Why it matters
The producer
Cellar master Laurent Fresnet works with Champagne sourced mostly from Grand and Premier Cru vineyards. In Champagne, those classifications identify the villages in the cru hierarchy, so place enters the blend before grape composition is set. Chardonnay contributes acidity, while Pinot Noir contributes body. Their proportions affect the wine's mouthfeel. Maison Henriot's named cuvées use both grapes, with the range including both a single grape wine and a blend.
Joseph Henriot was a trained agronomist who gradually took over the family company from 1962. In 1994, he left Veuve Clicquot to manage Henriot independently. The house acquired Bouchard Père & Fils in Burgundy in 1995, with 130 hectares of vines. It then acquired William Fèvre in Chablis in 1998. After Joseph died in 2015, Gilles de Begon of La Rouziere de Montlosier assumed leadership of the family business. The acquisitions placed Champagne, Burgundy and Chablis in one wine portfolio.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Maison Henriot's six founding crus are represented in Cuvée Hemera. Avize, Chouilly, Verzenay and Verzy are among the named sources. The cuvée draws equal parts from two regions and combines Chardonnay with Pinot Noir. A Champagne cuvée assembled from several crus can combine fruit from different village sources before bottling. The wine's geographic spread comes from the blend itself.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Blanc de Blancs is 100% Chardonnay from two thirds Premier and Grand Cru vineyards. Cuvée Hemera was disgorged with a dosage of 3.5 grams per liter. Dosage is the measured sugar addition made after disgorgement, and it sets the finished wine's sweetness. Lees ageing keeps sparkling wine with spent yeast. That contact can soften texture and build savoury aromas.
Wines to know
The range in view
Brut Souverain carries the house's Brut designation, a dry Champagne dosage category. Blanc de Blancs is Chardonnay only. Cuvée Hemera is the vintage cuvée, blending Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the house's founding crus. Together, these named wines show differences in grape composition and origin. Brut Souverain is the house Brut, Blanc de Blancs uses only Chardonnay, and Cuvée Hemera is a vintage blend from several crus.
Brut Souverain opens with cake, fresh citrus fruit and smoke. The smoke develops into pure chalk. Its palate is ample, straightforward and round, with long, persistent freshness through the finish.