Henriot L'Inattendue Duo

Settling in Champagne nearly 400 years ago, the Henriot family first started in the textile industry before turning to grape farming, and they rapidly became experts in their fast-growing collection of terroirs. Apolline Henriot – one of the most famous “Champagne Widows” – founded the house in 1808 as a young, well-educated widow who became enamored with Champagne. She’d read a treatise published about 100 years prior that read, “Manière de cultiver la vigne et de faire le vin en Champagne" (or simply, the “Manner of cultivating vines and making wine in Champagne"). She went on to craft the house’s first cuvee, the iconic “Brut Souverain” that serves as the family flagship to this day.

The house began specializing in the creation of Blanc de Blancs beginning with the 4th generation, Paul Henriot, when he acquired prestigious vineyard parcels in the Grand Crus of Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Chouilly in the Côte des Blancs. Chardonnay quickly became a prized variety in the portfolio, with other prime Chardonnay-dominant holdings joining the prestigious vineyards of Maison Henriot over the coming century. For both of these cuvees, we have 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay – the 2016 from Avize, the 2018 from Chouilly – effortlessly melding the purity and minerality of the Côte des Blancs, with the ripe and round creaminess of fruit and textures, and the depth and complexity of terrific terroir. These are two of the last bottlings of Champagne Henriot’s vintage Champagne that was crafted and aged exclusively by the family before merging with another luxury wine conglomerate in 2022.

The 96-point 2016 vintage experiences at least 4 years on the lees, and a scant dosage of 4 grams per liter, offering aromas of apple, lemon zest, and wet stones. It displays a beautiful, soft lemon color, with lots of roundness and rich chalk on the palate, along with a backbone of prominent acidity and lively, crisp bubbles delivering flavors of Bosc pears, vanilla, and dried lemons with some tangy raw almonds and crunchy oyster shells.

The equally mesmerizing 94-point 2018 vintage also rests a minimum of 4 years on the lees, with 2 grams per liter dosage and aromas of lemon, grapefruit zest, acacia flowers, sea spray, and a touch of matchstick smoke. Flavors of honeycrisp apples, vanilla, and lemon cream with some walnuts, honeycomb, and smoky minerals erupt in the mouth with searing acidity and an energetic mousse. The critics love these, we love these, and it’s a no-brainer that you’ll love them, too! Simply two delightful bottles from start to finish from a long-standing family producer that continuously amazes! We don’t have many, and just one 2-pack gets you free delivery!