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.

The Brut Souverain is the most historical cuvée of the House as the first cuvée produced by Apolline Henriot in 1808. She aspired to put the light on her vineyards through the expression of a champagne. According to Apolline, one year was not enough to tell the story of the terroirs, so she decided to put wines in reserve each year to incorporate them into a future blend. Therefore, she founded the House by creating a Champagne that would have blending as its fundamental principle.

This cuvée was named Brut Souverain by Ernest Henriot, Apolline's grandson, when the House was appointed the official champagne supplier to the Courts of the King of Holland and of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary.

Weather: The 2002 vintage shaped up magnificently over the spring, with no significant frost and near-perfect flowering. Then followed a summer marked by long, sunny periods interspersed with regular cloudy and rainy spells. The vines were in good health and the dehydration of the grape berries helped them reach new heights of ripeness. Generally considered one of the best harvests in the last twenty years.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru | From more than 25 Crus including Mesnil sur Oger, Oger, Avize, Cramant, Chouilly, Aÿ, Verzy, Verzenay, Beaumont, Sillery, Mailly Champagne.
Grape Varieties: 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, 10% Meunier
Reserve Wines: 40% - 50% Including their perpetual reserve
Base Vintage: 2002
Disgorged: November 2020
Lees Ageing: 17 years
Dosage: 8 g/l
Drink: Now for 10+ years

Tasting Note: The Champagne because of the Jeroboam Effect has that toasty & smoky charm to begin, then you see the layers of vivacious fruit. Citrus fruit, lemon peel and lime with hints of elderflower, ripe red apple and red fruit like raspberry, cherry and peach and as the champagne opens in the glass you see brioche notes and those creamy patisserie notes. With the long lees ageing there is a chalk smooth texture and plenty of freshness from the minerality. Great length and incredibly moreish