Of the three Champagne houses named Heidsieck - all originating from families once related - Charles is the smallest and arguably, the best. Established in 1851 by the nephew of Piper-Heidsieck's owner, Charles Heidsieck himself was the original 'Champagne Charlie'. In 2011 both Charles Heidsieck and Piper-Heidsieck were bought by EPI Group headed by Christopher Descours, he has provided significant finance for both Houses allowing them to grow their vineyard holdings, grape purchasing and production. Today, production occurs alongside sister company Piper-Heidsieck in an ultra-modern functional wine-making facility on the southern outskirts of Reims. The Charles Heidsieck Cellars are a Unesco World Heritage site and comprise more than eight kilometres of chalk tunnels interlinking forty seven subterranean cathedrals called Crayères, reaching 30 metres high and believed to have been dug out in the 3rd century.
Charles Heidsieck's prestige cuvée is a blend of pure Chardonnay from just five different Crus and always 20% from each: Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger,; and Vertus. An absolute masterpiece from the Côte des Blancs, this cuvée spends more than fifteen years maturing in the heart of Charles Heidsieck's two-thousand-year-old chalk cellars. Such an outstanding creation deserves an exceptional case: the gift box, which mirrors the curves of the crayères cellars after which it is named (Blanc des Millénaires, or 'White of Millenia'), echoes the nobility of this location where nothing counts except time itself.
This champagne is part of Charles Heidsieck Collection Crayeres, a second late release of vintages direct from their cellars in Reims in November 2018. Only 75 of these special edition cases are available worldwide and only 20 cases in the UK.
La Collection Crayeres Vertical includes the following 75cl bottles:
1x
Blanc des Millenaires 2004 - Disgorged: November 2016
Cork: Mytik Diam Technological
1x
Blanc des Millenaires 1995 - Disgorged: Summer 2017
Cork: Mytik Diam Technological
1x
Blanc des Millenaires 1990 - Original disgorgement 1999
1x
Blanc des Millenaires 1985 - Original disgorgement 1996
1x
Blanc des Millenaires 1983 - Original disgorgement 1994
1x Blanc de Blancs 1982 - Original disgorgement 1991
The Blanc des Millenaires in the case can be purchased individually, Blanc de Blancs 1982 is only available in the case.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: Grand Cru | Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger & 1er Cru Vertus
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Disgorged: Various