Henri Giraud
Henri Giraud was famously labelled by wine critic Robert Parker as “the greatest Champagne you’ve never heard of”. Once only sold to those ‘in the know’ in France and Italy, Henri Giraud’s unique Champagnes now have a global presence. Vines have been tended by the Giraud-Hémart family since 1625, making it one of the oldest, and smallest, family-run houses. Based in Äy they were solely growers until Claude Giraud, the current CEO and the 12th generation to lead the estate, took charge. He was the first to release under his family name and his Champagnes now have a loyal following. Together with his Chef de Cave, Sébastien Le Golvet, Claude combines wine-making expertise with contemporary practices.
The house’s signature style is to ferment and age in Argonne oak barrels, giving the wine luxurious and full-bodied characters which place them in the league of Krug and Bollinger. The Argonne forest plays an integral role in Henri Giraud’s Champagne. His belief that the terroir of the forest is reflected in his Champagnes has ensured that for every tree used for his barrels, more are replanted in return to keep the forest sustained and flourishing. Alongside oak, Claude also uses terracotta and concrete eggs for fermentation and there has been no stainless steel used in the winery since 2016. Production is limited to just 250,000 bottles a year - keeping demand high. His top cuvée, Fût de Chêne, is dominated by Pinot Noir, while their house-style is a Champagne blend with oak-aged Chardonnay.