Crafted with precision and purity, Craie Blanc de Blancs from Champagne Henri Giraud is an elegant expression of Chardonnay. “Craie,” meaning chalk, pays homage to the pure chalk soils of the Montagne de Reims, which impart an unmistakable minerality and tension to the wine.
Vinified entirely in Argonne oak barrels, sourced and crafted under Henri Giraud’s strict sustainability and traceability standards, the wine undergoes fermentation and ageing on lees in these fine-grained barrels. This approach marries Chardonnay’s finesse with the nuanced influence of the forest, yielding a wine of both precision and depth. The lees ageing contributes texture, while the use of indigenous yeasts preserves the authenticity of its origin. As with all of Henri Giraud’s Champagnes, no stainless steel is used, emphasising a philosophy rooted in nature and tradition.
In the glass, Craie Blanc de Blancs reveals a luminous pale gold hue with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose is pure and lifted, offering vibrant aromas of citrus zest, white flowers, crushed chalk, and delicate notes of fresh almond and brioche. On the palate, it is incisive and elegant, with flavours of lemon curd, white peach, and wet stone, underpinned by subtle oak spice and a saline edge. The texture is creamy yet tightly coiled, with racy acidity and a precise, mineral-driven finish that lingers with poise.
