Champagne Henri Giraud Blanc de Craie
Champagne Henri Giraud Blanc de Craie is a dry, light-bodied sparkling from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay (Champagne, France), in the sparkling style. Acidity is very high; oak influence is some. Good with duck, salmon, roast chicken, creamy pasta. Drink now or within 10 years (to about 2036). No need to decant. Critic score 95/100 (merchant-reported). Cheapest offer £59.47 at 8wines UK.
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champagne Philipponnat Rose Champagne Philipponnat · Champagne | £57.64 | |||
| Champagne Nicolas Maillart Montchenot Premier Cru 2020 Champagne Nicolas Maillart · Champagne | £54.88 | |||
| Champagne Thienot Vintage 2015 Champagne Thienot · Champagne | £52.69 | |||
| Champagne Billecart-Salmon Reserve Brut Champagne Billecart-Salmon · Champagne | £50.98 |
Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant. Serve it chilled. Located in the heart of the Marne Valley, and more precisely in the village of Ay, the Maison Henri Giraud has a long history dating back to the 17th century, when it was founded by the Hémart family. At the beginning of the 20th century, after the marriage between Madeleine Hémart and Léon Giraud, the company began its growth. Today the Maison Henri Giraud, managed by the twelfth generation, in the person of Claude Giraud, produces approximately 260 thousand bottles of Champagne, with a prevalence of Pinot Noir. Since the 2016 harvest, the company no longer makes wine in steel, but only in wood or amphora. The Chardonnay grapes for this Blanc de Blancs come from the Vallée de la Marne (55% from the grand cru of Ay) and the Montagne de Reims, and the wine owes its name to the high concentration of chalk ('craie' in French) in the soils on where the grapes are grown. Fermentation takes place in Argonne forest barriques and concrete eggs. Champagne Blanc de Craie has a brilliant straw yellow color with golden reflections and a fine and persistent perlage. Its aromatic profile reveals notes of flowers and stone fruit, exotic fruit, and some citrus scents. On the palate it has a mineral character, it is fresh and tasty, broad and fruity. The finish is long and delicate. Perfect as an aperitif and with shellfish.