So impressed was Jancis Robinson MW with Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 2004 during our 2002 vs 2004 comparative tasting last month that she has recently named it her wine of the week.
Jancis commented: “This wine was my favourite in a recent blind comparison of 2002 and 2004 prestige champagnes on which we reported last week on Purple Pages. Yet it was far from the most expensive. It easily withstood comparison with the likes of Krug, Dom Pérignon, Cristal, Comtes de Champagne, Bolllinger RD, Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill and Dom Ruinart that sell at prices up to £375 a bottle. I loved the sheer confidence, appeal and completeness of this all-Chardonnay wine, always based on ingredients from four of the finest grand cru villages on the Côte des Blancs together with some wine from premier cru Vertus.”
Despite finding it quite reserved upon first tasting it before release in 2017, Blanc des Millénaires is now much more open and generous, with incredible texture and a fine, persistent finish. It is tasting marvellous currently – a cracker of a champagne for Christmas dinner – and based on the track record of Blanc des Millénaires vintages is likely to age well for decades.
| Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 2004 | 19/20 100% CH | Lees Ageing: 11 Years | Disgorged: November 2016 | Dosage: 9 g/l | Post-Disgorgement Ageing: 3 Years The one wine poured solo rather than one of a pair made up of 2002 and 2004 in this comparative tasting, so not really blind. Mytik cork. Not the tensest of these champagnes but beautifully balanced. Super-pleasant with everything in place. Great confidence. A good follow up to the copious 1995? |
Blanc des Millénaires 2004 was scored 19/20 by Jancis Robinson at our recent vintage 2002 vs 2004 comparison tasting
