Henri Giraud, MV21 Aÿ Grand Cru, MV - Magnum

Multi-Vintage Champagne sits somewhere fascinating between the house style consistency of non-vintage and the singular expression of vintage bottlings. We think of MV as the winemaker's chance to play composer, deliberately selecting parcels from specific years to create something more layered and complex than either approach alone could achieve. Rather than the democratic blending of NV wines (where reserve wines fill gaps and smooth edges) or the pure snapshot of a single vintage, MV is intentional architecture. The producer is chasing particular flavours and textures that only come from weaving together the best characteristics of different growing seasons. What you get in the glass is genuinely more faceted than a straight vintage wine, with multiple personalities from various years creating depth that unfolds as you drink. It's Champagne as deliberate construction rather than house style or vintage expression, and frankly, some of the most compelling bottles we taste come from producers bold enough to think this way.