Charles Heidsieck

A big boy with almost fleshy fruit. The flavors push into exotic, tropical richness yet retain spicy citrus-rind high-lights. There is nothing clumsy despite the ripeness; the finish seems to extend almost infinitely and keeps zinging you with surprises - marshmallow, marzipan, cookie dough, etc.
The Wine Enthusiast A big boy with almost fleshy fruit. The flavors push into exotic, tropical richness yet retain spicy citrus-rind highlights. There is nothing clumsy, despite the ripeness; the finish seems to extend almost infinitely and keeps zinging you with surprises� marshmallow, marzipan, cookie dough, etc. An added bonus: the back label clearly indicates when it was bottled and cellared (2001). Score: 94. �Paul Gregutt, December 01, 2006.

The Wine Spectator Plenty of graphite and honey flavors mark this well-structured, effusive Champagne. Lemon, dough and vanilla accents are also present. Finishes with a tactile sensation around the gums. Drink now through 2010. Score: 92. �Bruce Sanderson, November 30, 2006.

Burghound This is a prime example of what I call a classic, and completely admirable, �Big House� NV Brut. The nose is yeasty but not too, there is freshness yet a trace of age, there is complexity yet there is still some primary fruit and the round but still vibrant offer excellent depth and fine length plus, and this is the most important part, real finishing character. A more than respectable example that is a really lovely effort in every respect and while it could be aged to moderate benefit, I probably wouldn't do so beyond 3 years or so.

The range of wines produced here, other than the Brut Reserve Mis en Caves, includes two vintage wines the Brut Millesime and Brut Rose Millesime, both based on 30% Chardonnay and 70% Pinot Noir & Meunier, with the rose produced by the addition of red wine rather than the saignee method. The prestige cuvee currently produced is the Blanc des Millenaires, a pure Chardonnay cuvee. Although the Brut Reserve wines have seen great acclaim, Charles Heidsieck has not been raking in the profits. Sales have fallen, partly out of necessity whilst reserve stocks were built up, partly because the Mis en Caves concept took the basic cuvee out of the non vintage market somewhat. And the difference in quality between the Mis en Caves wines and the vintage wine has narrowed sufficiently to make the non vintage wine the preferred buy, affecting sales of the vintage wine. In addition, the once popular prestige cuvee Champagne Charlie is no longer produced, replaced by Blanc des Millenaires, which has not made the same impact as its predecessor. For the consumer though, the situation is good - the Brut Reserve Mis en caves wines offer extraordinary quality at an excellent price. I hope the currently evident quality is maintained by Daniel Thibaults's replacement, R�gis Camus. (24/3/04)