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  • Country ranking ?

    921
  • Producer ranking ?

    2
  • Decanting time

    15min
  • When to drink

    2020-2035
  • Food Pairing

    Seafood, Salads & Consommes

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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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

2002 vintage

The winter in Aÿ was very mild, giving way to an early spring. ‘La montre’ (the embryo bunches of grapes) was abundant and the flowering period rapid. The summer came and went in a succession of warm and sunny days.
The rain arrived at the beginning of September and the grapes started to swell rapidly, but the sun soon made a fresh appearance and the grapes lost up to 20% of their weight through evaporation, causing a concentration of sugar and acidity. On the 16th September, we had already started picking the Pinot Noir grapes in Aÿ, a rare event. But on the 18th, the colour and pigmentation of the Chardonnay grapes at the foot of the slopes, were intensifying rapidly. In fact, there was a danger of over-ripening. In less than an hour, 60 grape-pickers arrived on the scene, and the grapes were pressed the same evening. The wines have been maturing in the barrels for two years now and at each tasting, I am increasingly impressed by their freshness and delicate character.
Sugar content 11.1°, acidity 7.1 gr. 2002 is the first outstanding vintage of the new millenium.

In april 2012, this vintage received the "coup de coeur" of the Guide Véron des Champagnes

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Vintage 2002

A cold winter and a mild late spring cued for a perfect June allowing early and fast flowering. Outstanding weather conditions prevailed and the season went on without dramatic turns. Rains in August raised concerns regarding gray rot, but finally sunshine and dry conditions throughout September resulted in an abundant crop of largely healthy fruit (11,930 kg/ha). Dehydration due to wind further aided in achieving perfect ripeness and additional concentration. This, and the cool nights, helped in retaining fresh acidity and, despite the ripeness (10.3% potential alcohol), the wines did not suffer from heaviness or a lack of life. A near-perfect vintage, which produced balanced Champagnes consistently around the region. The best show an impeccable combination of freshness, power, structure and finesse. However, some have matured aromatically quicker than expected and are already past their peak. 2002 produced an abundance of spectacular champagnes, such as Dom Pérignon (the entire range), Krug Vintage and Clos du Mesnil, Piper-Heidsieck Rare, Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Ruinart Dom Ruinart and Dom Ruinart Rosé, Salon Le Mesnil and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, to name a few.

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

<10 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Deep

ending

Endless, Extensive and Lingering

flavors

Vanilla, Bread, Mineral, Creamy, New-oak and Herbs

nose

Intense, Complex, Opulent and Rich

recommend

Yes

taste

Balanced, Concentrated, Complex, Full-bodied, Rich, Full and Fruity

Verdict

Full-bodied and Impressive

Written Notes

TASTINGNOTE De 8000 flaskorna av detta vin kräver dekantering i nuläget för att öppna upp sin rika och vackra bukett. Årgångens fina syra och den soliga saftigt rika frukten är imponerande i en Vilmartliknande stil. Lagra och njut när hasselnötterna får sällskap av svampskogen. Odling och framställning: Henri Girauds årgångschampagner hette tidigare Fût de Chêne. Nu här Giraud ändrat namn och skapat två nya viner: Fût de Chêne MV och Argonne. Fût de Chêne MV skapades för att göra ett mer tillgängligt vin jämfört med det mycket mer koncentrerade årgångsvinet. Samtidigt ville Giraud introducera ett nytt årgångsvin av ännu högre kvalitet. Det sista årgångsvinet i dem gamla stilen heter Fût de Chêne 2000. Och det första vinet i den nya serien heter Argonne 2002. Argonne 2002 har jäst 1 år i ekfat, varav 20 % nya fat. Sedan har det legat på ekfat från två områden i Argonneskogen. I Aÿ kan man inte jobba på samma del av vingården från år till år. Hur man planerar arbetet beror helt på vädret. Det blir stora skillnader mellan druvorna som växer på kullarna, mitt på sluttningarna eller längst nere. Vilken del av vingården som ger de bästa druvorna, varierar alltså från år till år. Argonne 2002 har lagrats på jästfällning i 9 år. Produktion 8 000 flaskor.
  • 94p
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Information

Origin

Ay, Champagne
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