Champagne Henri Giraud Hommage au Pinot Noir NV 750ml

Aÿ is widely considered the historic cradle of Pinot Noir in Champagne, and Hommage au Pinot Noir is Henri Giraud's own genuine "declaration of love" for that terroir and the centuries of ancestral know-how behind it. The Grand Cru vineyards of Aÿ benefit from a distinctive microclimate and clay-limestone soils that give Pinot Noir here a genuinely rare tannic structure and unusually deep aromatic character — precisely the raw material Henri Giraud, a genuine master blender, works with to build this Blanc de Noirs.

The wine is fermented and aged entirely in small oak barrels, roughly one-third new wood sourced specifically from the Argonne forest, followed by more than 36 months of lees aging before disgorgement — a genuinely patient, labor-intensive process consistent with the house's broader commitment to oak-fermented Champagne, a technique that sets Henri Giraud apart from most of its Champagne neighbors. The house itself has become known, per one wine merchant's own description, as "the greatest Champagne you've never heard of" — genuinely limited production keeping the brand something of an insider's secret, despite a critical reception that now spans nearly every major publication in the wine world.

The critical reception here is genuinely remarkable. James Suckling awarded 95 Points, and Quill & Pad matched that score, describing "strawberries and cream notes here, nuts, almonds and stonefruits," with "deep citrus notes with a hint of white chocolate." Wine Spectator scored the wine 94 Points. Antonio Galloni at Vinous, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, and La Revue du Vin de France all independently converged on 93 Points — a genuinely rare five-publication consensus in the low-to-mid 90s. CellarTracker's community has separately rated the wine 91.5 points on average across more than 60 individual reviews. Wine.com's extended tasting found "a pure, delicate and complex bouquet of pear, white peach, tangerine, citrus and spices," describing the wine as "medium to full-bodied, tense and layered," with "a crystalline purity" and "a slightly phenolic, tannic mid-palate that transitions into a delicate, ethereal finish." GLUGULP!'s tasting adds "ripe apricot, mirabelle plum, and warm pear," complemented by "delicate spices and toasted aromas," the palate showing "a vibrant, saline structure, with a perfect balance between freshness and opulence," notes of "grapefruit, salted almonds, and apricot peel" emerging alongside "a subtle minerality that extends the finish." Premium Grands Crus' tasting describes "an intense and enveloping bouquet of ripe red fruits (redcurrant, black cherry), candied fruits (bitter orange, dried apricot) and sweet spices (cinnamon, vanilla)," with "notes of cocoa and blond tobacco" adding real complexity. This is genuinely serious, oak-fermented Blanc de Noirs — real power and depth from Champagne's own historic heartland of Pinot Noir, with a critical pedigree that stands up against any Champagne on the shelf.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Champagne Henri Giraud Hommage au Pinot Noir is a Blanc de Noirs made exclusively from 100% Pinot Noir sourced from Grand Cru-classified vineyards in Aÿ, historically considered the cradle of Pinot Noir in Champagne. The house was founded by the Giraud-Hémart family, who have cultivated grapes in the region since 1625, and is now led by Claude Giraud, twelfth generation of the family.

The wine is fermented and aged in small oak barrels, approximately one-third new wood sourced from the Argonne forest, then aged more than 36 months on the fine lees before disgorgement — a meticulous, patient vinification process the house credits directly with the wine's sophisticated aromatic profile and spicy character. Total production across the Henri Giraud house is genuinely limited.

Critics Reviews

James Suckling — 95/100

Quill & Pad — 95 Points:
"Strawberries and cream notes here, nuts, almonds and stonefruits. Deep citrus notes with a hint of white chocolate. This is 100% Pinot Noir and uses 1/3rd new oak from the Argonne forest."

Wine Spectator — 94/100

Antonio Galloni (Vinous) — 93/100

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate — 93/100

La Revue du Vin de France (La RVF) — 93/100

CellarTracker community — 91.5 average (61+ reviews)

Wine.com (extended tasting note):
"The NV Hommage au Pinot Noir reveals a pure, delicate and complex bouquet of pear, white peach, tangerine, citrus and spices. Medium to full-bodied, tense and layered, it has a crystalline purity with a slightly phenolic, tannic mid-palate that transitions into a delicate, ethereal finish. This has a vivacious nose of ripe, fresh fruit, especially red berries, that interplays nicely with spicy and floral notes. The mouthfeel is plush but without a trace of heaviness, as the palate demonstrates perfect poise on its way to a magnificently long and seemingly weightless finish."

GLUGULP! (extended tasting note):
"The bouquet is complex and enveloping, with a wide range of fruity notes, including ripe apricot, mirabelle plum, and warm pear. These are complemented by delicate spices and toasted aromas. On the palate, it stands out for its vibrant, saline structure, with a perfect balance between freshness and opulence. Notes of grapefruit, salted almonds, and apricot peel emerge, accompanied by a subtle minerality that extends the finish."

Premium Grands Crus (extended tasting note):
"Nose: An intense and enveloping bouquet of ripe red fruits (redcurrant, black cherry), candied fruits (bitter orange, dried apricot) and sweet spices (cinnamon, vanilla). Notes of cocoa and blond tobacco add a touch of sophistication."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Complex and enveloping, with ripe apricot, mirabelle plum, and warm pear leading, joined by strawberries and cream, redcurrant, black cherry, and candied bitter orange, alongside cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa, and blond tobacco.

Palate
Medium to full-bodied, tense and layered, with pear, white peach, and tangerine carrying real crystalline purity, developing grapefruit, salted almonds, and apricot peel, framed by a slightly phenolic, tannic mid-palate and vibrant saline structure.

Finish
Delicate and ethereal, closing long and seemingly weightless, with lasting mineral saltiness and gentle spice — genuinely elegant despite the wine's considerable underlying structure.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Roasted poultry and game
• Aged, nutty cheeses
• Rich, creamy dishes
• Caramelized or spiced desserts

Serving Note

Serve at 10-12°C in a tulip-shaped glass to fully appreciate its depth and structure.