Code Noir
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2032
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted poultry, cured Iberico ham, seared scallops
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the historic Grand Cru village of Aÿ, Henri Giraud's Code Noir is a dramatic celebration of Pinot Noir's noble heritage. The name itself is a clever play on words, referencing both the historical French 'Code Noir' and the genetic 'black code' of the Pinot Noir grape. This cuvée is crafted entirely from Pinot Noir grown in the chalk-rich soils of Aÿ, a terroir prized since the reign of King Henri IV. True to the house's signature style, the wine undergoes vinification in small oak casks sourced from the nearby Argonne Forest, blending traditional craftsmanship with a bold, vinous character. The result is a Champagne of immense texture, complexity, and golden hue, bridging the gap between fine white Burgundy and sparkling wine.
🍾 About the Producer
Rooted in the historic Grand Cru village of Aÿ since 1625, Champagne Henri Giraud represents a benchmark in vinous, artisanal Champagne production. Stewarded by 12th-generation proprietor Claude Giraud alongside cellar master and son-in-law Sébastien Le Golvet, the house is renowned for championing Pinot Noir cultivated on deep, south-facing belemnite chalk slopes. Henri Giraud is celebrated for reviving the historical practice of fermenting and maturing base wines exclusively in new and seasoned casks coopered from local Argonne Forest oak, as well as sandstone and terracotta amphorae, entirely eliminating stainless steel. Viticulture adheres to rigorous sustainable standards, eschewing pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides under a certified zero-residue protocol. The estate produces richly textured, vinous champagnes defined by intense chalky minerality, structural depth, and micro-oxygenated nuance. Flagship cuvées include the prestigious vintage oak-aged Argonne, the perpetual reserve multi-vintage Fût de Chêne MV series, and the PR Perpetual Reserve bottlings.
🍇 Grapes
Pinot Noir 100%
🍷 ABV
12%