Henri Giraud Fut de Chêne MV19 is a non-vintage Champagne produced by Champagne Henri Giraud in Aÿ, France. The top cuvée of the maison, Fût de Chêne is a Pinot Noir-dominant blend with a smaller proportion of Chardonnay, using the ‘Petit Pinot’ clone of Pinot Noir which has been grown solely in Aÿ since 1804. Fermented and matured in oak, this iteration using 2019 base wine offers a rich, textural expression of Grand Cru Aÿ fruit. It was matured on lees for four year before disgorgement. "The MV19 is a very sexy wine. Radiant and enveloping in feel, the 2019 shows plenty of ripeness of the vintage, but also a good bit of energy. Lemon confit, marzipan, fresh white flowers, mint, tangerine peel and dried flowers lend nuance throughout. There’s terrific presence here, in the more laid-back style that has become the norm. Dosage is 5 gram per litre." Vinous, 2024
A blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, the NV Brut Grand Cru Aÿ Fût de Chêne MV19, based two-thirds on the 2019 vintage and one-third on réserve perpétuelle or soléra, exudes a delicate, pure bouquet of spices, pear, white peach and mirabelle mingled with delicate touches of vanilla pod and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and layered, rich and perfectly balanced, it`s seamless with bright acids and a long, delicate, white-pepper finish. Vinified and matured 50% in new barrels and 50% in one-year-old barrels, the oak is barely noticeable. Dosage. five grams per liter. - Yohan Castaing
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Henri Giraud
A Boutique Grand Marque
The Giraud-Hémart family have cultivated grapes in the Champagne region since 1625. Based in Äy, the family only started to produce wine for themselves in 1990. The current owner of the house is 12th-generation Claude Giraud. His son, Emmanuelle Giraud-Patour manages the company while his son-in-law, Sébastien Le Golvet, is the chef de cave.
Henri Giraud’s top cuvée, Fût de Chêne, is a Pinot Noir-dominant blend with a smaller proportion of Chardonnay, using the ‘Petit Pinot’ clone of Pinot Noir which has been grown solely in Aÿ since 1804. Meanwhile the new Esprit Nature cuvée is a Pinot Noir-dominant blend with Chardonnay and 50% reserve wine, with maturation taking place in small casks and ovoid vats. Production at Henri Giraud is limited to just 250,000 bottles a year – a remarkably small number in comparison with the Grandes Marques, which dictates that demand is always high.