Henri Giraud

Despite being less known among the famous Champagne houses, like neighbor Bollinger, Henri Giraud has become one of today’s most intriguing producers. The fairly small estate, founded in 1626, is one of the oldest family-run Champagne house. Twelfth generation, Claude Giraud presently runs the firm, continuing in the family legacy. The winery owns 35 different tracts of land. The majority of which are planted to Pinot Noir, followed by Chardonnay, but they also source a small volume of grapes from other growers. Henri Giraud, uniquely conducts primary fermentation of their wines in oak, before carrying out a full malolactic fermentation. Reminiscent of certain Champagne styles, such as Krug, these two processes produce incredibly rich and dense wines. The Esprit de Giraud is a great and impressive benchmark non-vintage in white as well as rosé. A Blanc de Blancs is also crafted, as well as a generous, fuller wine, Hommage à François Hémart. The top wine is a luxurious vintage Champagne, Fûts de Chêne that is both vinified and aged in oak before bottling.