Champagne Henri Giraud is the oldest Champagne house still owned by its founding family the Giraud-Hémart family has farmed vines at Aÿ since 1625. However, it is only since current head Claude Giraud took over that the wines have been released under the family name.

Argonne is a fusion between the vine and the forest, of these two great historical terroirs in Champagne
the grapes from Aÿ and the oak barrels from the nearby Argonne forest, this cuvee is both fermented and aged in new wood for 15 months. This brings distinct toasty notes from the barrel combining with the power of the Pinot Noir red fruits. There is a powerful champagne a mix of spicy vanilla and bright concentrated Pinot fruit.

Weather:The 2012 weather has been hallmarked by many as very challenging but has created some stunning Champagne. Relatively low yields due to various weather conditions throughout the year. The winter months brought some frosts and hail which damaged the early stages of bud burst. August and September were very warm and this helped rescue and give the grapes a stunning maturity.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Aÿ-Champagne
Grape Varieties: 90% Pinot Noir | 10% Chardonnay
Fermentation: Vinified in new barrels from the Argonne Forest and rested on its lees for 15 months prior to bottling.
Ageing: 6 years on the lees
Disgorged: April 2020
Dosage: 6 g/l
Alcohol: 12.5%
Drink: Now to 2045

Tasting Note: Unwinding in the glass with aromas of tarte tatin, mint, honeycomb, mirabelle plums, toasted bread and spices. Full-bodied, vinous and intensely concentrated, it's layered and elegantly muscular, with lively acids and a seamless, structured profile.