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The Story

The Giraud-Hémart family own 20 hectares - 35 parcels of Grand Cru land of which 26 is planted with Pinot Noir and 9 with Chardonnay. Only 17 of the Champagne region’s 323 Crus are classed as Grand Crus (rated 100%). The wine production of Giraud estate is environmentally-friendly, subscribing to the ‘lutte-raisonnée’ (limited intervention grape growing).

The overall production is limited to 250 000 bottles a year, making the Giraud Champagne stand apart from the majority of bulk-producing champagne houses.

The Giraud house is one of the few houses (Krug is another example) that conduct primary fermentations in oak. Henri Giraud pride themselves on sourcing wood for its barrels from the slow growing, tight grained, high quality trees of the ancient forest of Argonne, lying just 35 miles from the estate.

 

Described by leading wine critic Robert Parker as "the finest Champagne house virtually no one has ever heard of”.

 

Argonne forest’s oak trees are unique, they allowed the Champagne region to make the greatest wines in the world and helped France build one of the most powerful fleets, contributing to its international reputation. But few of us know that great oak trees can’t survive and reproduce without human intervention and care!

Ravaged by two world wars, then abandoned by the people of Champagne, this magnificent forest is in danger. Champagne Henri Giraud began the fight for its rehabilitation with the first vintage of the cuvée "Fût de Chêne" in 1990.

With Cuvée Argonne and in partnership with ONF, pioneer in sustainable development since the fourteenth century, Champagne Henri Giraud wants to ensure the sustainability of this forest - Forever and ever.

 

Argonne embodies the Henri Giraud philosophy that Champagne is wine, not just bubbles. For every bottle of Argonne purchased, a donation is made towards the replanting of the Argonne Forest.

• Ay Grand Cru
• 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
• Vines average 50 years of age
• From 1 hectare of vines on pure chalk
• Vinified in barrel
• Matured in 228-liter barrels, 30% new, for 12 months
• Aged in bottle for 8-10 years before release
• Suitable for vegans

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Wine Information


1995 vintage

In Aÿ : sugar content 10.3° acidity 8.5g.
The harvest was held over until the very last minute so as to obtain an increased sugar content, however small, and a well-balanced mentholated freshness.
Visual examination : sumptuous mature golden colour with hints of straw yellow and amber. Fine creamy mousse.
Nose : Complex, mature, opulent and fresh. Buttery overtones with traces of hazelnut and ripe strawberries.
On the palate : fresh, elegant pear and prune flavours and pleasantly mentholated. Very good finish with a hint of candied orange.
Tasting : An extremely elegant wine bearing witness to the inherent qualities of the Pinot Noir grapes.

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Vintage 1995

A welcome relief after some difficult years in the region. Quantity-wise, it was the seventh high-cropping year in a row. But, in 1995, the quality also excelled, and particularly so for Chardonnay. There were significant frost damages during the spring and the warm but wet weather in the summer ignited mildew and rot problems. The vines cropped heavily and rigorous vineyard work and selection during harvest led to best results. Harvest commenced on September 18th and yielded grapes of a fine balance of sugar and acidity. The vintage has turned out to be much better than first expected and it has emerged from the shadow of the much-hyped 1996. This vintage is marked by elegance of its inviting fruitiness, beautiful balance and slow-building finesse. Its greatest examples include Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires, Dom Pérignon (whole range), Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Bollinger R.D, Krug Vintage and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.

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Ay, Champagne
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