Reviews & Awards

A relatively discreet and elegant nose combines reluctant notes of green apple, quinine, baked pear and a whiff of lemon rind. While there is good richness there is also good delineation thanks to the fine mousse that supports the sappy, toasty and lingering finish. This is a nicely refined 2005, but it remains a 2005 nonetheless, which is to say that there is fine volume and concentration though with a slightly warm finish.

Rich hints of baked plum and marzipan are enlivened by sleek, well-knit acidity in this harmonious Champagne. The fine, lively mousse carries flavors of poached quince, honeysuckle, smoked hazelnut and lemon pith. 

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.

The Cuvée Hemera is Henriot’s new name for their Tête de Cuvée bottling, which had previously been known as Cuvée Enchanteleurs. The wine is a fifty-fifty blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, only grand cru vineyards are used for the cuvée. The 2005 Cuvée Hemera was aged twelve years sur latte prior to disgorgement and a finishing dosage of five grams per liter. The bouquet is deep, pure and stunning, offering up a very refined blend of pear, apple, a touch of hazelnut, gentle smokiness, a very complex base of soil tones.