Skip to page content
2017 Launois "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

2017 Launois "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

Gary Westby
Read All Staff Reviews
K&L Buyer
Review Date: 09/2024

Price aside, this is one of the best bottles of Champagne at K&L. This wine comes from the same ancient massal selected vines that made their special club in the past, and is also made the same way- in enamel lined iron tanks in their cellar in Mesnil. 2017 is a fantastic vintage for Chardonnay, and this is a top notch example of the success that variety had in Champagne. Not only is the wine full of rich brioche and generous citrus, its fabulous texture and complexity is balanced by bright refreshment and definitive chalky minerality. Not only will it drink great tonight, it will improve for at least a couple of decades in good storage. Don't miss this one!

Price: $69.99

This item is out of stock, would you like to save it and be notified when it's back?

Similar Products

Staff Reviews

Philip Roufail
Review Date: 09/2024
"Helia" is the feminine version of the Greek Sun God "Helios," and is described as having an "irrepressible aura," "radiant purity," and "is known for bringing beauty and joy." The Launois 2017 "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs is aptly named! On the nose, biscuit, lemon, lime, orange, and notes of dark toast. Medium-bodied, ripe orchard fruit, sweet vanilla, peach, pair, hints of white pepper, and zippy acidity up front but soft on the finish. An outstanding champagne of power, depth, and complexity that will continue to evolve and become more delicious!
Diana Turk
Review Date: 09/2024
How exciting it is to have perennial staff favorite and customer darling Launois back in stock, and with a new offering! "Hélia" shares the Grand Cru quality and provenance of the house's Special Club release, featuring grapes from massal-selected vines. Hélia is bright with lemon fruit, plus a hint of leesiness through the heady, textured palate and long finish. 2017 was a tricky vintage for Champagne, but Chardonnay producers in the Côte des Blancs came out swinging. The latest from Launois is a shining example of that success.
Alex Leonardini
Review Date: 09/2024
The 2017 Launois "Helia" Blanc de Blancs, which in past vintages would have been bottled as the Special Club offering, lives among the best Champagnes in the store. Crisp green apple and lemon curd harmonize with richer roasted hazelnut and baked sourdough flavors, while the zippy acidity and soft texture find perfect cohesion. If you, like me, have bottles of Launois' Special Club bottlings tucked away for future consumption, the 2017 "Helia" has more than earned it's place in the stash.
Read 1 More Review(s)

Notes

Without a doubt, this is one of the best Champagnes we carry at any price. This is made from the Launois "mother vines" the massal selected old vines planted from 1947-1953 on the best mid-slope sites of their grand cru vineyards in Mesnil, Oger and Cramant. This replaces their special club bottling, and is sourced from exactly the same vineyards that used to make that blend. This shows off how well Chardonnay did in 2017 with laser like focus and a display of chalk that is hard to find in any other bottling, but at the same time remains creamy and generous. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer)

Product Details

Origin: Champagne, France

Type/Varietal: Chardonnay

SKU: #1747409