dedicated work.
Tétienne came to Champagne Henriot from Maison Krug, where she was responsible for vineyard relations and was a member of the Tasting Committee. Before Maison Krug, Tétienne joined Centre Vinicole Nicolas Feuillatte in 2014 as an oenologist, supporting winegrowers on grape pressing and winemaking. A highly specialized winemaker, she holds a Bachelor’s in Vine Sciences, and a Master’s in Vine and Terroir from Institut Universitaire de la Vigne et du Vin Dijon, as well as a National Diploma of Oenology from Les Unités de Formation et de Recherche (UFR) Reims, a Master Wines and Champagne qualification from University de Reims Champagne Ardenne, and considerable experience working in various wine regions throughout France.
Through her experience, Tétienne has acquired knowledge of all the critical steps to craft Champagne wines, with a particular focus sustainability.  Tétienne is in charge of both the vineyards that Champagne Henriot owns and works with the network of growers that the house has worked with for generations.

Tétienne and Champagne Henriot’s connection is more than a shared love of the vineyards: Her grandmother previously owned a vineyard neighboring one of the first vineyards owned by founder Apolline Henriot in the Montagne de Reims. Tétienne lives in that area today and can see both of the vineyards from her home.

A bit about Champagne Henriot:
The Champagne house of Henriot can trace its history back 370+ years to when their direct descendants migrated to the region.  Native to Lorraine, the family relocated to Champagne around 1640.  In Reims, the Henriots engaged in textile and wine brokerage.  Little by little, the family acquired vineyards and by 1791 they had acquired the Hôtel des Douanes and the Fermes Royales (built in 1760 by the architect Legendre in honour of King Louis XV).   
In 1794 Nicolas Henriot married Apolline Godinot.  Together, they developed a fascination for the culture of the vine and production of wines of quality.
It was in 1808, under Apolline Henriot, that Champagne Henriot was officially founded. She was the niece of the very famous Abbé Godinot, an erudite man who contributed to improvements in viticulture and the making of the Champagne wine.  Apolline, an enterprising woman of great character, sold her wines both in France and abroad.
The champagne wines became a huge success with royalty and it was only natural that Champagne Henriot became the favorite firstly at the Dutch court, then in Austria and Hungary with the Hapsburgs.
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 Champagne business is very incestuous and in 1851 Ernest Henriot, grandson of Apolline Henriot, persuaded by his sister, Amélie Henriot, became associated with his brother in law, Charles Camille Heidsieck and created the brand Charles Heidsieck.  Ernest continued to manage his own business in his own name. 
The Henriot family has retained direct cultivation of roughly 35 hectares (87 acres). Their parcels are scattered among the Vallée de la Marne (Mareuil and Ay, a Grand Cru); la Montagne de Reims (Avenay, a Premier Cru); and the Côte des Blancs (Epernay, notably le Clos l’Abbé, and Chouilly, a Premier Cru). These vineyards supply fifteen to twenty percent of its needs. To supply the rest, the house depends primarily on growers who share its standards of quality. This approach provides a very large palette of crus for its blends, one of the keys to its expertise.
The vineyards it uses are situated throughout the appellation. The house is fortunate to have access to Grands and Premiers Crus, particularly in the Côte des Blancs, stronghold of the chardonnay variety which dominates in its blends: Avize, Oger, Cramant, Vertus and others. Pinot noir is selected principally from crus on the northern slope of the Montagne de Reims, such as Verzy, Verzenay and Val d’Or.

The Rest of the Henriot Champane Available at Wine Watch on SALE!!

2012 HENRIOT BRUT MILLESIME CHAMPAGNE
Price: $105.00                   Your Price: $92.40
A blend comprising some ten Premier and Grand Cru Villages, this vintage celebrates what could only be described as a unique year. As soon as the first grapes were picked, we knew this was going to be a great harvest, which only became more apparent throughout the ageing and blending process. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in perfect balance will transport Champagne lovers to a world of subtle sensations presenting springtime freshness, mineral character and a breadth of aromas spearheaded by fruit notes. This exceptional year, in pure Henriot style, brings great ageing potential to this elegant and generous Champagne, which will evolve resolutely over time.

2012 HENRIOT BRUT ROSE MILLESIME CHAMMPAGNE
Price: $117.00                   Your Price: $102.96
(97 points) "Aromas of smoke and raspberry cede to a delightful mousse on the palate, with brisk acidity propelling complex notes of pear, melon and brioche. Well-judged, elegant and impressively long, this never wavers in its elegance. (2020)" Decanter

NV HENRIOT CHAMPAGNE BLANC DE BLANCS CUVEE 38 MAGNUM
Price: $795.00                   Your Price: $699.60
Attractive pale yellow, glistening with golden tinges. Elegant, persistent bubbles of rare finesse form in the glass. On the bouquet, delicate aromas of fresh butter typical of the Henriot style are complemented by armfuls of white flowers. Mineral in style, the wine’s delicate, creamy character also comes to the fore, underpinned by an unusual hint of liquorice. On the palate, the Champagne reveals inimitable signature style. Vibrant citrus fruit aromas and the sweetness of sun-kissed ripe apricots form a virtuoso harmony. Pastry notes tinged with honey follow suit, always of great finesse.

Created in 1990, Cuve 38 was the visionary inspiration and brainchild of Joseph Henriot. Setting aside a single tank - Cuve 38 - he decided to create a blend exclusively comprising four of the most prestigious Grand Cru Chardonnays from the Cote des Blancs: Chouilly, Avize, Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger. Every year since that day, a portion of the harvest from each of these villages is added to this precious cuve to continue the process. Cuve 38 epitomises a living wine; a wine infinitely rejuvenated so that the freshness enhances the complex character of the finest chardonnay. As a result, on the palate, the wine triggers a unique, thrilling and profound emotion, which evolves and unfurls through a constantly renewed wave of aromas, even while the wine is being tasted. Layers upon layers of time form a majestic work in a state of perpetual change, enrichment and continuation.