Henri Giraud Champagne PRICE
Henri Giraud Champagne price
We’d like to introduce you to one of our partner estates: Champagne Giraud. Are you familiar with the Henri Giraud Champagne House? This article will take you to the heart of the estate’s history, where each cuvée is more harmonious than the last. With this guide, I invite you to discover this beautiful Champagne estate. You can also explore our other guides to the finest wine estates.
The history of Champagne houses
The history of Champagne Giraud began in 1625, during the reign of Henry V and his successors. The Hémart family must have returned to Aÿ in the early 17th century, where they put down roots and began their Champagne legacy in the 18th century.
In the early 20th century, Léon Giraud married Madeleine Hémart and restored the family vineyards, which had been ravaged by the phylloxera crisis. Their descendant Henry founded the house, which is now run by his son Claude. The vineyard extends across the commune of Aÿ as well as Dizy and Mutigny. Claude also buys grapes harvested by pickers working for friends or family. In 1980, Claude Giraud increased the proportion of wines aged in oak barrels. Currently, most of the champagnes are aged in wooden barrels and the wine is stored in stainless steel vats.
Today
Today, the Champagne house is run by Claude Giraud, the 12th generation of the Giraud-Hémart family, a member of the UMC whose famous cuvées bear the name ‘Argonne’. Focusing on the brand’s cornerstones: Aÿ Grand Cru, Pinot Noir grape varieties and Argonne oak barrels, since 1990 he has revived the brand’s heritage and reconstructed the original oak barrels 60 metres east of Reims – amidst kilometres of historic Champagne forests and the famous champagne barrels that have been in use for ten centuries.
Experts come here every year to learn more about the effects of the geological composition of the various terroirs and forest soils on the taste and texture of the wines. The balance of Maison Henri Giraud Champagne epitomises the region’s success. With a production of just 250,000 bottles and a few thousand bottles remaining for the cuvées, this Champagne is now sought after by connoisseurs of fine wines from all over the world.
The Champagne is characterised by the Pinot Noir from Aÿ. The range produced in stainless-steel vats is full-bodied and versatile. These are perfect as an aperitif and also pair well with light dishes. Those aged in oak barrels are fuller-bodied and more assertive. Powerful, expressive and rich in character, they are among the most concentrated Champagnes in the entire region, making them perfect for the whole meal.
Great Vintages for the House:
Discover the House’s most famous Champagnes on our website. Henri Giraud bottles come directly from the estate and are available immediately at the best prices at Comptoir des Millésimes. But before you taste them, here are a few tips for enjoying these little gems of Champagne.
HENRI GIRAUD CUVÉE ESPRIT BRUT NATURE:
This Cuvée Esprit Nature best represents the estate’s evolution. The blend consists of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. It combines indulgence, joy and balance. This embodies the spirit of the Champagne house, whose aim is to produce the very best possible product. The house is open to everything: in other words, it sets no limits for itself. This cuvée comes from the hills of Reims. Ageing takes place in vats and the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. Dosage ranges from 6 to 12 grams per litre. On the palate, it reveals fresh, fruity flavours. It is served as an aperitif, but can also be enjoyed with a meal.
HENRI GIRAUD CUVÉE BLANC DE CRAIE:
This is a special cuvée sourced from the finest chalky terroirs of the Reims Mountains. Made exclusively from Chardonnay, it showcases this grape variety by giving it a new dimension, combining the rich fruitiness with chalky minerality. Traditionally fermented and aged in oak barrels for 6 months. The colour is a delicate yellow-gold, accentuated by subtle green highlights and fine streaks of foam. The nose is characterised by citrus notes, very fresh and pleasant. It displays aromas of exotic fruits (pineapple, lychee, etc.). On the palate, it is very rich and offers a clean, satisfying flavour thanks to its lovely minerality.
HENRI GIRAUD, a tribute to Pinot Noir:
This cuvée was matured and aged for 54 months, including 12 months on full lees in small oak barrels, followed by 6 months on fine lees; it was then cellared for 3 years after bottling to achieve the full potential of a Grand Millésime. This cuvée is made from 100% Pinot Noir, the grapes for which are harvested exclusively from the Grand Cru terroir of Aÿ. It displays beautiful bubbles upon opening. The colour is slightly amber. The nose features white flowers with honeysuckle, yellow fruits and very minty green almonds. On the palate, alongside a subtle hint of chocolate, there are notes of pear and yellow fruit, dried apricots, with hints of orange peel and burlat (a variety of cherry). It pairs well with sea bass with fennel, pork fillet or duck with citrus fruits. It is best served at around 12 degrees, except as an aperitif, when it should be served cooler, between 8 and 10 degrees. As an aperitif, you might choose verrines of foie gras and quinoa, or a snack of smoked trout seasoned with ginger.
HENRI GIRAUD, Dame Jane
The Dame Jane cuvée from Maison Henri Giraud is a superb rosé champagne!
A legendary clay goddess of fertility symbolises the close link between the natural fertility of the earth and pottery, the original crucible of wine thousands of years before our era.
This champagne showcases the generosity of its Pinot Noir (from vines over 60 years old), growing on southern chalk soils, aged in oak barrels in the Argonne Forest and matured in AOC red wine terracotta amphorae.
Flavours of red berries, wild strawberries, raspberries, brioche and toast burst on the palate, which is crisp and indulgent. Without a doubt, this ‘Dame Jane’ cuvée from Maison Henri Giraud is a triumph!
This very elegant champagne has excellent ageing potential (around 10 years) and is a delight to enjoy with meats such as slices of beef or roast veal kidneys throughout a meal.
HENRI GIRAUD, MV 17
Henri Giraud Fût de Chêne MV Champagne embodies the Maison Giraud style, presented in a unique bottle featuring a clasp. This Pinot Noir-based cuvée exudes complex, powerful and rich aromas, imbued with the terroir of Aÿ and the influence of oak barrel ageing. The bubbles hold up well and lend an extra touch of freshness to these premium cuvées. An extraordinary Champagne for connoisseurs.
HENRI GIRAUD AY GRAND CRU:
A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, this cuvée is aged for 12 months in oak, matured for a minimum of 8 years on lees, fermented in barriques, and made from 50-year-old vines. It is produced only in the finest vintages, such as 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005. In an era characterised by oak-aged winemaking, this final vintage is more harmonious and complex. This cuvée is dark yellow/gold in colour. It is a luxurious blend with plenty of toasted oak and subtle nuances. Flavours of oak leaf and ripe fruit, with great purity and surprising freshness. The Chardonnay is excellent on the nose and on the palate. It is rich and intense, with perfect structure and fruity aromas. The finish is captivating, long, complex, savoury and highly aromatic. It is a fine reflection of the Aÿ terroir. Although it is beautiful and rich, it may not be to everyone’s taste. Total production is 30,000 bottles.
