Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires Brut in Gift Box 2004
Winemaker Notes
The Chef de Caves singled out the greatest Chardonnays for this cuvée called Blanc des Millénaires. Only four previous vintages were created under this name: 1983, 1985, 1990, and 1995. The extreme exigency which the House demands is particularly clear with this cuvée. The fabulously fresh 2004 vintage offers the beautiful patina, long finish. and silky texture so characteristic of this cuvée and this wine is as legendary as the celebrated founder of the House, Mr. Heidsieck himself.
Shimmering and golden robe in hue with delicate effervescence, this cuvée offers elegant notes of lemon and apple blossoms with a hint of salty butter and almonds along with a toasted nuance of crème anglaise. At the onset, fresh citrus gives the wine a taut crispness which is followed by a gradual persistence and intensity. The mouthfeel is dynamic and perfectly structured with mineral tones and a long and well-rounded finish with rich texture.
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesCellar Selection
Régis Camus joined Charles Heidsieck in 1994 and has been the head winemaker of the House since 2002. This meticulous and passionate professional likes to keep an eye on everything: the state of the vineyards, the selection of the grapes, their pressing and their vinification, cru by cru, in individual vats. His mission is to perpetuate the Charles Heidsieck style, reflecting the richness of the Champagne region.
Associated with luxury, celebration, and romance, the region, Champagne, is home to the world’s most prized sparkling wine. In order to bear the label, ‘Champagne’, a sparkling wine must originate from this northeastern region of France—called Champagne—and adhere to strict quality standards. Made up of the three towns Reims, Épernay, and Aÿ, it was here that the traditional method of sparkling wine production was both invented and perfected, birthing a winemaking technique as well as a flavor profile that is now emulated worldwide.
Well-drained, limestone and chalky soil defines much of the region, which lend a mineral component to its wines. Champagne’s cold, continental climate promotes ample acidity in its grapes but weather differences from year to year can create significant variation between vintages. While vintage Champagnes are produced in exceptional years, non-vintage cuvées are produced annually from a blend of several years in order to produce Champagnes that maintain a consistent house style.
With nearly negligible exceptions, . These can be blended together or bottled as individual varietal Champagnes, depending on the final style of wine desired. Chardonnay, the only white variety, contributes freshness, elegance, lively acidity and notes of citrus, orchard fruit and white flowers. Pinot Noir and its relative Pinot Meunier, provide the backbone to many blends, adding structure, body and supple red fruit flavors. Wines with a large proportion of Pinot Meunier will be ready to drink earlier, while Pinot Noir contributes to longevity. Whether it is white or rosé, most Champagne is made from a blend of red and white grapes—and uniquely, rosé is often produce by blending together red and white wine. A Champagne made exclusively from Chardonnay will be labeled as ‘blanc de blancs,’ while ones comprised of only red grapes are called ‘blanc de noirs.’
Representing the topmost expression of a Champagne house, a vintage Champagne is one made from the produce of a single, superior harvest year. Vintage Champagnes account for a mere 5% of total Champagne production and are produced about three times in a decade. Champagne is typically made as a blend of multiple years in order to preserve the house style; these will have non-vintage, or simply, NV on the label. The term, "vintage," as it applies to all wine, simply means a single harvest year.