Henri Giraud Hommage au Pinot Noir Mixed Vintage

A medium straw colour and lively mousse in the glass, this 100% Pinot Noir is based around the 2015 vintage. The nose is rich, creamy and enticing with toasted brioche, meaty savour and ripe white strawberries. The palate follows in this mould, with a rich, creamy mousse giving a generous mouthfeel. Honeyed citrus and stone fruits are to the fore, with little dried strawberry in the background. Layers of toasty lees and savoury, biscuity complexity that complements the honeyed fruit. There is some flinty tension in the background which is heightened by the bright acidity that cleanses the back end of the palate. Long and broad on the finish. Excellent to drink now, or over the next 8-10 years.

This has a vivacious nose of ripe, fresh fruit, especially red berries, that interplays nicely with spicy and floral notes. The mouthfeel is plush but without a trace of heaviness, as the palate demonstrates perfect poise on its way to a magnificently long and seemingly weightless finish. 100% Pinot Noir,... Terroir expression is at the heart of three new and very successful cuvées just launched by Henri Giraud. In Hommage au Pinot Noir, the base wine is 60% from the 2015 vintage, with the remaining 40% sourced from reserve wines from vintages stretching from 1990 to 2014. This blend ages in vats for six months before bottling. It is a Champagne that combines generosity with a taut texture, leading to an impressively long finish.