Henri Giraud is a historic Champagne house based in Aÿ, with roots dating back to 1625. Today, it is led by the twelfth generation, Claude Giraud, alongside his winemaker Sébastien Le Golvet. A turning point came in 1990 with the introduction of 100% oak barrel ageing, which gave birth to the Fût de Chêne cuvée, and later to the Argonne cuvée, named after the nearby forest. From 2016 onwards, oak replaced stainless steel entirely, marking a new era in the house’s vinification style.

The oak used originates from selected trees in the Argonne Forest, around 70 km from Aÿ. These grow in poor, free-draining gaize soils (a type of siliceous sandstone), which yield extremely slow-growing wood with fine grain—offering a perfect balance between structure and aromatic finesse. The 2016 harvest saw all the musts ferment and mature exclusively in 228-litre Argonne oak barrels or, for certain wines, in sandstone amphorae.

The cornerstone of Henri Giraud’s innovation is its Perpetual Reserve, renewed by 20% each year in oak casks stored in underground cellars at a constant 11°C. This approach lends the wines both depth and continuity over time.

Argonne 2016 is a deep and vibrant wine: aromas of citrus (blood orange, grapefruit), sweet spices (cardamom, clove), white flowers, “graphite” mineral tones, and a marked saline character from the soil, all wrapped in a vivid, precise acidity.

Henri Giraud Argonne 2016 is a Champagne of the highest calibre, born from a unique marriage of centuries-old tradition, oak ageing in the heart of the Argonne Forest, and a truly exceptional terroir. A powerful yet elegant wine, rich in minerality, with fine, persistent bubbles and a seemingly endless finish, perfect for collectors and discerning wine lovers.