Cuvee Croix de Courcelles
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted chicken, grilled sea bass, creamy mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the historic Grand Cru village of Aÿ, the Cuvée Croix de Courcelles is a rare and exceptional Coteaux Champenois Blanc—a still white wine that pays homage to the region's pre-sparkling heritage when the still wines of Champagne graced the tables of royal courts. Sourced from the specific lieu-dit 'Croix de Courcelles,' this wine showcases Henri Giraud's signature craftsmanship. It is vinified and aged in oak casks sourced from the nearby Argonne Forest, a traditional method championed by the house to impart a rich, textured complexity. The terroir of Aÿ, famous for its chalky soils, lends a vibrant mineral backbone that beautifully balances the opulent, woody nuances developed during barrel aging.
🍾 About the Producer
Tracing its viticultural heritage in the Grand Cru village of Aÿ back to 1625 through the Hémart family, Champagne Henri Giraud is one of the most distinctive and artisanal Champagne houses. Today steered by Claude Giraud, the twelfth generation of the founding family, the estate is celebrated for reviving the historic tradition of vinifying and maturing Champagne exclusively in local oak barrels sourced from the nearby Forest of Argonne. Embracing organic practices and minimal intervention, Giraud champions powerful, Pinot Noir-dominant cuvées marked by intense vinous complexity, fine salinity, and exceptional aging potential. Iconic expressions such as the prestige cuvée Argonne, the Fût de Chêne MV series, and Hommage à François Hémart epitomize the house's dedication to terroir-driven richness and visionary craftsmanship.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Chardonnay