PR 90-20, Champagne Henri Giraud Your Store

PR 90-20, Champagne Henri Giraud

Champagne, France

“The Architecture of Time”

Brilliant gold with a fine, steady mousse, R 90-20 is Champagne suspended in time, a seamless blend of decades, vintages and Grand Cru terroir. Aromas of ripe pear, grapefruit zest and white flowers lift from the glass, followed by notes of brioche, candied citrus and chalk. The palate is expansive yet focused with layers of orchard fruit, citrus oil and pastry cream woven together by taut acidity and a whisper of spice. Silky, vinous and endlessly persistent, it finishes long and mineral, carrying the quiet gravity of its lineage.

For when: you want Champagne that feels like a conversation between generations.
Pairs with: poached turbot, truffle risotto, or a perfectly aged Comté.
If this wine were an idea, it’d be time itself - measured, elegant, and infinite.

R 90-20 embodies Henri Giraud’s “Perpetual Reserve” philosophy — a living solera that compresses time and place into one cuvée. Composed of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, it draws one-third from the Grand Cru solera begun in 1990 and two-thirds from the legendary Esprit Nature reserve dating to the 1950s. Fermented and aged exclusively in Argonne oak barrels, the wine achieves a perfect equilibrium of texture and tension, oak and mineral. It’s Champagne not defined by a year, but by a continuum - an elegant meditation on time, terroir and the enduring artistry of Aÿ.

Whats in the bottle
80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay

Notable Awards
96/100, James Suckling, Aug 2024 “This has so much energy and vivacity and refined, vinous character. It’s dry and focused with notes of bread crust, grapefruit, dried orange, chalk and a hint of clove. All about the tension. Long and tightly wound. 80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay. One-third perpetual reserve of cuvee MV and two-thirds perpetual reserve of cuvee Esprit. Disgorged December 2023. Dosage 5g/L.”

£155.00
Taxes included.

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  • Producer Information
  • Winemaking
  • Tech Stuff

Champagne Henri Giraud is a distinguished, family-owned Champagne house located in the Grand Cru village of Aÿ, with roots tracing back to 1625. The Hémart family, contemporaries of Henri IV, established their presence in Aÿ in the early 17th century. In the early 20th century, Léon Giraud married into the Hémart family and revitalised the vineyard after it was devastated by phylloxera. Today, the house is led by Emmanuelle Giraud, the 13th generation of the Giraud-Hémart lineage, continuing a legacy of excellence in Champagne production.
Henri Giraud is renowned for its commitment to terroir expression and innovative winemaking techniques. The house exclusively uses oak barrels sourced from the nearby Argonne Forest, a practice reintroduced by Claude Giraud in 1990. These barrels are crafted from carefully selected trees, with specific terroirs within the forest imparting distinct characteristics to the wines. This meticulous approach enhances the depth and complexity of their Champagnes.
Under the guidance of cellar master Sébastien Le Golvet, Henri Giraud employs a philosophy that balances tradition with innovation. The winemaking process emphasises minimal intervention, utilising natural materials and fermentation vessels such as terracotta and stoneware, alongside the signature Argonne oak barrels. This approach allows the wines to authentically reflect the unique minerality and character of the Aÿ terroir.

The wine is fermented and aged in bespoke barrels crafted from individually selected Argonne Forest oak trees, each geo-localised and paired with specific vineyard plots. Overseen by cellar master Sébastien Le Golvet, the oak is meticulously toasted to harmonise with the wine's structure and minerality. Following 12 months of barrel maturation (50% new, 50% one-year-old), the wine undergoes a further four years of lees ageing in bottle. The final dosage of 5g/L enhances balance and finesse.

Country
France
Producer
Champagne Henri Giraud
Region
Champagne
Sub-Region
Ay
Grape
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Types
Champagne & Sparkling Wine
Size
750ml
Vintage
MV

PR 90-20, Champagne Henri Giraud

£155.00

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