“The wonders of Charles Heidsieck from the 20th Century”
A sensational tasting of Charles Heidsieck champagne from last century!
Blanc des Millenaires Blanc de Blancs 1995 D: Original 2018 ish – Lots of honey and touches of woolly Chenin Blanc, with dried lemon, grapefruit and tropical hints leading you into loads of bitter orange notes. The texture is rich and velvety, real weight and body and structure in this champagne. No signs of it fading, this champagne is a real powerhouse. Drinking well I suspect for another decade. 18+/20
BdM 1996 D: Spring 2021 – More bitter orange here, layers of grapefruit and lemon and palate is really quite zingy and powerful, some bitter charm. On second taste I am finding the balance “a little screechy” the acidity is very bright and overpowering the weight of fruit. Some evolution showing. Solid, just not harmonious and would likely rebalance with food. Drink in next few years. 17/20
BdM Collection Crayeres 1990 D: 2021 – Surprisingly restrained aromatics, more full power on the palate with joyful rich fruit, lemon, orange and grapefruit, with a distinctly creamy soft texture. Very charming. There is a subtlety here, almost feels the youngest of the three. Below this subtle champagne, it is rich and powerful yet ends with a lightness! Delicious now, but no hurry, will likely hold similar for a decade. 18.5/20
BDM 1985 D: Original 93/94 – Real rich and powerful, pure aged chardonnay. A hint of TCA here, but it is staying in the background. There is old marmalade, those dried fruits of grapefruit, lime and lemon. A luxurious texture. 18.5/20
Collection Crayeres 2000 D: 2012 – Toasty, richly crème caramel, zingy, really orange, bitter orange chocolate, not one negative, ageing perfectly. Pristine. Essi says is still going upwards and will grow a little more. With a few minutes in the glass all the chocolate and coffee come forward. No rush to drink now to mid-2035. 19.5/20
1996 Original Disgorgement – Hints of lanolin, milk chocolate and really ripe peaches and apricots; way better than I expected. With more time, there is some mushroom and hints of menthol. 17.5/20
Collection Crayeres 1996 D: 2021 – Big bright citrus fruits, all in that dried/candied category, grapefruit, lemon and orange dominate. The most wonderful texture, zingy and light with a gently creamy texture. Grapefruit +++ on the finish. 18.5/20
MeC Reserve Charlie 1990 D: 1998 – A hint of the menthol comes first, then you see milk chocolate and I wonder if there is a touch of TCA in the background. Some less attractive mushroom emerges, a hint in Essi’s words as “grappa like.” 15/20
Collection Crayeres 1990 D: 1999 – Really unctuous ripe pears, red apples. The palate is juicy and fresh and zingy, hints of orange, lime and what a richly textured palate. Loads of super ripe peach. With a little time light touches of oxidation come forward. 16/20
Collection 1990 1.5L D: 2022 – Just so much smoky magnum effect, bright citrus lemon and grapefruits, hints of orange, some riper toasted pineapple and plenty of bright acidity. . . wow this is good! Seems like time stands still in this magnum. Drink now to 2040+ 19.5/20
Charlie 1985 D: 1995 – Initially I thought was evolved on aromatics, then you see the class more on the palate, rich and textural, delicious, zingy and seems much younger on the palate, really lime, lemon, some stone fruit and ripe peach. Has a lightness and density on the palate. .. fascinating. Quite moreish and goes on and on. I feel the aromatics mean this is perhaps near its peak. Drink now to 2032. 18.5/20
Rose 1988 D: 2021 – Some delicious dried red fruits here, raspberry, loganberry, some hints of tannins and power of red dried fruits, hints of blueberry. Some delicate aromatics here rose hips and going a little darker, hints of bramble, there is freshness and delight. I have had more fresh bottles, unlucky today. 17/20
Collection Crayeres 1981 1.5L D: 1987 – A bit unlucky here, this has more evolution than I have seen before, more freshness on the palate. 16/20
Group Scores from Nine Tasters Including Essi Avellan MW
1st Collection Crayeres 2000
2nd Bdm 1985
3rd 1990 1.5L
Nick’s Top Three
1990 1.5L
2000 75cl
Bdm 1985 75cl
