What

A small house, independent and family-owned since 1808; one of the few continuously run by the founding family

Where

Reims; 30+ha of estate vineyards, mainly in the Côte des Blancs; vineyards for this wine are in 6 Grand Cru villages.

Why

The richness comes from prolonged time on lees, not oak since everything is fermented and matured in stainless steel. The name Hemera, chosen to replace the previous prestige cuvée Cuvée des Enchanteleurs in the 2005 vintage, comes from the Greek goddess of daylight, reflecting the Hemera’s lighter, more transparent style.

What else

The family also owns Bouchard Père & Fils, William Fèvre and Beaux Frères in Oregon. Henriot’s crayères (cellars dug into the chalk) contain 5-6 years of stock at any given time. As of 2020, the Chef de Cave is Alice Tétienne, formerly of Krug.

Tasting Notes

The nose delivers ginger biscuits, buttery cashews and toasted brioche. The fruit is starting to become oxidative but retains its lusciousness: stone fruit shades into something almost tropical. Acidity is moderate, body fairly full and the finish is nutty but very slightly bitter, helping to refresh the palate.

Try It With 

Crispy skin roast pork.

When To Drink

After meal

Perfect For

Your friend who claims to hate champagne.

TL/DR

A Krug dupe: luxuriant, rich + indulgent.

Supplier

Kerry Wines