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HENRIOT L'inattendue Chardonnay Grand Cru, Champagne

Founded in 1818 by husband and wife Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon, the Billecart-Salmon House is rich with history. For nearly two hundred years, the Billecart family has been handing down the secrets to making exceptional champagne from generation to generation. The Champagne House is special for many reasons, but one notable reason is that it is one of very few to remain Family owned. The Billecart-Salmon House covers around 50 hectares, and gets its grapes from a total of 170 hectares of land. Frequently cited for the quality of its vintages, the House pays particular attention to selecting the best grapes.

In 1818, Madame Clicquot made the first-ever "rosé d'assemblage" champagne by mixing some of her red Bouzy wines with white ones. La Grande Dame Rosé honors her idea by using 90% Pinot Noir from the historical Grands Crus of Aÿ, Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay, and Bouzy, enriched by 10% Chardonnay from Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. This base is then blended with 13% Pinot Noir red wine exclusively from the 'Clos Colin' parcel, situated in Bouzy. Aged on lees for 10 years in bottle before being disgorged and topped with a dosage of 8g/L.

Camille was the ingenious widow at the helm of Louis Roederer from 1932 to 1975, successfully steering it through all the important events of that time. Camille had many strong cards up her sleeve: wines from the finest Champagne terroirs, a collection of crus that her husband Léon had shrewdly acquired after the phylloxera crisis. These exceptional plots in Aÿ, Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ and Cumières are the treasure troves and foundations of Louis Roederer’s unique style. Their still red and white wines are an authentic expression of the Champagne terroirs that Camille held so dear. Frédéric Rouzaud wanted to pay homage to the great-grandmother whose playful spirit he had so admired. He therefore decided to dedicate this collection of single-vineyard still wines to Camille, perpetuating the Champagne House’s inventive spirit. This new collection is the result of a twofold motion; a glance backwards, to the past, in homage to ancestor Camille; and a gesture to the future, to that which Nature offers and to receive it in order to render it even more beautiful. By working closely with the vines, using solar viticulture and bespoke vinification, they are able to reveal a new dimension hidden in their champagne terroirs. The team ast Louis Roederer identified a 43-ares plot lying in the Charmont lieu-dit in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. The idea of creating a 100% Pinot Noir from a sunny terroir where the vines grow in direct sunlight came completely naturally. They were seeking a mature wine, a wine that pushes back the boundaries of the usual winegrowing practice in Champagne, illustrating another way of approaching this terroir. After the harvest, the grapes are simply left to infuse. The juices are then transferred to French oak barrels where they continue to integrate and become more refined over the ensuing year. The result is a very intricate and delicately-perfumed Pinot Noir with a touch of salinity, a lively, sappy backbone and a precise texture. The 2020 season followed a similar trajectory to that of 2019: a mild, wet winter followed by a dry summer with several heatwaves, admittedly less extreme than in 2019, but which had an impact on the vines. Fortunately, a rather dull month of June brought us a wet interlude between two dry periods. Despite the hot spells and the impression of constant sunshine, the 2020 campaign ended up with relatively normal temperatures and sunshine levels. These continental weather conditions, but with “normal” annual averages, allowed us to produce ripe and well balanced wines! Garnet red hue with bright tints. Elegant, concentrated Pinot noir bouquet: sweet red fruit (blood orange), forest fruit and peonies. Then come spices (cocoa bean) and dried leaves accompanied by smoky, bacon-like notes. A magical and complex nose of fresh, ripe Pinot noir. The palate is velvety smooth with fresh red fruit and a soft and silky texture with noticeable but round, creamy tannins. The typical freshness of the Champagne region has made the tannins fairly vertical but these are nicely coated by the juicy, velvety texture which lends them a unique character: firm but not austere and sappy with a saline, umami finish. Magical and complex nose of fresh, ripe Pinot noir.

Louis Roederer remains one of the last 100% independent, family-owned Champagne Houses, presided over by seventh generation Frédéric Rouzaud. Under the stewardship of Chef du Cave, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon these past two decades, Louis Roederer has become the largest Biodynamic Domaine in Champagne with their 242 hectares located in the three most important sub-regions: Montagne de Reims (La Montagne); Vallée de la Marne (La Rivière) and Côtes des Blancs (La Côte). In March 2021, following 20 years of environmental transition, 115 hectares of the historic Louis Roederer family vineyard achieved organic certification. An extraordinary vintage which is also the year in which the Champagne region was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! 2015 followed the continental trend of that decade: a mild, wet winter and a hot, dry summer. The summer, hot and sunny, brought record-breaking temperatures and water stress. The second half of August brought some very welcome rain, giving the vines some much needed relief. Thanks to this fresh finish, the vines produced juicy, ripe and concentrated grapes. Our ambition for this vintage? To capture the concentration which is the hallmark of this spectacular vintage! A rosé created by a long, gentle infusion of Pinot noir that extracts its juicy ripeness while preserving its tremendous saline freshness. In this process, some Chardonnay juices are added to the Pinot noir maceration, to ferment together and achieve the perfect integration of the two grape varieties.

The House of Ruinart stands in a league of its own, defying convention and captivating with its unique legacy. Founded in 1729, it holds the distinction of being the very first Champagne House, a visionary endeavour inspired by the foresight of a monk who possessed a remarkable intuition far beyond his era. In the heart of the Champagne region, specifically in Reims, a significant moment unfolded on September 1st, 1729. It was then that Nicolas Ruinart, driven by the profound influence of his visionary monk uncle, drafted the historic charter that marked the birth of Maison Ruinart, forever etching its name as the world's pioneer in champagne production. Little did they know that this bold initiative would pave the way for an enduring enterprise that thrives and prospers even after nearly three centuries, leaving an indelible mark on the course of history. During the remarkable period of the mid-18th century, Ruinart made a significant acquisition to enhance its champagne production. The House secured ownership of ancient crayères, subterranean chalk quarries meticulously carved beneath the historic city of Reims. These extraordinary caverns served as the ideal sanctuary for storing their precious bottles, ensuring optimal aging and maturation. Building upon its reputation for innovation, Ruinart continued to push boundaries. In 1764, the House achieved yet another milestone by successfully shipping the first-ever Rosé champagne across the vast expanse of Europe. This ground-breaking achievement introduced a new dimension to the world of champagne, captivating connoisseurs with its captivating hues and captivating flavors. Bestowed with nobility and adopting the esteemed name Ruinart de Brimont in 1817, the family has diligently guided the House for over two centuries. With each passing generation, a new Head of House emerges, bringing forth their unique talents and unwavering commitment to serve the lineage of Ruinart. This steadfast succession ensures the preservation of the family's legacy, as each successor devotes themselves to upholding the traditions and values that define Ruinart. Their collective efforts have propelled the House to unparalleled heights, solidifying its reputation as a bastion of excellence in the world of champagne. ______ Ruinart Blanc de Blancs embodies purity of the Chardonnay grapes from which it is made exclusively. Made primarily with Premiers Crus from the Cote des Blancs, and Montagne de Reims Terroirs, it is intensely aromatic. The blend is 100% Chardonnay from various years (20 to 25% of which are reserve wines from the 2 previous years). The nose is powerfully reminiscent of fresh fruits with dominant notes of citrus and exotic fruits, followed by a touch of jasmine, white peaches and pink peppercorns. A perfect champagne for aperitifs, particularly in spring and summer. It is an excellent complement to seafood and shellfish; perfect with a sea bass or bream tartare. It would also be very good with seared sole. Note - this item does not come with a gift box or bottle wrapping. Intense, fruity, and aromatic, Ruinart Rose owes is sensual elegance to the marriage of Chardonnay, mainly from the Chardonnay premiers crus of the Cote des Blancs, and Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and Vallee de la Marne, blended into red wine. The nose is fresh and subtle, ripe with cherry and freshly picked red berries, followed by a splash of flowers and spicy notes. This item does not come in a box or with the white wrapping.