Henri Giraud Brut Grand Cru MV18, Champagne

So much orange blossom, hints of peach tatin, iron, and chalk on both the nose and palate. Menthol undertones. Full-bodied, with a gorgeous texture and sensibility. Elegant and caressing in the finish. Captivating. Drink or hold.

96 points jamessuckling.com

The MV 18 is a classic Giraud Champagne. Apricot jam, tangerine peel, spice, honey and hazelnut give this mid-weight, classy Champagne tons of complexity and nuance. Readers will find a Champagne of notable purity and finesse. There's plenty of Giraud intensity, but in a midweight style that is hugely appealing. The blend is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, all from Aÿ, based on 2018, with a blend of reserve wines that span vintages 1990 through 2017. Disgorged: November 14, 2022. Drink 2023-2032.

Chef de Caves Sebastien Le Golvet makes some of the most distinctive wines in all of Champagne. The style leans towards textural opulence, with plenty of influence from the heavily curated selection of French oak barrels used for most of the wines. With the exception of some entry-level offerings, these are rich, flamboyant Champagnes with tons of intensity. The style can be a bit pushed, but the wines are always intriguing. Readers will note the addition of several new selections in this growing range.

94 points Antonio Galloni vinous.com

Aÿ, a prestigious name that has always been part of the history of this wine-growing region, whose wines have been ranked among the world's finest for at least ten centuries. The kings of France have always been keen to own a plot of vines in Aÿ. Henri IV, King of France, even called himself "Sieur d'Aÿ". Until 1887, wines from the Champagne region were known as "vins d'Aÿ", and it was only then that these wines definitively acquired the name "Champagnes".

Today, 323 crus of Champagne have the right to produce Champagne, but only 17 are legally classified as "Grands Crus". Aÿ, classified as Grand Cru, is the geographical, qualitative and historical heart of Champagne.

The vines of this mythical terroir plunge their roots into the intimacy of the deep veins of its limestone to draw its Extraordinary expressions that are so mineral and flowery.

House Henri Giraud produces several qualities of Champagne but Premium Grands Crus has retained only a few, true to its charter.