CharlesHeidsieckBlancdesMillenairesBlancdeBlancs1985

Of the three Champagne houses named Heidsieck â€?all originating from families once related â€?Charles is the smallest and arguably, the best. Established in 1851 by the nephew of Piper-Heidsieck’s owner, Charles Heidsieck himself was the original ‘Champagne Charlieâ€?In 2011 both Charles Heidsieck and Piper-Heidsieck were bought by EPI Group headed by Christopher Descours, he has provided significant finance for both Houses allowing them to grow their vineyard holdings, grape purchasing and production.Today, production occurs alongside sister company Piper-Heidsieck in an ultra-modern functional wine-making facility on the southern outskirts of Reims. The Charles Heidsieck Cellars are a Unesco World Heritage site and comprise more than eight kilometres of chalk tunnels interlinking forty seven subterranean cathedrals called Crayères, reaching 30 metres high and believed to have been dug out in the 3rd century.rrCharles Heidsieck’s prestige cuvée is a blend of pure Chardonnay from just five different Crus: Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger and Vertus. An absolute masterpiece from the Côte des Blancs, this cuvée spends more than fifteen years maturing in the heart of Charles Heidsieck’s two-thousand-year-old chalk cellars. Such an outstanding creation deserves an exceptional case: the gift box, which mirrors the curves of the crayères cellars after which it is named (Blanc des Millénaires, or ‘White of Milleniaâ€?, echoes the nobility of this location where nothing counts except time itself.rrThis champagne is part of Charles Heidsieck Collection Crayeres, a second late release of vintages direct from their cellars in Reims in October 2018.Only 300 bottles released worldwide. rrWeather: This year is etched into vine growersâ€?memories as an exceptional ideal harvest in terms of quality, despite record freezing temperatures over winter (-30°C for several days), which irretrievably devastated part of the Champagne region’s vines. Fortunately, beautiful weather from 1 July allowed the grapes to ripen to their full potential. The Chardonnays in particular ripened beautifully, becoming refined and elegant. One can imagine the patience required at the time to allow the wines to reach their full potential.rrTechnical Information:rVineyards: Grand Cru | Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger & 1er Cru VertusrGrape Varieties: 100% ChardonnayrDisgorged: 1996rDrink: Now to 2030rrTasting Note: An intense golden colour. The nose reveals aromas of concentrated, lightly stewed fruits, mixed with notes of peanut and liquorice. A generous dense mouthfeel with a crispness throughout.