Charles Heidsieck Blanc De Blancs (NV)

Charles Heidsieck was one of the very first Champagne Houses to demonstrate its passion for Chardonnay by producing a Blanc de Blancs in its 1949 vintage. There is also evidence that the Maison had produced some mono-crus from the Côte des Blancs as early as1906. Through this cuvée, relaunched in 2018, two of the House’s areas of expertise come together: the production of great white wines and the art of blending a large selection of wines from different years and terroirs. The considerable challenge is to make opposites coexist: the tautness and the freshness of young chardonnays on the one hand, and the silky “Charles” character on the other. The Blanc de Blancs is the result of a very selective blend of 100% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs and, in particular, the cuvée base 2016 is composed of 10 crus of Chardonnay, the most sought-after grapes in the region. For this cuvée, only the juice from the first press is used and, the wines benefit from a slow and long maturation of 3 to 4 years, far beyond the norms of the region. 

TO THE EYE: pale, crystalline gold with the typical glints of the Chardonnay varietal.

ON THE NOSE: the aromas of mature Chardonnay can be recognized initially: white peach, candied citrus with notes of lime, honeysuckle and fresh hazelnut, giving way to subtle hints of tangerine and lemon.

ON THE PALATE: freshness and tautness mark this typically Charles generosity: the attack is pure and forthright, not aggressive but almost unconventionally suave for a Blanc de Blancs, so often characterized as being sharp rather than creamy. The harmonious finish offers surprising minerality and a slight salinity.