Henriet-Bazin Champain Brut 1er Cru Selection de Parcelles

Marie-Noelle Henriet has succeeded her father Daniel (who is still on the scene) as the 5th generation independent vigneronne at this house and she is now crafting some of the most exciting and terroir-expressive Champagnes from their 6 hectares of holdings in the Grand Cru villages of Verzy and Verzenay and -what may be even more exciting- 1er cru Villers-Marmery. Uniquely situated at the southeastern extreme of the Montagne de Reims, unlike the Grand Cru villages of Verzy and Verzenay, where younger alluvial soils are at the surface and the chalk becomes a subsoil, in Villers-Marmery the chalk is exposed, and so finely crushed and potent that it is highly influential on the wines. In fact, this is one of only four villages in the Montagne de Reims which is AOC 1er cru for Chardonnay and not the region's predominant Pinot Noir.