Charles Heidsieck is one of the most admired Champagne houses thanks to the unrivalled and consistently high quality of its wines. Founded in 1851 by the man who would become known as ‘Champagne Charlie’, this family-owned house is the smallest of the Grandes Marques. Its size, and commitment to excellence, has been underpinned by a winemaking team that between them has been named 'Sparkling Winemaker of the Year' at the International Wine Challenge 16 times.Charles Heidsieck is one of the most admired Champagne houses thanks to the unrivalled and consiste
Finesse, minerality and brilliance. The legend continues...
Only Chardonnay is used in the blend of this exceptionally textured cuvée. The grapes are grown on vineyards found with five major Crus from the Côte des Blancs, meticulously chosen for their ability to evolve as well as for their ability to express their full richness once fully mature: Oger for its unctuousness & structure, Mesnil-sur-Oger for balance, Avize for its minerality, Cramant for its complexity and Vertus for its freshness & floral notes.
The House has a long history of producing exceptional Blanc de Blancs. In the early 1980s, the Charles Heidsieck Cellar Master decided to reserve the very best Chardonnays for a cuvée named Blanc des Millénaires. Across thirty years, only six Blanc des Millénaires have ever been produced; 1983, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2004, and now, 2006.
Charles Heidsieck
Blanc des Millenaires 2006
£590 per 6 bottles in bond
Cellar Master Cyril Brun has recommended pairing Blanc des Millénaires with seafood: perhaps a tartar of langoustines with passion fruit; or roast John Dory; and cheese such as Saint-Nectaire or Morbier. Drink to 2035.
94 points - William Kelley (17th Sept) Wine Advocate
Recently disgorged with seven grams per litre dosage, the 2006 Brut Blanc de Blancs Millénaires is expressive and charming, in keeping with the sunny, demonstrative style of the vintage. Offering up aromas of toasted brioche, honeycomb, yellow apples and preserved citrus, it's full-bodied, fleshy and textural, with a rich core of fruit, ripe acids and an attractive pinpoint mousse. It's already drinking well, and I'd be inclined to approach it sooner than the more tightly wound 2004 rendition. Drink to 2033
96 Points - Yohan Castaing (8th Aug) Decanter.com
Disgorged in November 2019 after spending 13 years on its lees, the 2006 Blanc des Millénaires has elegant notes of apricot, pineapple, exotic fruit including mango, as well as white flowers. The palate is medium-bodied, delicate and yet opulent at the same time. The texture is crystalline and very pure. Good vivacity too thanks to ripe acidity. The finish is long and expansive. Very long ageing potential (10-15 years).
Understanding the DNA of Blanc des Millénaires 2006. (22nd Sept) Anne Krebiehl MW
The first whiff is of buttery, smooth mellowness and rich, buttery shortbread. With more air, there is this serene, gentle but profound fruit of ripe Golden Pearmain apple. The palate is utterly mellow with more of that smooth, rounded, cashmere-like texture and fine mousse. But, despite this rounded richness, the actual body remains sinuous, slender, bright. It is vivid with enlivening, soothing freshness and the cool chalky depth of the Côte des Blancs.
It is the very austerity of these soils that stands in beautiful and compelling contrast to the buttery richness – this pulls the most glorious trick. On the finish there is a fine, textured seaweed saltiness paired with an incipient, mouth-watering bitterness that draws you in. It makes the next sip compulsive. With air and temperature, the saline tang gets ever more pronounced. This is dangerously delicious and far too easy to drink.