Henriet Bazin Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Romance 2012

Henriet Bazin Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Romance 2012 is a finely sculpted vintage Champagne from the chalk-rich grands crus of the Montagne de Reims. Blending Chardonnay with Pinot Noir (Pinot Nero) and finished in an Extra Brut style, it offers precision, depth and a beautifully dry, gastronomic profile. The standout 2012 vintage – widely regarded as one of Champagne’s best of the decade – lends this cuvée both intensity and impressive aging potential.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Champagne shows a luminous straw-gold hue with fine, persistent bubbles that form an elegant, creamy mousse. The nose is refined yet expressive, opening with notes of lemon zest, crisp green apple and ripe pear, layered with white flowers, chalky minerality, and delicate brioche. With air, more complex aromas emerge – toasted hazelnut, pastry cream, and a subtle hint of spice. On the palate, Romance 2012 is taut and precise at first, then fans out into a wine of real breadth and texture. The Chardonnay brings tension and a saline, chalk-driven freshness, while the Pinot Noir contributes structure, subtle red-fruit nuance and a gently vinous character. Flavors of citrus, stone fruit, almond and lightly toasted bread are wrapped in a razor-fine, mineral backbone, supported by a vibrant, mouthwatering acidity. The Extra Brut dosage keeps the finish very dry, long and focused, making it particularly food-friendly. Drinking beautifully now, this 2012 has the concentration and acidity to evolve gracefully for another 5–8 years, gaining more nutty, honeyed complexity.

Production
Henriet-Bazin farms grand cru vineyards primarily in Verzy and Verzenay, on the northern slopes of the Montagne de Reims, where deep chalk subsoils and cool exposures give Champagne of striking precision and minerality. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for Romance 2012 are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness to preserve acidity and aromatic purity. Gentle, traditional pressing yields only the finest juice, which is vinified in small lots, predominantly in temperature-controlled stainless steel, with potential partial oak élevage depending on the parcel and vintage. The base wines undergo a careful blending before secondary fermentation in bottle, followed by an extended aging on the lees to build texture, complexity and finesse. Disgorged with a low, Extra Brut dosage, the wine is released only when Henriet-Bazin judges that the interplay of fruit, structure and autolytic notes has reached ideal balance.

Food & Serving
This is a superb Champagne for the table, particularly with refined seafood and poultry dishes. Think oysters, scallop carpaccio, lobster, turbot or cod with beurre blanc, sushi and sashimi, or roast chicken with lemon and herbs. It also pairs beautifully with aged hard cheeses such as Comté or Parmesan, and delicate mushroom dishes where its earth and chalk notes can shine. Serve well-chilled but not icy, ideally around 8–10°C (46–50°F), to allow the aromas and texture to fully express themselves. A short decant of 15–20 minutes in a chilled carafe, or simply pouring the first glass and giving the bottle some air, can help the 2012 vintage unfold its layers.

Producer
Henriet-Bazin is a family-run, grower-producer (Récoltant-Manipulant) based in the grand cru village of Verzy in the Montagne de Reims. The estate, whose roots go back to the late 19th century, has long focused on expressing the individuality of its chalky, cool-climate terroirs through meticulous vineyard work and low-yield farming. Over successive generations, Henriet-Bazin has built a reputation among Champagne enthusiasts for precise, characterful wines that highlight grand cru fruit rather than heavy cellar tricks. Today, the domaine is regarded as one of the serious artisanal voices of the Montagne de Reims, known for its careful stewardship of old vines, thoughtful blending and a style that marries clarity, minerality and gastronomic dryness.

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