Champagne 2025: Tasting at Henri Giraud

Aÿ, Vallée de la Marne
Tasted Monday, August 25, 2025 by EMUNG with 21 views

Introduction

Vallée de la Marne vineyards only but still NM; firmly on the oxidative style with 75pc PN and 25pc Chard production 100pc fermented and elevated in oak and some ceramic; 4 years lees with malolactic typically made Brut; geolocated 8-10y old Argonne oak used with 5y patents on each barrel; Argonne oak has poor minerals and clay, therefore not porous and very dense; a form of "oak terroir" is practiced: each barrel comes from one section of a trunk of a region in the forest; Chardonnay grown on lowland with more chalk, Pinot on the highland; only maker which stores a perpetual reserve for each cuvee, in vats under cellar;

Very Modern art courtyard with a nice air-conditioned glassy tasting room with an elevator to an observation deck overlooking Aÿ. Charred old barrel wood used to line buildings. The wines were explosively aromatic, rich and potent, but not yet overdone. A great but challenging start to overcome.

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • NV Henri Giraud Champagne Grand Cru Brut MV20 Aÿ 93 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    MV20, Ay grand cru, brut; 2020' base year; 30pc reserve; new oak + 1y oak, 80pc pinot; long gingery almond liqueur nose, whisky; 5g/l; very autolytical, faint strawberries, faint vanilla oak; acidic but the pinot hides the dryness; nearly no bubbles; unctuous texture;

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  • NV Henri Giraud Champagne Esprit Nature 87 Points

    France, Champagne

    Espirit MV22; 80pc Pinot, 5 g/l; 5-10y oak; less concentrated, less power, shorter gingery nose; less autolytical notes or vanilla; earthy funk on nose;

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • NV Henri Giraud Champagne PR20-90 91 Points

    France, Champagne

    PR 20/90; 100pc perpetual reserve of years between 1990-2020; 80pc Pinot; 5g/l; short spice nose, perhaps paprika; some of the marzipan; fruittiest body but less autolytical and more minerally (rubber, stone) in comparison to the Fut de Chene, lacks power and length of finish;

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  • NV Henri Giraud Ratafia de Champagne Solera 82 Points

    France, Champagne, Ratafia de Champagne

    Ratafia: Pinot and Chardonnay; smell of brandy, and but less sugary than sauterne; Irish whisky; aperitif;

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