Henriot Champagne Cuvee Hemera Gift Box 2006

The name Hemera is a tribute to the Greek goddess of daylight and represents this Champagne’s lively style and precision, achieved only through winemaking wisdom passed down through the generations and the patient passing of time. The grapes for Cuve Hemera 2006 are sourced entirely from the six original Grand Cru parcels that founded the house in the early 19th century, with Pinot Noir sourced from Apolline Henriot’s original 1808 parcels in the northern Montagne de Reims villages of Mailly Champagne, Verzy, and Verzenay; and Chardonnay sourced from the Cte des Blancs villages of Chouilly, Avize, and Mesnil-sur-Oger from parcels acquired by the family in 1880 through marriage of Apollines great grandson, Paul Henriot to Marie Marguet of the Cte des Blancs. In blending these six original Grand Crus together for Cuve Hemera 2006, Maison Henriot aims to honor its founder, heritage, and well-established legacy of producing prestige cuves with precision and expertise of the terroirs they are proud to be a steward of.

The 2006 vintage in Champagne was a year of great contrast, which is reflected in the tension and concentration of Cuve Hemera. The bouquet offers notes of white flower, vanilla, mineral and saline accents characteristic of the chalk parcels of the Cte des Blancs; contrasted by a lively palate of candied fruit, apricot, ripe peach, nectarine, and grapefruit.Blend 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir

Critical Acclaim

97 Wine Enthusiast

This mature wine is finely structured with a delicate mousse and forward toast and brioche flavors. At the same time, the texture and the white fruits are still there, creating a magnificent Champagne with texture and richness in a taut, tight package.

94 Wine Spectator

Refined and minerally, with a pleasing plushness to the mouthfeel, this elegant Champagne offers delicate notes of juicy nectarine, grated ginger, toast point and spun honey, all backed by well-knit, zesty acidity, driving the lingering finish with accents of smoke and saline. Drink now through 2030.

94 James Suckling

Mature and generous nose of baked raspberries, figs, cocoa, honeycomb, marmalade, praline and apricot pie. Its medium-to full-bodied with vibrant acidity and very creamy bubbles. Saline undertones with lovely salted-caramel notes. Expansive. Equal blend of Grand Cru pinot noir and chardonnay. 5g/l dosage.

93 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Henriot’s newly released 2006 Brut Cuve Hemera is showing very nicely, offering up aromas of wheat toast, crisp stone fruit, dried white flowers, smoke and iodine. Medium to full-bodied, rich and enveloping, with a generous core of fruit, bright acids and a pretty pinpoint mousse, it concludes with a mouthwateringly sapid finish. The cuve’s rather reductive style marries well with the inherent opulence of the vintage, and it marks a notable step up over the inaugural 2005 in depth and concentration.