Champagne Charles Heidsieck

Champagne Charles Heidsieck was founded in 1851 by Charles-Camille Heidsieck.  Since 1985 it has been part of the giant Remy Cointreau group.  The range is smaller than some champagne houses, with the following currently available:

 

Charles Heidsieck Mis En Cave 2000
The Charles Heidsieck mis en cave wines contain 40% reserve wines and are aged for a minimum of three years before disgorgement.  Disgorged 2004.  Pale, bright lemon gold.  Lemony bready nose.  Very clean and fresh on the attack.  Develops good fruit on the palate – strawberry, plums and white pepper.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Mis en Cave 1990
A bright mid gold.  Very biscuity with a strong deep fruit character on the nose, with a touch of beeswax right at the end of the nose.  Really good attack: full with excellent deep fruit with a malty backbone.  Quite a stewed strawberry/plummy fruit on the palate.

Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 1983
This is made from100% chardonnay and has spent 20 years on its lees.  A lovely colour – mid lemon gold.  Honeysuckle, peachy, biscuit nose.  Lovely soft fruit on the palate finishing with white pepper and plummy fruit.  I would definitely put this as younger than the Mis en Cave 1990.  Good depth.  Quite revelatory: so fresh and young-seeming.

(19/5/05)

 

1964 Royal Champagne Brut, Charles Heidsieck
Dark gold, turning coppery.  Nutty and almondy on the nose.  Immediately on pouring there are some bubbles and a delicate mousse, but it disappears within seconds.  What's left is very dry and just a little too oxidised on the palate: a very curious wine.  If I were served this blind, I'd probably guess at a very old crémant de Jura (if fizzy) or something else from the Jura/Arbois.  Not really a wine to mark, though if served entirely blind, I'd probably say Good/Very Good.
(11/3/05)

 

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Last updated: 15 December 2005