PENFOLDS X Thienot Lot 1 175 Blanc de Blanc, Champagne

HENRIOT Cuvee Hemera, Champagne Produced from only Grand Cru vineyards with Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs in equal parts, then aged for a minimum of 12 years on the lees, this empyreal wine is delightfully delectable. A medium golden straw in colour, the Henriot Cuvee Hemera is elegant, very dry, light and lively. Expressing white peach and green fruits accented by a citrus lift, the Champagne has an enchanting creamy texture with generous layers of biscuity notes throughout, with a sleek, well-knit acidity and a long-lengthy finish across the palate.

Beautiful pale yellow colourwith glints of gold and green, a vibrant, luminousrobe. Active effervescence with a fine, persistent release of bubbles. At first very intense on the nose, giving way to fresh fruit notes, particularly ripe citrus and exotic fruits (pineapple). A highly refined floralsecond nose with notes of linden and white fruits (white peach). A supple, harmonious attack on the palate, firm but rounded. A voluptuoustexture and vinosity that is not excessive, supported by excellent freshness. A very refreshing mineral finish.

Champagne authority Peter Liem writes that “among all Champagne villages, Aӱ is the most historically esteemed… Today, its terroir is still just as storied, and its grapes are sought after by winemakers across the region.” It is perhaps no surprise that the poet Alfred de Vigny declared in 1853 that “the mousse of Aÿ radiates happiness”. From a Grand Cru where Pinot Noir reigns supreme, Bérêche’s cuvée is sourced from less than a hectare of 40+-year-old vines at 280 metres’ elevation in the cool parcels of Brise Pot and Froide-Terre, bordering Mutigny in Grande Vallée de la Marne, where thin topsoils (at a maximum of 30cm) rest over dense Campanian chalk. Pinot Noir (75%) and Chardonnay (25%) fermented slowly in barrels and aged on lees in bottle for 78 months. The dosage was under 3 g/L. It’s a striking, penetrating Champagne whose depth of crystalline white fruits and soft spices is matched by its sinewy, chalky length and cut-glass precision. A flat-out stunner.