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.
In 2015, then chef-de-cave Cyril Brun set about to give the "Charles Brut" a bit of a make over. The goal was to achieve more freshness especially in light of Champagne's everwarming climate. Brun turned the role of reserve wines upside down, noting: "We hold our most acidic wine as reserves, so many of our reserve wines are fresher than our new base wines... so in warm vintages like 2018 and 2022 when we have less acidity we can correct with reserve wines." Sparing no expense, Brun increased the amount of reserve components in the blend from 25-30 percent to over 50%-- some of these wines are aged up to twenty years in large steel tanks in the firm's deep chalk caves. Grape sourcing was also upgraded by culling 120 vineyard sites down to 60. With these, and a myriad other quality tweaks, it is easy to see that even at its "regular" sixty-five dollar price, Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve is a terrific value. With our twenty dollars a bottle discount this revamped "Charles Brut" is a not-to-be-missed steal. This 2019-based Brut Reserve is still a creamy trilateral blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier like the traditional "Charles" but it displays much more buoyancy, cut and length.
WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "This vibrant version shows a range of toasted brioche, baked cherry, crystalized honey, grated ginger and coconut flavors, remaining light-footed and lively throughout. Beautifully balanced, with a lasting, mouthwatering finish."
JAMES SUCKLING 93 POINTS - "A creamy and silky champagne that has notes of lemons, pastries and apple compote on the nose. It's medium-bodied and layered with fine bubbles and tasty pastry notes on the fresh, balanced finish. Drink now."
WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS - "The NV Brut Réserve, a combination of more than 60 different crus and 150 wines, evokes aromas of brioche, pastry, ripe orchard fruits, beeswax and spices. Medium to full-bodied, enrobing and charming, it has a fleshy core of fruit, a pinpoint mousse and delicate acids, making it a charming, delicate Champagne. This blend consists of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier, with 50% vins de réserve, and was disgorged with a dosage of nine grams per liter."
Bottled 2020 and disgorged in 2023.
In 2015, then chef-de-cave Cyril Brun set about to give the "Charles Brut" a bit of a make over. The goal was to achieve more freshness especially in light of Champagne's everwarming climate. Brun turned the role of reserve wines upside down, noting: "We hold our most acidic wine as reserves, so many of our reserve wines are fresher than our new base wines... so in warm vintages like 2018 and 2022 when we have less acidity we can correct with reserve wines." Sparing no expense, Brun increased the amount of reserve components in the blend from 25-30 percent to over 50%-- some of these wines are aged up to twenty years in large steel tanks in the firm's deep chalk caves. Grape sourcing was also upgraded by culling 120 vineyard sites down to 60. With these, and a myriad other quality tweaks, it is easy to see that even at its "regular" sixty-five dollar price, Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve is a terrific value. With our twenty dollars a bottle discount this revamped "Charles Brut" is a not-to-be-missed steal. This 2019-based Brut Reserve is still a creamy trilateral blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier like the traditional "Charles" but it displays much more buoyancy, cut and length.
WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "This vibrant version shows a range of toasted brioche, baked cherry, crystalized honey, grated ginger and coconut flavors, remaining light-footed and lively throughout. Beautifully balanced, with a lasting, mouthwatering finish."
JAMES SUCKLING 93 POINTS - "A creamy and silky champagne that has notes of lemons, pastries and apple compote on the nose. It's medium-bodied and layered with fine bubbles and tasty pastry notes on the fresh, balanced finish. Drink now."
WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS - "The NV Brut Réserve, a combination of more than 60 different crus and 150 wines, evokes aromas of brioche, pastry, ripe orchard fruits, beeswax and spices. Medium to full-bodied, enrobing and charming, it has a fleshy core of fruit, a pinpoint mousse and delicate acids, making it a charming, delicate Champagne. This blend consists of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier, with 50% vins de réserve, and was disgorged with a dosage of nine grams per liter."
Bottled 2020 and disgorged in 2023.
