Charles Heidsieck True French Champagne

We are now entering the season of celebration starting with Thanksgiving and ending with the New Years festivities. Celebrations call for sparkling wines and there is no sparkling more in line with celebrations than French Champagne. Just to clear the air a bit, there are many sparkling wines, some exceptional but there is and can never be any other sparkling wine with the grandeur and fines than a true French Champagne. Whatever the magic, whether it be the far northern growing region, the chalk growing soil, the constant temperature of the aging caves or the total “hands on” production methods, no other sparkling wine, made anywhere in the world, can duplicate a French Champagne.
Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve ($65). This wine is the backbone of Charles Heidsieck and deserves to be as it has never failed to receive very high numbers from those number giving wine reviewers. It is a fresh, bright, extremely enjoyable Champagne that carries an equally easily identifiable yeast and toast-like aroma with hints of roasted coffee beans. The flavor displays a cherry element, which is both very noticeable and very enjoyable. What impressed us about this wine is the finish which seemed to last indefinitely and is among the most enjoyable finish flavors that we have ever experienced in a Champagne. The first sip of this wine and you will understand exactly why it has won so many accolades.
Champagne Charles Heidsieck Rosé Reserve ($80). This wine is crafted from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes that were fermented, blended and then fermented a second time, in the bottle, to produce the effervescence that is the hallmark of a sparkling wine. A beautiful light strawberry color greets the eyes and the rich aroma of strawberries, raisins, and fresh peaches inviting the first sip. This wine has a medium body, which supports the fruit flavors of berries and peaches. There is also a very positive and excellent bread-like flavor that weaves in and out of the fruit and ends in a very obvious creamy finish. With the first sip of this wine you will understand why French Champagne is in a world of its own
Charles Heidsieck Brut Millesime 2005 ($110). This is considered among of the finest Charles Heidsieck wine available today simply by the fact that it’s vintages dating tells much about this wine. Most French Champagnes are made from an assemblage of wines from different years to achieve a desired result; but not this wine. By concentrating on the grapes of the 2005 vintage, the Charles Heidsieck vintners boldly announce that it was a terrific year, which resulted in an equally terrific Champagne. In the glass, the eye is greeted by a deep golden yellow color with tiny bubbles rising to the top in a never-ending stream. The aroma is a refined melding of citrus, bread and a hint of cherry. In the mouth the wine is soft and creamy with hints of many summer fruits. These continue to an equally memorable and long lasting finish. It is a lavish wine of great charm and depth and well worth its price.
Another Champagne we were pleased to review was the very affordable Champagne Palmer Brut Reserve ($52). This Champagne has also been made from the same classical Champagne grapes that have made up Champagne for centuries; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The Chardonnay, adds elegance, finesse, crispness, and delicacy to the finished wine while the Pinot Noir contributes body and strength as well as imparting its incredibly haunting fruit flavors that only a fine Champagne is capable of while the Pinot Meunier acts as a softening buffer between the two other dominant elements. The Champagne Palmer is s very well made and interesting wine that does not bury its charms behind a veil of yeast and a flood of bubbles as many of the knock off wines that purport to be champagne do. There can be no question about it, this is a well made, sure to please Champagne.