Shay A

9.3

I’ve enjoyed Henri Giraud’s champagnes for a while, and was able to visit last Nov. This ratafia champenois was quite fun and worthy of a few bottles being brought home. From a solera of 1990-2016 vintages.

Followed over a few months (love that the wine comes with its own dedicated stopper to help preserve).

First whiff reminds me of some Cognacs I’ve had with a combo of sweet concentrated fruit (raisins) and heat, before showing a honeyed profile. There’s no nutty Sauternes like profile, but the palate is texturally similar without being cloying. Orange marmalade and golden raspberries dominate the flavors. Little bright herbal-flair, but this still shows some Cognac type flavors without the ABV punch. The oxidation is balanced and not detracting. Really enjoyable. — 3 hours ago

Gladys Xiques

8.9

Minerality and refreshing. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

The Henri Giraud “Hommage au Pinot Noir” is a love note of sorts to, you guessed it, Pinot Noir. And true to the house style, this Blanc de Noirs from Aÿ sees no stainless steel in the process. Instead, this wine is aged on its lees for 54 months in a combination of small oak barrels and amphora before resting in the bottle. The results are quite remarkable.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over a few hours. In the glass, the wine has a very pretty straw color with medium viscosity and a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with a combination of intriguing autolytic and oxidative notes on the initial pour. Over time, the wine seems to brighten up and reveals a lovely mix of white peach, strawberry, raspberry, lemon curd, lightly toasted brioche and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, rich, creamy and hugely satisfying. Dare I say this is Krug-esque? Compelling stuff. Drink now. No disgorgement data. — 8 months ago

Mike Evans

9.2

Nutty oxidation but not overwhelmingly so, with good acidity, probably past peak but not too far over. — 14 days ago

DUSTIN SUGASA

9.3

Very good. Outperforms expectations. — 4 months ago

with Katie

Adam Gäfvert

9.0

Classiclly styled CdP with violets, lavendel, dark cherries, rasberry and a silky texture. — 7 months ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.2

The NV Blanc de Craie is 100% from Aÿ and Louvois, based on the 2020 vintage. Readers will find a brisk, nervy Champagne that sizzles with tension. Lemon peel, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper are all beautifully delineated. I very much like the energy and tautness here. In fact, this is one of my favorite wines in the range. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: December 18, 2023. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 9 months ago

Tayler Walters

10

Grand wine — 5 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

You know you’re drinking Meursault from the first sip with the chalky minerality and saline. The body is round, thick & waxy. Green apple w/ plenty of skin, lime zest, lemon, tropical melons, grapefruit & white stone fruits. Some honey notes, crumbled chalk, sea fossils, sea spray, limestone marl, mid white spice, honey notes, white field of spring flowers with greens, round, rainfall acidity and a round, lush, well balanced, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes falling on minerality, excellent white spice and soft used barrel notes.

Another point or two with cellaring. — 3 months ago

Alan Weinberg

9.3

In the zone. Screaming minerality and acids that reverberate on the palate and last and last. — 8 months ago