Henri Giraud Argonne 2004

We started with the barrel-aged Henri Giraud top cuvées, the 2002 and 2004 Brut Argonne. This is a fabulous Champagne. It's sad that it's very limited in availability, but I actually like it as much as the top cuvées from Krug, which is what it resembles. But I think Giraud gets more freshness and less of the caramelized oxidized character that often appears in the top cuvées of Krug. If you like that aged character, you probably prefer Krug to Giraud, but I think Giraud has the full-bodied power, richness and complexity, without the oxidative nuances.