Crafting Excellence: Maison Henriot's Art of Champagne
When Apolline Henriot founded her Maison in 1808, she decided to create a Champagne that would allow her to illuminate all her vineyards through the blend of several crus and years, giving birth to the very first cuvée of the Maison, Henriot Brut Souverain. She also wanted to pay tribute to nature through a vintage Champagne, Henriot Millésime, which not only interprets a single year but the reflection of the terroirs characteristic of that year, according to the Maison. Thus, each vintage is a unique creation, with its own selection of wines for the blend and its own specific aromatic expression.
The Exceptional Vintage of 2014
The year 2014; after the mildest winter in almost 20 years with very high rainfall, springtime brought very dry, warm and sunny conditions. Then came summer, with rain and cool weather, but it came to an end with perfect temperatures and fine weather, which helped the grapes to ripen beautifully. It was a year of contrasts, of stark differences which eventually yielded some exceptional fruit.
Cellar Master's Perspective
Cellar master at Maison Henriot, Alice Tétienne, described the vintage as follows: “If the expression is intense and heady, it is nevertheless of an extraordinary finesse and elegance. A strength of character emerges, powerful, virile yet restrained and humble. The register is fresh, floral, vanilla, greedy. In the mouth the structure is solid, constructive, rectangular. The tannins take place and last after tasting. The freshness is present throughout the tasting, ending with a delicate bitter touch.”
