Henriet-Bazin Champagne 1er Cru Brut Nature Gaston et Louise NV NO20231108 sandy soils right up against

sandy soils right up against the Atlantic

Whole-bunch fermented in semi-carbonic maceration and aged on lees in barrel for six months

Ouille means topped up — the barrels are kept full

this grappa with vinous and distinctly ethereal characteristics is distilled

and a silky texture that drinks beautifully now

Henriet-Bazin Champagne 1er Cru Brut Nature Gaston et Louise NV NO20231108 sandy soils right up againstZero sugar, nowhere to hide. Brut Nature means no dosage, not a gram added at the end, which is a nervy choice because sugar is exactly what most Champagne leans on to smooth over its rough edges. Marie Noelle Rainon Henriet, the fourth generation running this family domaine, doesn't need the crutch. The cuvee is named for her great grandfather Gaston and her grandmother Louise, whose vineyards were joined when the families married, and it's a half