Cuvée „5 Sens“ Brut Nature 2016 1500ml Magnum

Wine Description for Cuvée „5 Sens“ Brut Nature 2016 1500ml Magnum by Olivier Horiot

Character

Olivier Horiot counts among the most radical craftsmen of Champagne, a winemaker who consciously breaks free from the region’s conventions. His Cuvée „5 Sens“ is an uncompromising Brut Nature – without dosage, without artifice, without concessions to the mainstream. The magnum format lends this 2016 additional ageing potential and complexity. At just 12% alcohol, this wine displays a refined elegance, replacing power with precision.

Terroir & Origin

Horiot works in the Riceys in southern Aube, far removed from the Grand Cru sites of Montagne de Reims. Here, on the border with Burgundy, Kimmeridgian limestone soils dominate – the same geology as in Chablis. The continental climate with cool nights and warm days shapes a different Champagne style: earthier, more structured, less accommodating. Horiot manages his parcels biodynamically and allows the terroir maximum expression.

Grape Variety & Vinification

The blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and the nearly extinct Arbanne is unusual. Arbanne, one of the seven historic Champagne grape varieties, brings floral notes and peppery minerality. Horiot vinifies in used barrels, often with spontaneous fermentation, and works without fining or filtration. The wines age long on the lees; the 2016 benefits from an excellent vintage with ideal balance between ripeness and freshness. As a Brut Nature, the pure essence of the wine reveals itself – every nuance of the terroir, every oenological decision becomes transparent.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This Champagne demands purist cuisine: raw oysters, sashimi, scallops or simple lemon chicken. The saline minerality harmonises perfectly with seafood, whilst the structure also stands up to sautéed porcini mushrooms or aged Comté. A wine for purists, not for Prosecco drinkers.