HenriotMillesime1996Jeroboam

Henriot Champagne was officially founded in 1808 under Apolline Henriot. 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 became a huge success with royalty and Champagne Henriot became the favourite firstly at the Dutch court, then in Austria and Hungary. She passed on her savoir-faire to her grandson, Ernest and there the Henriot family tradition was born. From generation to generation, the House of Henriot has devoted all its talent to creating the most superb wines from grapes carefully selected from the great terroirs on the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs.rrWeather: The 1996 vintage was a standout year: one of, if not the, best of the last twenty. A warm beginning to June followed by a cooler end provided favourable growing conditions and the weather fluctuation resulted in staggered flowering of the Chardonnay grapes. September was sunny but mild with light scattered showers creating incredible grape maturation with high sugar and acidity levels. This unique sugar/acidity balance combined with small, concentrated berries revealed an aromatic depth rarely seen in ChampagnerrTechnical Information:rVineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru | From 6 crus including Trépail, Mailly-Champagne, Verzenay, Avenay in Montagne de Reims, Avize, Chouilly in Côte des BlancsrGrape Varieties: 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot NoirrLees Ageing: 24 yearsrDisgorged: June 2021rDosage: 8 g/lrDrink: Now to 8+ yearsrrTasting Note: The lemon sherbet notes are subtle at first but soon start filling the nose. The palate hits on a bright shaft of linearity, taut and vivid, shimmering with Mirabelle and Amalfi lemon, bedding 96’s searing freshness in fruit. An elixir of youth. â€?Tasted by Anne Krebiehl MWrrWatch Nick’s video tasting review of this champagne here.