Illustration: Pinot Noir grapes under the chamber's light

Illustrations: the crop under the chamber’s light, and how it arrives (packaging render).

Packaging render

Pinot Noir 2002

Verzenay · Montagne de Reims, Champagne · France

The warm, generous vintage nearly every house declared.

A critics' year: its standing is published consensus.

$170per 6 kg crate · $225 after harvest

0% reserved · 100 of 100 leftPlants at 70% · closes 7 December 2026

Nothing is owed unless this lot reaches 70% reserved by 7 December 2026. If it doesn't, your reservation is released.

A dry, warm September after an even summer gave Pinot Noir on the Montagne de Reims rare ripeness without losing its line. 2002 was declared a vintage by almost every Champagne house.

173
days replayed

1 Apr – 20 Sept

15.0°
mean temperature

-0° to 31°

923
degree-days of heat

warmth accumulated

330 mm
rain

86 mm in the final weeks

10.4 h
sun a day

estimated from the reanalysis

8.2°
day–night swing

in the final weeks

38
mol/m² of light a day

calculated

What this weather does to the fruit.

Five readings from the recorded season, each against the band the crop does best in (painted green on the dial). The meanings are what growers and agronomists expect of weather like this, not a tasting note.

Heat over the season · cool

A cool year: lighter, higher in acid, more mineral than ripe.

Day–night swing while ripening · ideal

Cool nights after warm days keep acidity and aroma while sugar builds — the signature of a classic year.

Rain in the last 40 days · wet

Late rain swells fruit with water and tends to dilute flavour; it also brings rot pressure.

Sunlight · brilliant

Light builds colour, skin ripeness and sugar.

Days above 32° · none

No heat stress: the plant never shut down to protect itself.

The season, as it happened.

1 April 2002 to 20 September 2002, recorded daily at 49.16°, 4.14° (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo historical archive). Choose a chapter to mark it on the paper.

Point at the paper to read any day. Arrow keys step a day.

Air temperature, day high to night low · °C-4–34
Rain, given as water at the roots · mm0–35
Daily light · mol/m² · calculated0–71
Peak UV · index · calculated0–9
Humidity · %43–101
Soil temperature, top 7 cm · °C5–26
Soil water · m³/m³0.18–0.43
AprMayJunJulAugSept

Burgundy ink: the recorded day. Blue: rain. The dashed line is where the chamber is today. Light and UV are calculated from the recorded sunshine.

The ground, and what stands in for it.

In Verzenay
Chalk under a layer of marl and clay on a north-facing slope that ripens Pinot Noir late and slowly.
In the chamber
Calcium-rich with a little more potassium than the Côte des Blancs, for the darker grape.
The ledger: every day and the chamber’s settings for it (173 days)
DayDateHigh °CLow °CRH %Rain mmSun hLight hDLIPPFDUVSoil °CSoil water→ Water L/m²→ Mist min
11 Apr16.42.3750.012.212.637.18154.39.333%2.6—
22 Apr18.55.4640.012.312.742.69324.710.932%3.4—
33 Apr18.16.7640.012.512.844.59684.911.732%3.5—
44 Apr17.67.5640.012.612.844.99734.911.931%3.4—
55 Apr15.45.5580.012.712.946.610045.111.030%3.5—
66 Apr10.93.3480.012.712.947.910295.28.930%3.6—
77 Apr11.91.6510.012.813.047.510145.28.029%3.4—
88 Apr12.72.5520.012.813.148.510325.48.328%3.4—
99 Apr12.02.2500.012.013.145.49605.28.128%3.4—
1010 Apr11.13.8510.212.613.242.79005.18.227%3.6—
1111 Apr13.03.3570.012.913.245.19465.38.827%3.3—
1212 Apr13.64.1630.012.913.348.710165.69.327%3.4—
1313 Apr10.84.9710.110.913.429.26074.18.626%2.3—
1414 Apr9.10.7752.69.213.432.36674.46.627%4.55
1515 Apr11.0-0.4832.311.513.539.78175.07.029%4.55
1616 Apr9.23.3842.70.013.518.03703.26.931%3.95
1717 Apr13.02.1750.010.113.633.16754.68.331%2.2—
1818 Apr12.05.9743.98.513.727.55594.18.832%5.88
1919 Apr11.64.5847.211.613.736.77425.08.636%9.414
2020 Apr12.81.0780.011.413.835.37104.98.236%2.3—
2121 Apr16.31.5710.012.813.847.79575.99.633%3.2—
2222 Apr18.43.7710.013.013.947.99585.911.132%3.5—
2323 Apr16.67.8760.34.114.025.75124.111.731%2.4—
2424 Apr19.76.2800.013.214.043.78665.713.130%3.2—
2525 Apr17.66.9790.012.314.149.09676.113.229%3.4—
2626 Apr10.57.8876.10.014.18.41652.110.130%712
2727 Apr12.85.1690.112.214.244.68735.99.633%3—
2828 Apr14.36.3733.05.914.221.84253.89.633%5.16
2929 Apr13.47.0682.613.414.347.09146.110.334%5.85
3030 Apr16.77.0630.09.514.334.76725.110.832%3.1—
311 May14.59.5722.510.314.441.68035.712.132%5.55
322 May12.37.8792.511.914.539.97675.610.933%4.95
333 May12.55.3730.05.014.529.15584.79.832%2.1—
344 May11.35.3783.57.214.629.25564.79.232%5.57
355 May7.64.8869.30.014.615.42933.27.637%10.419
366 May12.15.8780.15.014.727.35164.69.236%2—
377 May17.95.3730.013.414.751.79766.711.234%3.6—
388 May21.49.5740.013.414.854.910337.014.232%4.2—
399 May21.712.2805.510.514.848.79136.516.131%9.311
4010 May18.412.3868.911.414.937.87065.615.539%11.618
4111 May16.510.0831.27.914.929.45484.913.836%3.52
4212 May16.89.6821.413.415.044.48256.313.936%4.43
4313 May19.27.2720.213.815.055.310247.214.035%4.3—
4414 May16.09.6784.911.515.138.27045.813.636%7.710
4515 May18.98.7760.014.315.144.18126.314.135%3.2—
4616 May22.98.2720.014.915.160.511107.615.633%4.7—
4717 May25.410.7690.014.315.257.610547.416.831%5—
4818 May17.212.9764.34.915.229.05295.015.934%6.89
4919 May17.39.1750.010.015.340.47346.114.433%3.1—
5020 May19.312.2762.110.915.339.17106.015.333%5.24
5121 May22.412.2700.114.415.446.68436.616.532%4.3—
5222 May19.611.67715.00.015.47.21292.215.136%16.530
5323 May15.89.7740.06.415.434.46205.613.637%2.7—
5424 May13.69.0802.00.515.517.03043.612.136%3.74
5525 May15.69.7670.312.615.543.77836.412.835%3.7—
5626 May15.89.5691.311.315.539.37026.112.734%4.43
5727 May15.48.1720.015.015.650.79047.113.033%3.5—
5828 May14.76.8771.36.715.631.35585.312.232%3.83
5929 May15.08.9730.413.515.640.37156.212.733%3.3—
6030 May17.26.2740.113.715.739.36976.112.732%3.1—
6131 May18.77.2710.015.015.761.110818.014.130%4.4—
621 Jun21.79.0670.015.115.762.911118.115.629%4.9—
632 Jun24.411.0630.015.015.859.910567.917.227%5.1—
643 Jun23.013.2731.29.515.842.57486.417.627%4.92
654 Jun23.012.9846.910.015.843.07566.517.629%10.314
665 Jun22.013.0837.68.015.838.56766.117.138%10.615
676 Jun16.710.3760.04.415.928.44975.115.035%2.4—
687 Jun15.111.6760.00.115.913.32323.213.633%1.6—
698 Jun17.611.6700.79.315.933.85915.614.332%3.6—
709 Jun18.67.5740.612.815.945.98016.814.331%4.2—
7110 Jun16.09.6773.812.415.936.16305.913.834%6.58
7211 Jun16.111.5761.910.215.932.95745.613.933%4.64
7312 Jun18.913.8740.05.916.027.74825.015.532%2.8—
7413 Jun18.913.6790.32.816.024.54274.715.731%2.7—
7514 Jun26.014.4742.613.716.054.79517.618.830%7.45
7615 Jun21.416.2800.05.816.034.35955.719.031%3—
7716 Jun25.913.5740.012.516.057.39957.819.530%4.9—
7817 Jun31.017.7710.015.116.057.49977.822.528%5.6—
7918 Jun29.118.2680.013.316.055.89687.723.126%5.6—
8019 Jun22.414.6746.910.716.041.67226.419.827%10.614
8120 Jun20.416.3854.011.116.040.36986.319.234%7.18
8221 Jun23.013.4770.110.816.044.77766.718.932%3.8—
8322 Jun24.716.1690.014.816.057.29937.820.430%5—
8423 Jun20.215.0730.08.916.040.16956.318.928%3.5—
8524 Jun20.712.7660.015.016.052.09027.418.226%4.4—
8625 Jun21.69.7610.015.416.064.411178.418.125%5.2—
8726 Jun23.210.1660.015.416.063.711068.318.923%5.2—
8827 Jun20.611.1680.015.216.050.88837.318.022%4.3—
8928 Jun17.78.7610.115.116.047.88307.016.221%4.1—
9029 Jun18.37.9620.010.516.040.16976.315.721%3.4—
9130 Jun20.09.1630.012.416.047.08186.916.420%4—
921 Jul15.913.2756.71.315.912.62203.114.922%8.613
932 Jul17.712.1721.56.715.930.05235.314.927%4.53
943 Jul18.112.67916.14.715.917.33033.814.634%18.132
954 Jul18.411.2700.514.915.938.36706.115.134%3.8—
965 Jul18.911.2753.49.315.940.97166.315.532%6.67
976 Jul20.312.7811.18.515.834.56055.716.433%42
987 Jul20.113.8750.77.615.830.95425.316.931%3.5—
998 Jul24.811.0700.015.115.862.110918.118.329%5.2—
1009 Jul23.015.77611.412.315.842.27446.418.935%15.223
10110 Jul18.113.27513.68.615.832.95795.516.938%16.427
10211 Jul18.711.1670.014.615.745.27996.716.135%3.6—
10312 Jul21.59.2670.011.415.747.48406.916.432%3.8—
10413 Jul19.413.5798.112.815.737.96736.016.934%1116
10514 Jul20.313.3791.05.015.627.94965.016.636%3.72
10615 Jul20.714.5851.24.315.620.63674.116.935%3.22
10716 Jul22.914.8740.69.915.644.77976.618.633%4.7—
10817 Jul21.714.7710.013.415.544.07866.518.931%4.1—
10918 Jul19.913.2720.012.415.546.28286.717.930%3.8—
11019 Jul20.710.1700.015.015.558.110437.617.428%4.4—
11120 Jul25.010.2650.014.915.459.910797.818.727%5—
11221 Jul20.012.6690.014.415.448.68776.818.126%4.1—
11322 Jul20.110.3700.010.815.434.96315.616.825%2.9—
11423 Jul23.19.9690.214.215.352.49507.117.524%4.6—
11524 Jul19.115.5751.49.515.329.75415.117.724%4.13
11625 Jul20.012.5700.19.715.233.76155.417.224%3.2—
11726 Jul23.115.4710.22.215.225.04574.518.524%2.7—
11827 Jul28.014.4700.013.715.149.08986.820.923%4.6—
11928 Jul28.817.5610.014.515.157.410567.423.022%5.5—
12029 Jul30.516.1590.014.515.158.010717.423.721%5.7—
12130 Jul30.317.3630.314.115.050.49336.823.820%5.4—
12231 Jul22.917.6818.98.315.032.86105.321.324%11.818
1231 Aug21.713.3660.012.814.945.48466.419.828%4—
1242 Aug22.411.7661.011.714.945.18426.318.726%52
1253 Aug20.214.07914.912.914.842.27926.018.335%18.230
1264 Aug19.613.2833.28.914.830.45724.917.435%5.66
1275 Aug20.412.4801.013.214.741.57835.917.534%4.22
1286 Aug19.311.9878.96.414.724.44624.316.634%10.918
1297 Aug20.715.4871.68.314.627.95304.618.036%3.93
1308 Aug21.813.1800.010.214.637.67185.518.533%3.1—
1319 Aug18.714.3841.88.214.530.65864.917.433%4.24
13210 Aug18.511.7770.05.014.527.45264.516.332%2.3—
13311 Aug20.812.4750.012.114.436.16975.316.931%3.1—
13412 Aug20.014.4730.911.514.327.95394.517.330%3.7—
13513 Aug21.812.7750.08.414.331.66144.817.829%2.8—
13614 Aug25.512.2710.013.914.251.310016.419.028%4.4—
13715 Aug27.214.6680.013.814.252.310256.520.826%4.7—
13816 Aug27.514.7660.013.214.149.89806.321.525%4.6—
13917 Aug28.515.7610.013.814.150.910046.322.223%4.8—
14018 Aug30.017.1580.012.014.044.78865.822.722%4.8—
14119 Aug27.219.6660.712.314.043.58665.723.522%5—
14220 Aug21.515.59032.10.513.918.53703.420.633%26.660
14321 Aug19.413.1873.65.213.818.53713.317.637%5.27
14422 Aug19.112.6790.05.913.826.15254.117.035%2.3—
14523 Aug21.612.5790.511.313.732.86644.717.533%3.3—
14624 Aug20.713.8832.410.813.734.06924.718.034%5.15
14725 Aug20.710.6800.011.513.635.97334.817.232%2.9—
14826 Aug22.114.7845.52.513.521.04313.517.933%7.611
14927 Aug18.915.2963.40.013.511.42342.417.737%4.47
15028 Aug21.316.8923.53.913.416.03312.918.438%4.97
15129 Aug22.516.5830.38.213.426.85583.919.136%2.7—
15230 Aug21.815.5800.06.713.327.45724.019.334%2.4—
15331 Aug20.514.7820.512.013.231.36574.318.833%3.1—
1541 Sept18.512.7690.010.913.234.07164.416.832%3.2—
1552 Sept22.712.5640.012.813.141.28724.917.431%3.9—
1563 Sept20.914.5680.011.513.132.76944.317.829%3.1—
1574 Sept19.814.4864.98.713.021.74633.317.132%6.710
1585 Sept19.712.4801.012.112.929.86404.016.833%3.42
1596 Sept20.111.6720.010.012.931.06684.016.632%2.8—
1607 Sept19.813.3720.09.212.824.75363.516.730%2.5—
1618 Sept21.514.1796.510.112.829.46393.817.132%913
1629 Sept20.214.08217.34.612.717.53842.816.841%19.135
16310 Sept17.611.3812.29.712.627.46023.615.538%4.34
16411 Sept17.89.2800.112.012.628.66333.614.736%2.3—
16512 Sept21.111.9750.011.112.532.77273.915.835%3—
16613 Sept20.411.3630.012.412.541.19174.416.033%3.7—
16714 Sept19.89.3760.012.112.439.38804.315.732%3.1—
16815 Sept18.012.6730.110.112.323.45273.115.831%2.4—
16916 Sept18.78.9680.011.012.337.68524.114.930%3.1—
17017 Sept18.38.6770.011.912.232.87463.714.630%2.5—
17118 Sept20.48.9740.011.812.138.38764.015.029%3—
17219 Sept19.410.9790.211.212.127.16233.215.628%2.3—
17320 Sept18.99.9740.011.212.034.47953.715.328%2.7—
Download the chamber recipe (CSV)