Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne

Charles Heidsieck is the smallest of the Grandes Marques Champagne Houses. Based in the Reims region of Champagne, it is one of the best-known producers for both vintage and non-vintage cuvée. In 1851, young Charles Heidsieck founded his own Champagne house in Reims. He understood that the United States was an important emerging market, so he traversed America repeatedly north to south promoting his new brand. The stylish entrepreneur became known lovingly as “Champagne Charlie.” From amongst the 60 crus selected to create this iconic wine, three form the stylistic pillars of the Brut Réserve: Oger (Chardonnay grand cru from the Côte des Blancs) gives it fleshy, generous notes; Ambonnay (Pinot Noir grand cru from the Montagne de Reims) synonymous with strength, structure and fruitiness; and finally Verneuil (Meunier from the Marne Valley), ensures balance and unctuous texture. Delicate, vivacious and long-lasting bubbles are the result of a long and slow maturing process. With 40% of reserve wines, the blend offers a complex, voluptuous nose with notes of freshly baked brioche and toasted nuts with mango, apricot along with a touch of dried fruits, pistachio and almond. The texture is plush with citurs, red plums and ripe cherries. The reserve wines, some dating back more than 15 years, give the wine lushness with a touch of praline along with delicate vanilla notes.