The legendary House of Charles Heidsieck undoubtedly belongs among the Great Names of Champagne, but the superior quality of the wine has long gone unnoticed by the general public. And yet this Brut Reserve is 'the best value Champagne on the market', if you ask Tom Stevenson (author of the World Encyclopedia of Champagne & Sparkling Wine).

The outstanding quality is primarily due to the fact that Heidsieck works with a proportion of no less than 40% reserve wines. These come from the finest plots and the best years. The wines age in barrels for about 5 to 15 years before being used in the blend of the Brut Réserve. This gives this impressive Champagne a striking depth and complexity.

 

Although the grapes (equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier) come from a total of sixty different crus, three are defining for the style. The Grand Cru Oger in the Côte de Blancs (Chardonnay), the Grand Cru Ambonnay in Montagne de Reims (Pinot Noir), and the renowned Vallée de la Marne Cru Verneuil (Meunier) have for many years formed the soul of the Brut Réserve.

After careful blending by cellar master Cyril Brun, the wine ages for at least three years on the lees in the magnificent, two-millennia-old crayères. These breathtaking limestone-carved cellars in Reims are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following aging, disgorgement (removing the yeasts from the bottle) and bottling take place.

This method produces a truly sublime Champagne which, although it bears the simple name Brut Réserve, tastes like a complex (multi)vintage Champagne – à la Krug, but many times more affordable. It is not without reason that this magnificent wine wins a shower of medals and awards time and again. Drink the Brut Réserve as a festive and luxurious aperitif, or in combination with a plate of oysters. Pure pleasure guaranteed!

Drink or save?

While most non-vintage Champagnes are best drunk young, a Champagne of this caliber can also age excellently in the bottle for a few more years. Depending on your preference for a young, fresh, or a more mature style of Champagne, you can drink the Brut Réserve immediately or keep it for up to 5-6 years. Because a non-vintage Champagne cannot state a vintage year, Heidsieck has devised a particularly clever solution. On the back label of the bottle, the house has listed both the mise en crayères and the date de dégorgement. The former indicates when the Champagne entered the cellar to age on the lees, the latter when the yeasts were removed from the bottle and the Champagne was finally bottled. This way, you know not only how long the Champagne has aged at the estate, but also until when you can keep it yourself!