Henriot : Cuvée des Enchanteleurs 2015

Characteristics and tasting advice for Henriot’s Cuvée des Enchanteleurs 2015

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals a luminous golden yellow hue, enlivened by brilliant highlights and a fine, persistent effervescence.

Nose

The nose charms with its aromatic intensity, unveiling notes of yellow fruits and candied citrus, enhanced by hints of acacia honey. Striking minerality accompanies the whole, enriched with woody and smoky nuances.

Palate

On the palate, this champagne stands out for its precision and remarkable balance. Flavors of yellow fruits, candied citrus, and acacia honey unfold with elegance. The structure is both finely chiseled and energetic, driven by a mineral tension and refreshing salinity. The long, persistent finish leaves a mineral imprint accompanied by notes of grapefruit and a characteristic slight bitterness.

Food and wine pairings

This exceptional cuvée pairs beautifully with refined dishes such as noble fish, shellfish, delicate poultry in sauce, and aged cheeses.

Service and cellaring

To fully appreciate Cuvée des Enchanteleurs 2015, it is recommended to serve it between 9°C and 12°C (48°F to 54°F). This champagne can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve until around 2050.

A radiant and generous champagne by Henriot

The estate

Founded in 1808 by Apolline Henriot under the name “Veuve Henriot Aîné,” the Maison Henriot remains one of the last major independent, family-owned Champagne houses. Based in Reims, it owns around 35 hectares of vineyards spread across the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne, and the Côte des Blancs. Now led by Gilles de Larouzière, representing the eighth generation, the house stands out for its unique regional balance between pinot noir and chardonnay. Its transgenerational independence and heritage-driven commitment define this bicentennial house.

The vineyard

This prestigious cuvée comes exclusively from six Grands Crus in Champagne, located between the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. On the Montagne de Reims, the terroirs of Verzy, Verzenay, and Mailly-Champagne provide the depth of pinot noir. The Côte des Blancs, with Avize, Chouilly, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, offers the purity and tension of chardonnay. These six founding crus form the backbone of this exceptional cuvée.

The vintage

The 2015 vintage stood out for its exceptional climatic conditions. The summer was hot, dry, and particularly sunny, providing remarkable sunshine. Rainfall episodes in August brought the necessary freshness to balance the grapes. The harvest revealed perfectly ripe and concentrated berries, endowed with fine tension. The chardonnays were precise and straight, while the pinot noirs displayed rare density, generosity, and aromatic intensity.

Winemaking and aging

Cuvée des Enchanteleurs 2015 marks the return of this emblematic cuvée after a decade-long hiatus. Produced only in exceptional years, this cuvée benefited from a minimum of 10 years of aging on lees in the chalk cellars of Maison Henriot, allowing the champagne to develop its full complexity and aromatic depth.

Grape varieties

Chardonnay (50%)
Pinot noir (50%).