HENRI ABELÉ,CRAFTING A NEW FRENCH LIFESTYLE

A “BOUTIQUE” CHAMPAGNE HOUSE

BUILT ON A HUMAN SCALE

Founded in 1757, Henri Abelé is one of the oldest Maisons in Champagne. It is home to an age-old “savoir-faire”; its 250-year-old heritage combined with carefully considered choices, guided by a love of champagne and the very highest standards. This is a champagne house of integrity, which has always remained true to its convictions, eschewing the fads and fashions that have come and gone in the Champagne region over the years. Henri Abelé made the courageous decision to limit its production, refusing to sacrifice quality for quantity; a conscious choice, allowing the Maison to produce only the very best champagnes and to stay on a “human-scale”.

This principle naturally led to a philosophy which is conscientiously upheld by an ideal: that of fine craftsmanship, characterized by quality and high standards. This quest for excellence can be seen in the way Henri Abelé makes its champagnes. From the non vintage brut to the vintage prestige cuvées, each champagne is the work of true expertise.

Maison Henri Abelé is inspired by its eponymous founder, a man with the utmost respect for tradition and a great attachment to Reims, his native city. But Henri Abelé was a lso a modern entrepreneur who helped shape the future of Champagne with his contribution to the development of riddling tables and to the perfection of the ice disgorging technique in 1884. Henri Abelé’s lifestyle is about blending tradition with innovation, know-how with creation, history with future.

HERITAGE & MODERNITY

Since 1757, the Maison Henri Abelé ’s philosophy has been that of fine craftsmanship, carried out with patience, humility and a dedication to excellence, continuously honing its expertise.Committed to making every vintage unique, the Maison limits its production, allowing it to carefully craft each of its champagnes.

FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP

The art of the long game PAchieving the exceptional requires patience! At Henri Abelé, the distinctiveness of its champagne making is the result of late blending at perfect maturity, and very long cellar-ageing - well beyond the minimum ageing period required by the Champagne regulations.Although bottling is legally permitted from January onwards, the Maison Henri Abelé (like a sculptor who shapes his material with humility and precision), continues to patiently shape its blends until April before bottling in June. Henri Abelé then allows its champagnes the years of repose they require to reach perfect maturity, resting in the coolness and tranquility of its ancient chalk cellars, in the very heart of Reims. Its non-vintage champagnes age a minimum of 2 to 3 years before being released for sale. Its prestige cuvées are usually matured in cellar for 6 to 10 years.

The art of collecting terroirs The art of tailored blendingT TThe Maison has turned its lack of vineyards into a strength. It is able to freely select and source from the best terroirs. Henri Abelé can be bold, exploring, innovating, and shaping its production as it sees fit, according to its requirements, from among the endless possibilities offered by nature. Henri Abelé has been working in close partnership with “artisan-vignerons”, chosen for the quality of their work, for over 30 years. These partnerships are formalized by long-term contracts between the Maison Henri Abelé and the most highly regarded growers in the Côte des Blancs and the Grande Montagne de Reims. This important close collaboration contributes to the continuity of the style and excellence of the Henri Abelé champagnes.

The Henri Abelé style can also be observed in the blending of its champagnes. Since the new vathouse was constructed in 2007, the Maison has had a host of small vats allowing it to carry out vinifications by cru and by terroir, tailored to the evolution of the wine. After this “terroir-by-terroir” vinification, the blending becomes the work of fine craftsmanship endowing the champagnes with their unique character.

OUR CHAMPAGNES

The Maison produces a comprehensive range of champagnes, from the brut to the prestige cuvées; in a style that seeks to balance freshness and density, elegance and complexity.

a cellar master for love of the craftWHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO HENRI ABELÉ? “After gaining first-rate experience working as an oenologist in Alsace, I ended up returning to my native Champagne in 1998, where I worked as an oenology consultant. I was initially called in as a consultant by the Maison Henri Abelé, but I wanted to be more directly involved in the company for several reasons. Firstly, the company’s “human scale” allows me to participate in the entire creative process: I am involved in all aspects of quality, from the selection of the grapes to the shipping of the bottles, and even beyond that, as I go out and champion our champagnes with importers and consumers around the world. I was also attracted by the fact that production is limited, so the work is more akin to that of a craftsman, for whom quality is the most important factor and who can afford to take his time to achieve excellence. This is a very attractive proposition for a cellar master, and even more so as the company was about to completely renovate its winery, there was no way I could refuse!”.

WHAT ARE THE MAISON’S IMPORTANTPRINCIPLES?

“These start with the choice of the grapes. We work with 50-60 suppliers, who are mostly récoltants-manipulants. For each cuvée, I select certain terroirs. The higher up the range we go, the more we target the terroirs. For example, for Sourire de Reims Brut, I decided to work with only with the best crus from certain parcels in Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims and only in years when nature gives me exceptional quality.

The second principle is to vinify the wines separately, varietal by varietal, terroir by terroir, and then preserve them in the very best conditions, which we are able to do with our large number of small stainless steel vats. Allowing each terroir to express itself to the full is a real strength. Then, from the large number of terroirs vinified separately, I select the parcels that will make up my creation. It’s painstaking work, where each piece has to fit into the final composition. Lastly, our style is created by patience. We give the base wines the time they need to develop their full potential, before we taste them individually from December to March to define our blends. At Maison Henri Abelé, we have always blended late, usually in April for bottling in June.”

DOES THE MAISON HAVE ANY OTHERSPECIFIC FEATURES ?

“One particular characteristic of the company is that it has always been able to take the best of tradition, while applying new techniques and ideas. Henri Abelé has always been bold and innovative in spirit. Innovation has been the byword of many generations: both in terms of the champagnes’ marketing and the perfecting of the company’s technical processes.We are constantly balancing heritage and modernity: for example, we respect “the time of the wine”, as they did back in the day, when vinification was governed by the seasons, but we use ultra-modern stainless steel vats!Another example Is that we are able to create very audacious champagnes. The Sourire de Reims Rosé is a unique blend, the culmination of a demanding process, from the selection of grapes grown exclusively on the Les Riceys hillside, to the maceration of whole bunches.

It is also no accident that we chose to present our Brut 2007 limited edition bottle in a modern, new-look “Toile de Jouy” design. It’s an acknowledgement of the Henri Abelé spirit. We want to convey and share the best that Champagne has to offer, with a contemporary touch.”

FRANCK NICAISE

BLEND100% Chardonnay, mainly from the Côte des Blancs.

TASTING NOTESThe champagne opens with notes of white flowers, hawthorn and acacia, and then allows the Chardonnay to express itself to the full. The palate shows great finesse and freshness where mineral notes combine to create a very intense and remarkably long-lingering finish.

AVAILABLE BOTTLE SIZES 75cl bottles only

Blanc de BlancsNon Vintage

This cuvée is made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, primarily from the Côte des Blancs. The Henri Abelé Blanc de Blancs is aged for three years in its chalk cellars.

BLEND70% Chardonnay30% Pinot Noir

TASTING NOTESThis cuvée is powerful and complex on the nose. Lovely vinosity, combined with spicy notes on the palate, give this champagne subtlety and elegance, which will delight fans of champagnes with a complex character.

FAVAILABLE BOTTLE SIZES 75cl bottles and magnums

BrutVintage

This cuvée, produced in exceptional years only, is patiently aged in the cool of our ancient cellars. Once matured, we allow it another year’s rest after disgorging.

BLEND40% Chardo nnay35% Pinot Noir25% Pinot Meunier

TASTING NOTESA distinctive pale golden hue with green highlights with remarkably smooth bubbles, floral notes and fruity accents. An extremely elegant and distinguished champagne.

AVAILABLE BOTTLE SIZES Half bottles, bottles, magnums, jeroboams, mathuselahs, salmanazars, balthazars, nebuchadnezzars

BrutNon Vintage

Made from a selection of the best Champagne crus.

“Lightly floral on the nose, featuring hints of ripe plum, toast, crunchy white peach and lemon pith, with a z e s t y, m i n e r a l l y underpinning on the palate. A well-meshed version, offering a firm, clean-cut finish.”

BLEND40% Pinot Noir30% Chardonnay30% Pinot Meunier

TASTING NOTESA full-bodied champagne which offers all the charm and appeal of a rosé with aromas of flowers and wild fruit.

AVAILABLE BOTTLE SIZES Half bottles, bottles

RoséNon Vintage

This elegant, fruity cuvée will be a sure-fire hit with all fans of rosé champagne.

91/100

ANDREAS LARSSONabout vintage 2003:“Really rich in structure, an opulent champagne, for those who love Pinot Noir, big and bold champagnes. I think for all lovers of Pinot Noir, this should be a really interesting drink.”

Sourire de ReimsVintage

To create the Sourire de Reims Brut, the Maison selects the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir crus from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims, in exceptional years only. This champagne will then acquire its mature aromas and broad array of flavours during a long sojourn in our ancient cellars.

Sourire de ReimsRosé Vintage

This is a bold cuvée crafted from a single grape variety and a single terroir, the Pinot Noir from Les Riceys, which has undergone very careful vinification. This exceptional cuvée is the result of a short maceration process (36 to 48 hours) which gives it a unique style. The Sourire de Reims is aged for almost ten years in our cellars, followed by six to twelve months further ageing after disgorging.

BLEND60% Chardonnay40% Pinot Noir

TASTING NOTESVery elegant and fine on the nose, dominated by the Chardonnay. Straightforward and clean on entry to the palate, the Pinot Noir brings complexity, structure and maturity, along with spicy notes of cloves and liquorice. The discreet dosage preserves this cuvée’s freshness and exceptionally long-lingering flavours.

AVAILABLE BOTTLE SIZESBottles and magnums

BLENDA blend unique toHenri Abelé: 100% Pinot Noirfrom Les Riceys

TASTING NOTESThis unique champagne with a beautiful salmon-pink hue opens with powerful red fruit aromas, gradually giving way to spicy notes. Delicate on entry to the palate, the Pinot Noir comes through beautifully, revealing a powerful, robust and supple champagne. The complex, long-lingering finish completes the balance of this outstanding cuvée, ideal for those very special occasions.

AVAILABLE BOTTLE SIZES75cl bottles only

Blind tasted byANDREAS LARSSONabout vintage 2007:“Very vibrant mousse, but rather tiny fine bubbles. The nose is intense and generous. Quite vinous style, there is some hints of lees ageing. Some hints of croissant. A long-lasting and persistent finish in a quite personal style with plenty of fruit and richness”

91/100

SOURIRE DE REIMS

The smiling angel...Maison Henri Abelé remains intimatelyconnected with the history and heritage of Reims. After the First World War, Henri Abelé was one of the first champagne merchants to return to Reims and contribute to the reconstruction of the cathedral, including the restoration of the iconic statue of the ‘Smiling Angel’, otherwise known as the ‘Sourire de Reims’ (Smile of Reims). In recognition of this generosity, Maison Henri Abelé is the only champagne house authorised to use the likeness and name of the stature. ‘Sourire de Reims’ thus became thename of our most prestigious champagne.

Elegance CreativityTradition

Audacity

Arnaud Lallement, one of France’s most talented chefs and the owner of the 3-Michelin-starred restaurant ‘L’Assiette Champenoise’ recently created four food-wine pairings using the champagnes of Maison Henri Abelé.

Sourire de Reims, a cuvée which inspires many French craftmen.

Our most recent limited edition – the Brut Vintage 2007, adorned with a modern twist on ‘Toile de Jouy’ fabric – demonstrates Henri Abelé’s unique ability to combine classic craftsmanship and modern elegance.

Living heritage

Know-how

Balance

Modernity

Craftman

Frenchlifestyle

The ElyséeThe Royal Court

of Belgiumand Spain

Arzar RestauranteSpain

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Sénat Quai d’Orsay

Assemblée NationaleUnesco Hôtel Matignon

A PREMIUM DISTRIBUTION

A Maison of national and international renown:Henri Abelé has long been an official supplier to the royal courts of Europe, and continues to provide champagne to the most prestigious institutions of the French Republic, including the Senate and numerous embassies. Champagne Henri Abelé is now enjoyed in France, Spain, Belgium, the USA, Canada, Mexico, China and South Korea.

HENRI ABELÉ SUPPORTS FRENCH TALENTS

Definitely forward-looking, Maison Henri Abelé is proud to champion a new generation of talented French creators. The house collaborates with several craftmen for PR operations or limited edition such as Oliver Juteau (glass maker), Eric Sontag (Pastry chef) or Nicolas Bernardé (Pastry chef and “Meilleur ouvrier de France.

Guy SavoyParis

L’ AssietteChampenoise - Reims

Arnaud Lallement

Restaurant ChristopherCoutanceau La Rochelle

Restaurant Jean Luc Tartarin

Le Havre

L’ArpègeAlain Passard

Paris

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Hen

ri Abelé can boast

i n F r a n c ei n F r a n c e

Michelin stars35

HENRI ABELÉ

50 rue de Sillery 51100 Reims - FranceTél : +33 (0) 3 26 87 79 80 - contact@henriabele.com

www.henriabele.com