Henri Giraud Perpetual Reserve PR90-21 is the top-tier Perpetual Reserve wine from the renowned Champagne estate Henri Giraud. It's a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, combining reserve wines from 32 vintages between 1990 and 2021, showcasing the estate's signature oak barrel aging, ripe fruit flavors, and extreme minerality.
🍾 Product Background and Winemaking Process
Perpetual Reserve Tradition: Henri Giraud's Perpetual Reserve is the most precious heritage of the winery family. Established in 1990, it involves annually drawing wine from two permanent storage tanks (Solera) and replenishing it with new vintage wines, creating a complex blend spanning decades.
PR90-21 Characteristics: A blend of reserve wines from 32 vintages between 1990 and 2021, with approximately one-third from the Solera Grands Crus initiated in 1990 and two-thirds from historical reserves from the 1950s, showcasing exceptional depth and complexity.
Grape Origin: Selected grapes from the Aÿ Grand Cru village, comprising 80% Pinot Noir (providing ripe stone fruit and body) and 20% Chardonnay (offering citrus freshness and minerality).
Oak Barrel Aging: Fermented and aged entirely in old oak barrels from the Argonne Forest, imparting unique layers of spice, smoke, and minerality to the wine.
Aging Time: Approximately 3 years of lees aging followed by disgorging (October 2024 – November 2025), with a dosage of approximately 5 g/L (Brut level).
👃 Tasting Notes
Color: Bright golden yellow with an amber sheen, fine, dense, and persistent pearl-like bubbles.
Nose: Extremely complex and layered aromas, exuding sweet fruity notes of dried pear, candied lemon, yellow peach, nectarine, green apple, pineapple, and jasmine, interwoven with deep hints of brioche, roasted nuts, honeycomb, vanilla, white pepper, flint minerals, licorice, mint, tea, cedarwood, cinnamon, and chalk minerals.
Palate: Full-bodied and well-structured on the palate, the wine displays a vibrant interplay of sweet, ripe stone fruit (plum, apricot, yellow peach, nectarine), candied citrus, lemon tart, apple pie, and green apple flavors, supported by bright acidity. The mid-palate reveals complex layers of spices (white pepper, licorice, cinnamon, cloves), crème brûlée, roasted nuts, dark chocolate, a savory minerality, and soft oak tannins. The mousse is creamy and smooth, combining power and elegance.
Finish: The finish is exceptionally long and clean, leaving lingering notes of citrus peel, roasted nuts, chalky savory flavors, licorice, slightly bitter cocoa, tea, and soft oak tannins. The overall impression is both sweet and savory, making it a highly versatile wine for food pairing.