Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc de Blancs

Champagne from France

While the Blanc de Blancs may be a relatively recent addition to the Charles Heidsieck portfolio since 2018, the love between Charles and Chardonnay goes back a long way. As early as 1906, the house produced single-varietal Chardonnay wines from the Côte des Blancs, while the first vintage Blanc de Blancs was released in 1949. Moreover, Heidsieck's renowned Blanc de Millénaires is regarded as one of the very greatest Champagnes.

This non-vintage Blanc de Blancs is a perfect addition to the range. While the flagship Blanc de Millénaires is famous for its impressive aged character, this Champagne is crafted with freshness and youthful fruit, combined with a seductive, silky, and creamy texture.

 

To achieve this ultimate balance between freshness and a rich, creamy texture, and to give the wine the typical Charles signature, Cellar Master Cyril Brun works with a ratio of 75% young wine and 25% reserve wine averaging five years old. 50% of the Chardonnay comes from the Côte des Blancs, with the remainder coming from Montagne de Reims and Montgueux. After careful blending, the wine ages on the lees for at least four years.

The end result is an extraordinarily brilliant Blanc de Blancs: beautifully fresh and crisp, with notes of citrus (peel), green apple, floral notes, and a chalky minerality. At the same time, the taste is full and creamy, with notes of brioche, pastry, and a hint of nuttiness. The mousse is extremely delicate, and the finish is endless. Enjoy this magnificent wine between now and about seven years after the harvest, whether or not paired with a luxurious and refined (fish) dish.

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 Blanc de Blancs 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!