2018 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Millésimé
Charles Heidsieck is one of the few of the big houses in Champagne that overdelivers on their promise of great Champagne. Over the years, these wines have been an incredible source of a serious grand marque style, but at pricing that has long been fair. The 2018 Brut Millésimé is a serious example of just that, made with a vast selection of grand and premier cru fruit with a blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay drawn from Ambonnay, Tauxières, Vertus, Bouzy, Verzy, and Trigny. Vinified by cru and variety in stainless steel, aged about six years on the lees in the house's chalk cellars, and disgorged in spring of 2024 at 8 g/L dosage. The warm, ripe 2018 season was handled with precision, yielding beautiful citrus oil, stone fruit, and white flowers, along with flinty minerality. The palate is concentrated yet taut, with a fine mousse, a chalky-saline line, and a long, balanced finish. It's an excellent buy for vintage Champagne, especially at this low price!
Wine Spectator 96 points! "“A toasty Champagne, with a rich range of baked cassis, cherry, brioche, vanilla, saffron and spun honey aromas and flavors buoyed and balanced by vivid, lemony acidity. Shows depth and length, with the profile expanding on the finely detailed, vivacious mousse and echoing on the persistent, focused finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged April 2024. Drink now through 2045.”
James Suckling 96 points! "Very polished. Medium-bodied with lovely, sophisticated yet subtle flavors of dried apricots, grapefruit and peaches. Finely structured with creamy bubbles that give tension and focus. Touch of salt. Long and satisfying. A blend of 55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay. Dosage 8 g/L. Drink now."
Charles Heidsieck is one of the few of the big houses in Champagne that overdelivers on their promise of great Champagne. Over the years, these wines have been an incredible source of a serious grand marque style, but at pricing that has long been fair. The 2018 Brut Millésimé is a serious example of just that, made with a vast selection of grand and premier cru fruit with a blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay drawn from Ambonnay, Tauxières, Vertus, Bouzy, Verzy, and Trigny. Vinified by cru and variety in stainless steel, aged about six years on the lees in the house's chalk cellars, and disgorged in spring of 2024 at 8 g/L dosage. The warm, ripe 2018 season was handled with precision, yielding beautiful citrus oil, stone fruit, and white flowers, along with flinty minerality. The palate is concentrated yet taut, with a fine mousse, a chalky-saline line, and a long, balanced finish. It's an excellent buy for vintage Champagne, especially at this low price!
Wine Spectator 96 points! "“A toasty Champagne, with a rich range of baked cassis, cherry, brioche, vanilla, saffron and spun honey aromas and flavors buoyed and balanced by vivid, lemony acidity. Shows depth and length, with the profile expanding on the finely detailed, vivacious mousse and echoing on the persistent, focused finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged April 2024. Drink now through 2045.”
James Suckling 96 points! "Very polished. Medium-bodied with lovely, sophisticated yet subtle flavors of dried apricots, grapefruit and peaches. Finely structured with creamy bubbles that give tension and focus. Touch of salt. Long and satisfying. A blend of 55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay. Dosage 8 g/L. Drink now."
Description
Charles Heidsieck is one of the few of the big houses in Champagne that overdelivers on their promise of great Champagne. Over the years, these wines have been an incredible source of a serious grand marque style, but at pricing that has long been fair. The 2018 Brut Millésimé is a serious example of just that, made with a vast selection of grand and premier cru fruit with a blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay drawn from Ambonnay, Tauxières, Vertus, Bouzy, Verzy, and Trigny. Vinified by cru and variety in stainless steel, aged about six years on the lees in the house's chalk cellars, and disgorged in spring of 2024 at 8 g/L dosage. The warm, ripe 2018 season was handled with precision, yielding beautiful citrus oil, stone fruit, and white flowers, along with flinty minerality. The palate is concentrated yet taut, with a fine mousse, a chalky-saline line, and a long, balanced finish. It's an excellent buy for vintage Champagne, especially at this low price!
Wine Spectator 96 points! "“A toasty Champagne, with a rich range of baked cassis, cherry, brioche, vanilla, saffron and spun honey aromas and flavors buoyed and balanced by vivid, lemony acidity. Shows depth and length, with the profile expanding on the finely detailed, vivacious mousse and echoing on the persistent, focused finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged April 2024. Drink now through 2045.”
James Suckling 96 points! "Very polished. Medium-bodied with lovely, sophisticated yet subtle flavors of dried apricots, grapefruit and peaches. Finely structured with creamy bubbles that give tension and focus. Touch of salt. Long and satisfying. A blend of 55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay. Dosage 8 g/L. Drink now."
