Henri Giraud Champagne - Winemaking, Styles, Best Cuvees (2024)

What makes Henri Giraud Champagne a favorite among wine lovers and collectors?

Henri Giraud is one of the oldest and most exceptional Champagne Houses in France, with a fascinating history dating back to the 17th century.

This Champagne House is known for its Pinot Noir dominant cuvees and their unique use of Argonne Oak barrels.

But how is Henri Giraud Champagne made? How can you get your hands on a bottle of this French wine?

Let’s discover more about this Champagne, including its origins, winemaking process, and more. We have also listed the Top 10 Henri Giraud Cuvees and the Easiest Way To Invest In Them.

A Quick Intro To Henri Giraud Champagne

The iconic Henri Giraud Champagne is located in Ay, in the Champagne region of France (not to be confused with Maison Paul Giraud, who produces Cognacs!)

The Champagne House’s flagship style is a rich, voluptuous Fut de Chene, a Champagne blend dominated by Pinot Noir and aged in an Argonne Oak cask.

The wines are a blend of the Pinot Noir grape variety and a small percentage of Chardonnay. Unlike other producers in the Champagne region, Henri Giraud prefers the use of Argonne Oak barrels rather than the popular Bordeaux barrels. (More about this later.)

Further Reading: See how a Pinot Noir wine compares with Malbec Wine.

Now, even though Giraud Champagne has roots in the 18th century, the actual wine production only began in the 20th century.

Let’s take a look at how it all began?

A Brief History Of Henri Giraud Champagne

The origins of Henri Giraud Champagne can be traced back as far as 1625, which makes this the oldest Champagne House that’s still owned by the founding family.

It all began when François Hémart and the entire Hémart family (contemporaries of Henri IV) decided to settle permanently in Ay.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Léon Giraud married Madeleine Hémart. He rebuilt the family vineyard, which had been destroyed by a dual crisis - the First World war and phylloxera.

Once rebuilt, the Giraud-Hémart family became Champagne producers, and the winery became a full-fledged Champagne House with a Negociant Manipulant status in 1975. (NM growers both grow on their own plots and buy grapes from other growers.)

Today, Claude Giraud, the 12th generation winemaker, runs the show. He has taken this magnificent French wine to new levels by re-establishing the use of the traditional oak wood barrels sourced from the Argonne forest.

The Giraud family has also opened up their 19th century Manoir Henri Giraud, situated near Epernay, to tourists. They offer a great wine tasting tour to experience the history and terroir of the Domaine.

But don’t worry if you can’t make that trip. We’ll tell you how the wine is made in the next section!

Henri Giraud Winemaking Techniques

The Champagne House uses all-natural materials for the vinification of its wines.

The vines that grow on the Grand Cru vineyards are rooted in deep calcareous soil from where the grapes draw their extraordinary minerality and floral flavors.

The exemplary grape varieties come from the family’s 10 hectares of vineyard (located at the eastern end of the Marne Valley) and those of their friends and families.

The grapes are vinified in a toasted oak barrel - this adds distinct flavors to the grand cuvees.

They also sometimes use smaller containers (made of terracotta or ovoid sandstone) which are better than stainless steel vats for optimizing the exchange between the wine and its lees.

Now let’s look at the different styles of the Henri Giraud Champagne.

6 Different Styles Of Henri Giraud Champagne

The Giraud House produces their Champagne in a variety of styles.

1. Champagne Henri Giraud Esprit Nature

Esprit Nature Champagne is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It’s vinified and aged in 3 to 5-year-old oak barrels and a further two years on its lees.

2. Champagne Henri Giraud Dame Jane Rosé

This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grape varieties is vinified and aged in terracotta jars called Dame-Jane. It’s aged for at least three years on lees.

Further Reading: Check out this article to learn more about Rosé Wine.

3. Champagne Henri Giraud Blanc de Craie

The Blanc de Craie is a pure Chardonnay Champagne - vinified and aged in a 3-5 year old oak barrel and further for three years on lees.

4. Champagne Henri Giraud Hommage au Pinot Noir

This Champagne pays tribute to the magnificent Pinot Noir vines of the Ay region. Just like the Henri Giraud Code Noir, this cuvee is made entirely using the Pinot Noir grape variety.

It ages for 12 months on whole lees in oak barrels, then for six months on fine lees, and another 36 months under glass.

The House offers another Hommage style - Hommage François Hémart Brut - as a tribute to the first member of the Hémart family. It has a rich mouthfeel with notes of pastry cream, lemon curd, dried apricots, and boysenberry pie.

5. Champagne Henri Giraud MV Ay Grand Cru Brut

The MV Ay Grand Cru Brut is a multi-vintage, traditional Champagne blend.

he blend consists of two-thirds of a specific vintage and one-third of the wine from the perpetual reserve (which has been stored since 1990.)

It is vinified and aged in oak barrels for one year and aged for at least four years on lees.

6. Champagne Henri Giraud Cuvee Argonne Grand Cru

The Cuvee Argonne Grand Cru is also a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It is vinified and aged on its lees in a new Argonne Oak barrel.

Further Reading: Impress your friends with a glass of Mimosa, Kir Royale, Sangria, or any other Champagne Cocktail!

Top 10 Henri Giraud Cuvees To Buy In 2024

Here’s a list of the top ten Henri Giraud cuvees that you can buy in 2024.

1. Henri Giraud Enneade Collection

The Henri Giraud ‘Enneade’ is a collection of 9 different bottles. The case includes the seven Henri Giraud vintages (1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000.)

Each bottle showcases the new expression and richness of the grapes drawn from Ay’s limestone soils.

Price of Henri Giraud Enneade Collection: $5000

2. 2004 Henri Giraud 'Argonne' Ay Grand Cru Brut Rosé

Maison Henri Giraud produces just 328 bottles of this fine wine, which has a spicy freshness of oriental herbs.

The ‘Argonne’ Brut Rose is a beautiful pink gold bottle that portrays elegance and sophistication. It is produced by adding a few liters of the magnificent Ay Grand Cru red to a unique 2004 Argonne Oak cask.

Price of Henri Giraud 'Argonne' Ay Grand Cru Brut Rosé 2004: $1,521

3. 1990 Henri Giraud Grand Cru d'Ay Blanc de Blancs

This sparkling wine is amongst the highest-priced Champagne Blanc de Blanc wines.

It has a well-rounded body with a distinct aroma of oak and biscuit. The citrus freshness of lemon and orange is well balanced with acidity and mousse. Every sip will give you notes of hazelnut and caramel.

Price of Henri Giraud Grand Cru d'Ay Blanc de Blancs 1990: $1,291

4. Henri Giraud 'Experience' Assortment Case NV

The Experience Assortment Case is a great way to explore the marvelous Maison Henri Giraud.

The Experience Box N2 contains a fine wine collection of MV Rosé, Cuvee Dame Jane, Cuvee Blanc de Craie, Cuvee Esprit Nature, Cuvee Hommage, and Cuvee MV13.

This magnificent wooden box of 6 of the House’s best bottles can be an excellent gift for wine lovers (or even to yourself!)

Price of Henri Giraud 'Experience' Assortment Case NV : $540

5. 2002 Henri Giraud 'Argonne' Ay Grand Cru Brut

The 2002 vintage of the Argonne Brut is an extraordinary Champagne with unique tasting notes of vanilla, bread, new oak, herbs, and a creamy mouthfeel.

In 2012, this vintage received a ‘Coup de Coeur’ of the Guide Vérnon des Champagnes!

Price of Henri Giraud 'Argonne' Ay Grand Cru Brut 2002: $508

6. Henri Giraud 'Esprit de Giraud' Blanc de Blancs NV

This great wine has a beautiful golden yellow color, with subtle green highlights.

Experience a sumptuous bouquet of preserved citrus fruits, fresh hazelnuts, and delicate fragrances of acacia. After a while, the terroir emerges with mineral scents of limestone and iodine.

The palate gets an initial impact of fresh, frank, and savory tasting notes, with a crisp and lively effervescence. The finish on the palate also has distinct minerality notes specific to this terroir.

Price of Henri Giraud 'Esprit de Giraud' Blanc de Blancs NV: $254

7. Henri Giraud La Petite Robe Noire Set with Glasses NV

La Petite Robe Noire translates to ‘the little black dress’ in French. The beautiful Champagne box has been designed by fashion designer Didier Ludot.

The box includes two flutes decorated with gold and black enamel and a Pinot Noir Champagne bottle.

Price of Henri Giraud LA Petite Robe Noire Set with Glasses NV: $239

8. Henri Giraud Fut de Chene MV Ay Grand Cru Brut Rose NV

This Champagne is made of the Grand Cru Pinot Noir and is aged for long periods in an Argonne oak barrel.

In the mouth, the chalky notes specific to Ay first pop out at the very end of your tongue and are delicately combined with those of red fruit and tangerine.  

Price of Henri Giraud Fut de Chene MV Ay Grand Cru Brut Rose NV: $201

9. 2016 Henri Giraud Coteaux Champenois 'Cuvee des Froides Terres' Ay Rouge Grand Cru

This Cuvee is produced from a very old small Pinot vine from Ay. The harvest is entirely vinified and aged on lees for 15 months.

The uniqueness of this 2016 vintage is that there is no use of herbicide, insecticide, or fungicide!

Price of Henri Giraud Coteaux Champenois 'Cuvee des Froides Terres' Ay Rouge Grand Cru 2016: $176

10. Henri Giraud Fut de Chene MV Ay Grand Cru Brut NV

This is a multi-vintage sparkling wine, which spends five years on its lees.

It is a balanced and complex cuvee with an excellent depth of smoked cheese and fruits like apples, cherries, honeysuckle, and almonds.

Price of Henri Giraud Fut de Chene MV Ay Grand Cru Brut NV: $157

But how do you serve all these fantastic cuvees?

Henri Giraud Champagne: Serving And Food Pairing

The wine is best served between 8-12°C.

This bubbly French wine is great to drink on its own, with friends, or at a festive event.

Grilled fish, shellfish, pastry-based dishes like pies, and non-salty cheeses are excellent foods to pair with this cuvee.

Further Reading: All you need to know about the Best Champagne Glasses for serving your cuvee.

Now, is Henri Giraud Champagne an excellent investment?

Why Should You Invest In Henri Giraud Champagne?

The Henri Giraud Champagnes age beautifully under the proper storage conditions. The non-vintages can be stored for four or five years, while the vintage ones can be stored for 10 years or more.

The price appreciation of some Cuvees like the 2004 'Argonne' Ay Grand Cru Brut Rose has been quite incredible. This magnificent wine’s price increased 59% from $837 to $1329 in a year (Jan 2020 - Jan 2021.)

Robert Parker has also praised the Henri Giraud Champagne stating that Henri Giraud’s Argonne is what Krug should taste like!

The Henri Giraud Champagne House produces only about 250,000 magnum bottles annually. This is just 8% of the annual production of Champagne giants like Louis Roederer! So the relative scarcity of the wine also adds to its allure.

Further Reading: Why should you also invest in a Chateauneuf du Pape wine in 2024?

So, how do you get yourself a bottle (or two) of this much sought-after Champagne?

Well, you can spend hours searching the internet and still not be sure of the authenticity of your bottle of bubbly.

Sounds bothersome?

There’s a better way to do this! A wine investment company like Vinovest can get you that exclusive authentic bottle of the Henri Giraud Champagne or any other investment wine - easily.

Invest In Henri Giraud Champagne And Other Fine Wines Through Vinovest

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Step 2: Fill out the questionnaire to help the wine experts determine your investing style.

Step 3: Fund your account with a minimum of $1,000.

Step 4: Watch your account grow (while you enjoy a glass of Pinot Blanc!)

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Time To Get Some Giraud Bubbles For Yourself

Here’s a Champagne loved by wine connoisseurs worldwide! With its distinctive flavors, limited production, and consistently good critics’ scores, the Henri Giraud Champagne is definitely a must-have on your investment portfolio.

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