Subtle notions of toast have a lovely tinge of lemon and roasted hazelnut on the nose. Lively mousse on a tender palate bubbles with toasty, nutty autolysis. As it warms up, the mousse softens and shows a sunny roundness of yellow stone fruit that sits well with the toasty yeast notes.
Pungent yet elegant white peach nose displaying discrete power. Fine attack, precise and lifted, with ample fruit and a light touch. Silky and refined with a clear minerality on the finish.
A distinctly toasty nose, still reticent, with lime and apple fruit. Broad and rich, the palate shows ample sucrosity and intensity, lifted by fine acidity with a pungent and saline finish. Nutty and very long, and the wood seems well integrated.
Not the first time I’ve witnessed the other worldly freshness that can be sustained by annually refreshing a grand old solera, but I was stunned by the unbridled joy of youth radiating from this glass. The wisdom of maturity is articulated in secondary richness, but its’s still far from tertiary in its development. It will effortlessly take another 25 years in its stride.
This long awaited new prestige cuvée, Hemera - named after the ancient Greek goddess of daytime - is a perfectionist creation of Henriot’s villages, all Grands Crus. It's a brilliant medley of top Chardonnay from cooler Chouilly and the poised weight of Avize and Mesnil, combined with equally rigorous grand cru Pinot from north Montagne, Mailly and Verzenay. 2005 saw a cold winter, mild spring and very hot July into August, with humidity causing rot in Pinot Noir in the minor sites.
Overtly fresh aroma and a clear mineral character, with no obvious reduction. In the mouth this is on a massive scale : full of com-plexity and displaying a beautiful energy. A mineral wine but with brilliant clarity and even some tannin too.
Overtly fresh aroma and a clear mineral character, with no obvious reduction. In the mouth this is on a massive scale : full of com-plexity and displaying a beautiful energy. A mineral wine but with brilliant clarity and even some tannin too.
