Today I share a wine that I opened from my cellar. Truly one of the outstanding Champagnes of the world, the ‘Blanc de Millenaires’ is a Chardonnay wine that is aged for at least a decade before disgorgement. The house Charles Heidseick has an amazing history. The founder Charles Camille Heidsieck worked as a French Champagne merchant and founded his namesake house back in 1851. He played a large part of growing Champagne in the United States and was known as "Champagne Charlie" for his influence. Amazingly during the Civil War he was placed in jail for a suspicion of being a spy and this was an international incident between France and the US known as the Heidseick Incident.
This house did not produce a tete de cuvee until 1993 when they launched their 1983 Blanc de Millenaires. My 2004 was a remarkable achievement at 20 years of age and a rare one at that as just over 1,000 standard-sized bottles of the Blanc des Millénaires 2004 were imported into the U.S.
This wine comes from five villages, one Premier Cru and four Grands Crus make up this champagne: Vertus, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Avize and Cramant. This wine was disgorged in November 2017 after spending 13 years on the lees and is only the fifth edition of this wine (1983, 1985, 1990 and 1995). For a special occasion Champagne this would be an amazing wine — one at peak maturity. Learn more at https://charlesheidsieck.com/en and here is my review of the stunning 2004 Charles Heidseick ‘Blanc de Millenaires’ Champagne.
2004 Charles Heidseick ‘Blanc de Millenaires’ Champagne- A world-class wine, the incredible 2004 Charles Heidseick ‘Blanc de Millenaires’ Champagne is a remarkable achievement showing off the warmth of this vintage. It is rich and nutty now, with a seamless texture and deft effervescence that remains intact. Rich melon and kumquat fruits collide with flinty minerals and candied ginger on the palate. A total stunner, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2024-2032- 96