We are big fans of site-specific Grower Champagnes; yet, we are also fervent believers in the magical alchemy of the blender’s art as exhibited in the sublime multi-vintage Bruts produced by a few of the top-tier Grande Marque houses.One such wonder is Charles Heidsieck’s Brut Reserve.Since the days of Charles Heidsieck’s legendary chef-de-cave Daniel Thibault (back in the 1970s), the focus of the house has been, first and foremost, to create the best possible cuvées for their non-vintage Brut Reserve even when it meant forgoing production of a worthy vintage Champagne.The resultant “Charles Brut” was a generous, sophisticated Champagne that has a strong, long-standing insider’s following for its consistent quality.
WINERY NOTES: TO THE EYE: A deep golden rube marked by a delicate, orchestrated and persistent effervescence. The result of a slow and long maturing process in chalk cellars.
ON THE NOSE:The 50% reserve wines give an elegant nose: freshly baked brioche, roasted notes and ripe, sun-kissed fruits – mango, apricot, Mirabelle plum – as well as dried fruits, pistachio and almond.
ON THE PALATE:The texture evokes the crunch of a layer of creamy nougat, with fleshy fruits like plums and cherries. The smoothness is provided by the selection of reserve wines. The finish reveals amber and vanilla notes as well as a touch of praline…
JAMES SUCKLING 95 POINTS – “Really fine bubbles. Extremely intense, showing dried apples, peaches and light apricots with brioche and pie crust. Medium-bodied with a creamy texture and a long, long finish. Very subtle. A blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier.”
WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS – “…stored in steel tanks and incorporating some 100 individual wines, averaging a decade in age—Charles Heidsieck’s NV Brut Réserve opens with aromas of candied lemon peel, ripe pear and pineapple mingling with buttered toast and a hint of burnt sugar. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, charming and textural, with a sweet and fleshy fruit core, succulent yet vibrant acidity and a persistent, toasty finish.”
JEB DUNNUCK 92 POINTS – “The 2019 base was disgorged in 2024, and the NV Champagne Reserve Brut, with the oldest wine in the blend, is around 20 years old, while the heart of the blend averages ten years of age. It pours a golden yellow color and offers a signature style with a frothy mousse, brioche, almond skin, apricot, and preserved citrus. Medium to full-bodied, it expands on the palate, with a rounded mouthfeel and a chalky richness of texture. Drink 2025-2035.”
