Henriot Champagne Chardonnay Grand Cru L'Inattendue 2016 750ml

size

750ml

country

France

region

Champagne

6 Ratings

See 6 Professional Reviews

Rated 96 by Decanter

This is a stunningly fragrant, exotic and silky blanc de blancs that has only grown in stature since release, now firmly making its case for being the finest wine Henriot has made recently. Few 2016s display this degree of delicacy and length. Bright clementine and tropical fruit are framed in smoky, peppery, reductive energy, with orange blossom and sweet, charry lemon and hazelnut. The chalky, fluid and delicate palate ripples with gently insistent chalk and bittersweet citrus oil. Long and detailed. ... More details

Henriot Champagne Chardonnay Grand Cru L'Inattendue 2016 750ml

Rated 96 by Decanter

Rated 96 by Wine Enthusiast

A Champagne that came from a selection of wine that was regarded as so exceptional, so unexpected (as the name suggests) that it was bottled separately. It is an impressive wine, rich, now mature with a strong touch of toast. It is ready to drink. (Cellar Selection)

Rated 94 by Wine Advocate

When Gilles de Larouzière took the reins chez Henriot and tasted the vins clairs of the 2016 vintage with his team, one cuvée from Avize stood out from the crowd enough that it seemed to merit a tirage of its own. The result is the 2016 Brut L'inattendue, disgorged after four years on the lees with four grams per liter dosage. It's a demonstrative, expressive Champagne, bursting with aromas of white peach, crisp orchard fruit and confit lemon mingled with subtle hints of buttery pastry, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and attractively vinous palate, its fleshy core of fruit complemented by a pretty pinpoint mousse. Already drinking well, it's testimony to the exciting things happening at this historic house.

Rated 94 by Wine Spectator

Lightly toasty on the nose, with grilled brioche, smoke and spice accents, this is fresh and citrusy on the plushly creamy palate. Reveals Meyer lemon, poached apricot, grated ginger and fresh lemon thyme enriched by chopped almond and biscuit. Long, well-honed finish. Chardonnay. Drink now through 2031. 200 cases imported.

Rated 93 by Vinous Media

The 2016 L'Inattendue (Chardonnay) is loaded with apricot, lemon confit, baked apple tart, sweet spice and light tropical accents. The more exuberant side of Chardonnay comes through loud and clear in an effusive, inviting Champagne that will be ready to give pleasure upon release. A touch of toastiness lingers on the close. This is very nicely done.

Rated 92 by James Suckling

This first single-vineyard bottling for Henriot has aromas of dried lemons, pears, chalk, sourdough, brown rice and blanched almonds. It’s medium-bodied, fresh and fine with creamy bubbles and bright acidity. More delicate and somewhat restrained. 4g/l. Disgorged March 2021. Drink or hold.

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Henriot Champagne Chardonnay Grand Cru L'Inattendue 2016 750ml

SKU 919084

Case Only Purchase

Long-term Pre-Arrival

$773.58

/case

$128.93

/750ml bottle

Quantity

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* This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For additional details about Pre-arrival Items please visit our FAQ page.

Professional Ratings

Rated 96 by Decanter

Rated 96 by Wine Enthusiast

Rated 94 by Wine Advocate

Rated 94 by Wine Spectator

Rated 93 by Vinous Media

Rated 92 by James Suckling

Product Details

size

750ml

country

France

region

Champagne

Overview

Varietal: Champagne Blend

The sparkling wines of Champagne have been revered by wine drinkers for hundreds of years, and even today they maintain their reputation for excellence of flavor and character, and are consistently associated with quality, decadence, and a cause for celebration. Their unique characteristics are partly due to the careful blending of a small number of selected grape varietals, most commonly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. These grapes, blended in fairly equal quantities, give the wines of Champagne their wonderful flavors and aromas, with the Pinot Noir offering length and backbone, and the Chardonnay varietal giving its acidity and dry, biscuity nature. It isn't unusual to sometimes see Champagne labeled as 'blanc de blanc', meaning it is made using only Chardonnay varietal grapes, or 'blanc de noir', which is made solely with Pinot Noir.

Region: Champagne

The beautiful north-easterly region of Champagne in France is famous around the world for the production of the exquisite sparkling white wines which characterize the region. All over the globe, bottles of wine from Champagne are celebrated and enjoyed, and their fame has come about through generations of expertise and experimentation, and a dedication to quality which raises the bar for producers of sparkling wines everywhere. The vast majority of grapes grown in this special region are of the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Petit Meunier varietals, the principle grapes used for the production of Champagne sparkling white wines. The region itself is far cooler than many other important French wine regions, but this hasn't stopped the dozens of wineries in Champagne from making their distinctive and much-loved produce.

Country: France

It is widely understood and accepted that the finest wines in the world come out of France. Whether you are drinking a vintage bottle from one of the famed Grand Cru wineries of Bordeaux - such as Chateau Margaux or Chateau Lafite-Rothschild - or a more simple and affordable bottle from one of the lesser known appellations in Burgundy, the likelihood is that the wine is packed full of intense and interesting flavors, and has a fine, balanced structure typical of almost all French produce. This reputation for excellence is taken extremely serious by the French, with dozens of regularly updated laws and regulations ensuring the quality and accurate labeling of wines. Such dedication and passion for fine wine, representative of the region in which it is produced, means customers can be assured that when they buy a bottle from France, they are buying something almost certain to please and delight.

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