Henri Giraud Argonne 2017

This is an extraordinary artisanal Champagne with aromas of strawberry, spice, dried apples, clementines and subtle bread dough. Dried oranges, too. Full-bodied, yet so tight, compact and powerful, with a solid core of fruit and a finish that lasts forever. 90% pinot noir and 10% chardonnay, all from the village of Ay and fermented and aged in new wood for 15 months. Then aged in bottle. Excellent structure and complexity. One for the cellar. A delightful aperitif with slices of Parmesan cheese, or during gourmet meals, with duck lacquered with pear and apricot or pan-fried Asian beef fillet.