Henri Giraud, Nouvel Esprit (Esprit Nature) NV

Description

Henri Giraud’s latest entry-level cuvée sees a quality upgrade, aligning closer with the house style: fruit sourced from family friends in the Ay region (not estate-owned), blended from 80% Pinot Noir + 20% Chardonnay, carrying the house’s signature richness and savory character. 50% of the reserve wine matures in Argonne oak barrels, the rest in Tuscan terracotta demi-johns; it ages 2 years in bottle (double the standard Champagne requirement), delivering a full, powerful palate. The house has launched a "Revolution" to stay true to itself: new cuvées reflect respect for terroir and embody its vision of "natural wine" (not a vague concept or throwback, but an expression of identity). After 30 years reimagining Champagne winemaking, it has abandoned stainless steel vats in favor of Argonne oak barrels and terracotta—centered on low yields, small vessels, and premium raw materials. While not organically certified, the house has trialed production with partner vineyards and earned Ecocert certification this year (vines certified for 3 years). It views the organic label as relevant only to vine pest control, not grape quality; its winemaking restrictions already fall below regulatory levels. It avoids calling its wines "natural wine" (no legal definition) but adheres to the motto: "Let nothing be banned and nothing be obligatory – just make good wine naturally," where "naturally" means "by its inherent nature." Wine is framed as part of human civilization: a human construct that blends experience, culture, and passion. "Natural wine" is framed as a deliberate choice (freedom, innovation, pursuit of excellence) rooted in human values; "Esprit Nature" balances creative liberty with practical constraints. Esprit Nature Details Name: Consistently scoring 90+ points, it embodies the house’s natural wine vision and rejects stainless steel vat winemaking. Emblem: Claudine Divry’s "Paper Oak" symbolizes life’s fragility and renewal, echoing the Argonne Forest (part of Champagne’s DNA). Wine: 80% Pinot Noir + 20% Chardonnay; 50% of reserves mature in small Argonne oak casks and ovoid vats; dosage ~8 g/L. It boasts distinct minerality and vibrant fruit, inviting shared enjoyment. Brand Background The Giraud-Hémart family settled in Ay in the 17th century; 12th-generation Claude Giraud now leads the estate. It owns 20 hectares (35 parcels) of Grand Cru land (26 planted with Pinot Noir, 9 with Chardonnay), using "lutte-raisonnée" (limited-intervention viticulture) and producing just 250,000 bottles yearly. It is one of the few houses (alongside Krug) to ferment in oak barrels, sourcing wood from the slow-grown, tight-grained trees of the ancient Argonne Forest (35 miles from the estate). Long sold only to discerning private clients in France and Italy, it was called "the finest Champagne house virtually no one has ever heard of" by Robert Parker.

About the Producer

In 1625, François Hémart settled in the village of Aÿ and began to produce champagne. Today Claude Giraud, son of Henri Giraud and the 12th generation of the family, presides over the estate’s destiny and produces the Giraud champagnes in Aÿ. The estate is located at the Aÿ Grand Cru comprised with 33,500 hectares of land, only less than 9% in that area can be classified as 100% Grand Cru and Henri Giraud Champagne is one of the few. Over 1000 years, there are only 323 vineyards in the area and Aÿ Grand Cru is the exemplar of all Grand Cru, at the same time here grows the best Pinot Noir. Claude Giraud, 12th generation of the Giraud-Hémart family, today presides over the destiny of this Champagne House.