Charles Heidsieck - Brut Champagne Réserve

Continue Shopping Add to Wish List

Price: $59.99

Qty:   Add to Cart

Quantity in Stock: 24

Producer	Charles Heidsieck
Country	France
Region	Champagne
Varietal	Champagne

 

To the eye: A beautiful, pale golden hue, with very fine yet vivacious bubbles. To the nose: First, the impression of pastry shop. Then come the floral notes: Lime-tree in full bloom, violets, lilac, all of which seem to resonate with the blueberry notes and those, even more concentrated, of soft dried apricots. To the mouth: The first impression is silky smooth. Then it starts to melt like ripe fleshy apricots, gorgeous melon and enticing rum pastries. Add the slightly spicy notes of Muscat grape. On the whole, a perfect sense of balance, half-way between freshness and full bloom.

A big boy with almost fleshy fruit. The flavors push into exotic, tropical richness yet retain spicy citrus-rind highlights. There is nothing clumsy, despite the ripeness; the finish seems to extend almost infinitely and keeps zinging you with surprises-marshmallow, marzipan, cookie dough, etc.

One of the best value grandes marques on the market, a blend of 60 crus, with roughly a third each of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay, vinified individually by cru and variety, in stainless steel. Compared to other grandes marques, it is high (40%) in reserve wines, averaging 10 years old and dating back to 1990. Quite a floral style with lemon sherbet intensity and bready, leesy characters. It has great concentration and complexity, with a lovely grip of acidity on the finish.

Full-bodied and intensely flavored, this exhibits mature characteristics of candied fruit, coffee and vanilla pastry, along with fresh lemon and ginger accents. Seamless harmony and texture, with a long, long finish. Drink now through 2010. 15,000 cases made.