Champagne Henriot - Brut Millésimé 1996

The La Vigie Group (Champagne Henriot) has been led by Gilles de Larouzière since 2015. The Henriot house, certified HVE and soon to be VDC, has set itself the goal of showcasing the potential of its vineyards: the pure, full-bodied transparency of luminous Chardonnay wines from great terroirs. Alice Tétienne carries on this legacy and continues to emphasize the environmental values of the terroirs, such as research into winemaking practices that are in respectful harmony with nature. The range tasted is characterized by its body and its roots. Champagnes for the ages, the thread and fabric of each cuvée seem destined to blend seamlessly. We can only express our admiration for the level of excellence achieved by the house.

The Henriots, who were merchants dealing in linens and wine in the region in the 17th century, became interested in champagne as early as the following century. The brand dates back to 1808, when it was founded by a widow from Champagne, Apolline Henriot. Remaining independent, the house flourished under Joseph Henriot, who passed away in 2015; it expanded into Burgundy (Bouchard Père et Fils, William Fèvre), Beaujolais (Villa Ponciago), and as far as Oregon. Now chaired by Gilles de Larouzière-Henriot and led by Richard Moreau, the house entrusted the cellar to Alice Tétienne—who came from Krug Champagne—in 2020. Chardonnay plays a prominent role in Henriot champagnes.

Henriot is one of the few Champagne houses to have remained independent since its founding by Appoline Henriot in Reims in 1808. The house expanded rapidly internationally, particularly in Austria and the Netherlands. Despite the upheavals facing the Champagne region (phylloxera, World War I, the fall of the tsars in Russia, Prohibition in the United States…), the Henriot house weathered the storms and remained family-owned. Under the leadership of Joseph Henriot in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the house grew in prominence, largely thanks to a well-thought-out diversification strategy. Henriot thus acquired Bouchard Père et Fils in Beaune, William Fèvre in Chablis, and Villa Ponciago in Fleurie.