Wine Advisor
Henri Giraud, Arro Grand Cru Ay 2004
View analysis
Description
Arro is a very limited release, with only 400 individually numbered magnums - each one a tribute to the 400-year legacy of the GiraudHémart family. Every magnum is presented in its bespoke wooden gift box, while a small number of exclusive threemagnum cases, inspired by the craftsmanship of ne cigar boxes, have also been specially commissioned. Cuvee Arro, the Spirit of the Ploughman For over 400 years, the Giraud-Hémart family has built its reputation through hard work and dedication. Each generation has embraced the wisdom of Jean de La Fontaine's famous fable of the ploughman who, wanting to transfer his land to the next generation, gathered his children and shared this advice: “Don’t sell what you inherit, for there’s a treasure hidden in it. I don’t know where, but with some courage, you’ll nd it. Work the land, dig deep, and leave no stone unturned.” That year, though no immediate reward came, the land yielded far more than expected, the real treasure. We’ve named this unique cuvee, ARRO, after the Latin word meaning “to plough the earth to make it fertile”. It symbolizes not only our family’s heritage but also the continuous learning and growth passed down through generations. It’s a tribute to all that has come before and to the future that we continue to shape together. Style: ‘Oeil de perdrix’, a dry rosé Champagne made from the slightly crushed, free run juices of Pinot noir. Tasting Notes: Arro reveals a luminous copper hue and ne, persistent bubbles. Delicate aromas of wild strawberry, blood orange, and aged spice unfold with complexity. Vinous on the palate and elegant, with a silky texture and vibrant acidity carrying avors of red berries and subtle oak. Time has endowed it with depth, saline minerality, and a long, gently nish. A re ned, rare, and resolutely expressive Champagne.
About the Producer
In 1625, François Hémart settled in the village of Aÿ and began to produce champagne. Today Claude Giraud, son of Henri Giraud and the 12th generation of the family, presides over the estate’s destiny and produces the Giraud champagnes in Aÿ. The estate is located at the Aÿ Grand Cru comprised with 33,500 hectares of land, only less than 9% in that area can be classified as 100% Grand Cru and Henri Giraud Champagne is one of the few. Over 1000 years, there are only 323 vineyards in the area and Aÿ Grand Cru is the exemplar of all Grand Cru, at the same time here grows the best Pinot Noir. Claude Giraud, 12th generation of the Giraud-Hémart family, today presides over the destiny of this Champagne House.
