2. Overview Family owned Extensive grand cru vineyards in Aÿ
Cuvées
Esprit Nature
Hommage
Blanc de Craie
Rosé Dame-Jane
Code Noir
MV (Fût de Chêne)
MV Rosé (Fût de Chêne)
Argonne
Varieties
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Year Founded: 1625
Proprietor: Claude Giraud
Manager: Emmanuelle Giraud-Patour
Winemaker: Sébastien Le Golvet
Vineyard Area: 10 hectares
Annual Production: 250,000 bottles
Family owned
Claude is 12th generation; Emmanuelle is 13th
Winemaker Sébastien Le Golvet is Claude’s son-in-law and Emmanuelle’s brother-in-law
Extensive grand cru vineyards in Aÿ
Innovative pairing of Argonne oak terroir with wine terroir
Exclusive use of wood and terra cotta – entirely natural
Esprit Nature, Hommage, and MV are the drivers

3. Philosophy “Ne rien s’interdire, ne s’obliger à rien,
faire du bon vin sain de corps et d’âme, naturellement.”
(Nothing forbidden, nothing obliged;
make wine that is good and healthy in mind and body, naturally.)
Henri Giraud combines the three elements necessary to make a great wine:
A great terroir: Aÿ Grand Cru
A great grape variety: Pinot Noir
A great forest: Argonne Forest

4. Aÿ Grand Cru A Great Terroir: Pure chalk
The least topsoil in Champagne – 20 cm of soil for 200 m of chalk
Marne Valley, where it crosses the Montagne de Reims
The origin of Champagne
The wines of the Champagne region were originally called “the wines of Aÿ”
The rarest and most expensive terroir in Champagne
Only three producers make Aÿ GC
Henri Giraud: 100,000 bottles
Selosse: 2,000 bottles
Jacquesson: 2,000 bottles
NB: Bollinger is based in Aÿ but does not produce Aÿ GC
Unique marriage of power and freshness
Full southern exposure brings out the power and concentrated aromas of PN
The Marne River is at the foot of the hill, bringing currents of cool air from the east

5. Pinot Noir is the identity of Champagne
A Great Grape Variety:
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the identity of Champagne
Pinot Noir has been grown in Champagne longer than any other grape
Aÿ is the only grand cru for both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
In the proper terroir, such as Aÿ Grand Cru, Pinot Noir gives a striking combination of freshness and power

6. Argonne Forest A Great Forest:
Each winemaking region originally made barrels from its local forest; there was a link between the terroir of the wine and the terroir of the wood
Argonne is the forest of Champagne (70 km east of Aÿ)
With the park service they have identified eight different terroirs in the forest
A test of the same wine vinified in barrels from these eight terroirs yielded eight distinct wines
H. Giraud has a unique process: they go into the Argonne Forest
to choose the trees themselves; they GPS-locate them
and follow them in every step to the barrel
Henri Giraud works closely with the cooper to build the barrels
Winemaker Sébastien goes to the cooperage to oversee the toasting of the barrels personally
Every cuvée is fermented and/or aged at least in part in tracked barrels
Henri Giraud has a partnership with the national forestry service to study and maintain the Argonne Forest, and funds a replantation program to replenish the oak population

7. The Wines Esprit Nature (SRP $64.99)
“Esprit” = spirit
“Nature” = simple, humble, natural
“Nature” does NOT refer to the dosage
A new cuvee; replaces Esprit de Giraud
“Champagne ADN” (French for “DNA”) expresses their commitment to the origins of Champagne
Matured 6 months in barrels and terra cotta eggs
Marks the end of stainless steel at the winery, because stainless steel exhausted the wine
80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
Hommage à François Hémart (SRP $84.99)
The historic cuvée that has continued through the generations
Named for the oldest ancestor of the family (1625)
Entirely Aÿ GC but does not say so
Shows the power and concentrated aromas of PN
Matured 6 months in terra cotta eggs, 6 months in barrels
70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay

8. The Wines Code Noir (SRP $169.99)
The genius of Champagne is not the bubbles
but that a great white wine is crafted from black grapes;
to do this you have to respect a process, a code:
“Code Noir”
The beginning of the “grandes cuvées”
Only 8,000 bottles produced each year
The transparent bottle champions what’s inside
Entirely Aÿ Grand Cru but does not say so
Vinified in barrel
Matured for one year in barrel
Aged 4 years before release
Unique balance between the power of Pinot Noir and the minerality of Aÿ
100% Pinot Noir
Rare! Blanc de Noirs is usually Pinot Meunier

9. The Wines Aÿ Grand Cru MV (SRP $224.99) Aÿ Grand Cru MV Rosé (SRP TBD)
Aÿ GC
MV = multivintage (what others call non-vintage)
70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
70% base vintage, 30% reserve wine (from solera)
Aÿ Grand Cru MV Rosé (SRP TBD)
The same blend as MV with 8% still red Aÿ GC added
Still red is made from their oldest (80-year-old) PN vines
Only 4,000 bottles produced
Starting in the spring of 2017 every individual presentation box (pictured) will include a “staple remover”
The bottle is an original design – an upside-down Champagne flute
Staple closure is coated in 24-karat gold and has the estate name engraved on the inside
Vinified in barrel
Matured for one year in barrel

10. The Wines Aÿ Grand Cru Argonne (SRP $364.99)
All the best goes into this cuvée – can stand among the greatest wines in the world
The embodiment of the Henri Giraud philosophy that Champagne is wine, not just bubbles
The only vintage wine in the range
Vinified in barrel
Aged for one year in barrel (30% new)
Aged 8-10 years in bottle before release
For every bottle of Argonne purchased, a donation is made towards the replanting of the Argonne Forest
80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay

11. Henri Giraud offers custom engraving on the MV cuvee.
Any logo or name can be used
For on-premise accounts only
Pricing is lower than without engraving
Exact terms will depend on laws and circumstances of each market; please inquire for further details

12. POS

13. Recent Press Esprit de Giraud 90 pts View from the Cellar
Hommage 92 pts Wine Spectator
92 pts View from the Cellar
Code Noir 92 pts View from the Cellar
91 pts Wine Spectator
90 pts Vinous
MV pts Vinous
94 pts Wine Spectator
MV Rosé 94 pts Wine Spectator
93 pts Vinous
93 pts View from the Cellar
Argonne pts Wine Advocate
94 pts Vinous

14. Competitive Set Estate Price Range (Current Releases) Similarities
Differences
Jacquesson
$76 - $143
Size
Quality Aÿ
Less prestigious
Jacques Selosse
$131 - $380
Unique
Style
Krug
$129 - $399
Prestige
Price
Multivintage concept
Scale
Not estate grown
Very commercial image
Salon
$259 - $499
Ultimate expression of a specific grape
Iconic status
Grape variety

15. Nota Bene Every bottle has the disgorgement date engraved on the side
Officially a négociant, but all grapes are from vineyards owned by family and a few very close friends who have the same philosophy and commitment to the vines
Dosage on all wines is ~ 8g
All wines are available in gift boxes (see pictures)