Skip to main content

Henriot 1996 Cuvée des Echanteleleurs

Just a wonderful Champagne which is drinking beautifully right now. It has stamina to keep for some more years, but the quality is probably peaking right now. We found this magnum in a local wineshop which was also kind enough to lend us proper Champagne glasses as well.

The quintessence of the Henriot style, this cuvée is dominated by the chardonnay giving elegance and complex structure. In respect with the family tradition, this cuvée, from the finest vineyards in Champagne, is only produced in exceptional years.

 To enhance the remarkable character of the 1996 vintage, Champagne Henriot has blended the strength of the pinot noir and the elegance of the chardonnay. We have chosen grapes from 6 of the most prestigious “grands crus” in Champagne : Mailly Champagne, Verzy, Verzenay on Montagne de Reims, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Chouilly on Côte des Blancs.  50% chardonnay - 50% pinot noir

On the eye: Pale gold with attractive cordon of mousse.
On the nose: Discreet notes of candied citrus, hazelnut and pastries enhance a bouquet dominated by honey. The nose is ripe, very fine, a sign of attractive aromatic evolution.
On the palate: This mature, well balanced, elegant wine has a lively, frank attack typical of the great vintages. Roasted, toasty aromas, butter and pastry together with fragrances of citrus and wild peach create rich, aromatic complexity leading on to flavours of honey and delicate exotic notes. The length is superb with aromas of pastries, fine touches of hazelnut and honey to complete this magnificent “cuvee”.

Henriot Cuvee des Echanteleleurs 1996
2600 nok for a magnum or ca 300€

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Leoville Lascases 1988

Last week was a special week for me as I received my last pay check from my previous employer. An event that required some sort of celebration with some good friends. Of the many bottles opened during that evening was a Leoville Lascases 1988. This Bordeaux wine from St. Julien is second Grand cru classee but it has the quality of a first growth. This chateau was also the wine that made me change from beer to wine as I had the pleasure of tasting a Leoville Lascases 1945 back in 88.  The 1945  just knocked me off my guard and I remember thinking what a fantastic wine it was and what an experience to drink this wine from the year when world war 2 ended. I was in shock and I then just decided to enter into the world of wine. I have always had a soft spot for this chateau ever since. And to my pleasure  it has been performing well at much more reasonable prices than the much more expensive first growths in the 1855 classification. Nowadays a bottle of this wine costs around ...

Wine # 2 Blindtasting Ganddal

Deep dark purple colour. Dark berries, cherries and mint chocolate. Full bodied with soft tannins. Reminds me of an Amarone.. A very nice wine indeed. Panel is way out as it is from the Rhone valley. Gigondas 2009 by Guigal Score 17.60  Ca 20€ or 220 NOK

Ogier Chateauneuf du Pape 2010

This is a quite reasonable Chateauneuf du Pape (ca 200 NOK or 15€). The colour is medium ruby color which was a bit surprising. Nose of ripe black cherries and liquerice with a medium + body and finish with firm tannins. The wine can be drunk now but has definitely the potential for ageing (5-10 years). Chateauneuf du Pape 2010, Ogier Bring out the steak!