The Story
“Garance” is the name of a plant from the rubiaceae family, whose roots were used in the past to produce a red dye, which is a bright, clear shade of red. So it is no surprise that Alain Thiénot offers his daughter a blend of the finest Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims; an astonishing wine revealing unique character of power and finesse.
A blend of Vintage Pinot Noir - Blanc de Rouges
Golden in appearance, the bouquet exudes aromas of stewed yellow fruits and cedar. On the palate, the Champagne is generous, revealing a distinctive, delicate and smooth wine.
Since the early days, Alain Thiénot has created an eponymous Champagne in his image, he has also crafted a vintage Champagne for each of his children: Cuvée Garance and Cuvée Stanislas. Expressing the most prestigious Champagne Grand Cru and the finest vintages, the wines in this collection are crafted from grapes sourced exclusively from Champagne Thiénot’s Premier and Grand Cru vineyards. They epitomise this family spirit and stay true to the House style, each emanating a distinct personality.
Vintage 2007
An unusually warm spring led to early flowering and initial optimism, which soon gave way to disappointment following one of the murkiest summers on record. Overall, 2007 was a difficult vintage saved by last-minute sunshine in late-August. Mildew and rot were the main culprits of the harvest, and the level of gluconic acid rocketed. The harvest began early, on August 24th, and was abundant in volume averaging 14,242 kg/ha. Pinot Meunier posed the biggest problems and Chardonnay clearly outperformed the rest. Many of the iconic prestige cuvée blanc de blancs were successfully produced, such as Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, Ruinart Dom Ruinart, Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Louis and Salon Le Mesnil. Some blended prestige cuvées such as Louis Roederer Cristal and Philipponnat Clos des Goisses were also made. Champagnes from 2007 are typically high in acidity and restrainedly classic in style, but lack the spine and strength of the greatest harvest years. Even if the vintage only receives three stars, its best Chardonnays are well worth seeking and storing.