Brut Millésimé (Gift Box), Charles Heidsieck, Champagne, France, 2012 (1 BOTTLE)

Charles Heidsieck's millésime usually comprises around 11 crus. It has autumnal and warm notes of praline and lightly toasted hazelnuts on the nose. The palate is rich and generous, with a lively freshness on the long finish. Charles Heidsieck is one of the most admired Champagne houses thanks to the unrivalled and consistently high quality of its wines. Founded in 1851 by the man who would become known as ‘Champagne Charlie’, this family-owned house is the smallest of the Grandes Marques. Their size, and commitment to excellence, has been underpinned by a winemaking team that between them have been named 'Sparkling Winemaker of the Year' at the International Wine Challenge 16 times. After the first fermentation in stainless steel vats, the wines were racked to separate the lees and then underwent malolactic fermentation to soften the natural acidity and improve texture. After blending the two varieties, the cuvée was bottled and yeast added for second fermentation. The bottles were cellared and remained ageing on lees for ten years. After disgorgement and dosage, the wine was aged for a further six months before release. Some people will not hesitate to compare the 2012 vintage to spectacular years like 1990 or 1996, and yet the success of the resulting wines might be considered something of a miracle given the challenges of the year. Nature had them fearing the worst when it unleashed a range of climate catastrophes on their vineyards. Spring brought violent attacks of mildew, torrential rains, hailstorms, cold snaps during flowering, followed by heat and water stress that drove yields down by 30%. But a beautiful, sunny summer enabled slow maturing and good concentration in the grapes, resulting in a late harvest. Grapes proved to be of excellent quality: rich in sugar and with good acidity.This Millésimé 2012 was composed of ten Grand and Premier Crus (Oger, Vertus, Chouilly, Cuis, Verzy, Aÿ, Ludes, Ambonnay, Tauxières and Avenay) each meticulously selected by the Chef de Caves.

Golden in appearance. Initially, the nose shows subtle toasted and smoked notes with a touch of liquorice and earthy tones. When swirled in the glass, fruity notes of apricot, blackthorn, quince, blueberry and fresh almonds add an extra dimension to the wine. The palate is mineral and taut with excellent freshness, with notes of quince, vanilla and vineyard peaches on the mid-palate, followed by a crisp finish. A lovely vintage which will continue to develop great complexity and generosity over time.

• Feature(s): Sustainable, Vegetarian, Vegan
• Winemaker: Cyrl Brun
• Alcohol (ABV): 12 %
• Acidity: 7.3 g/l
• Residual sugar: 9.7 g/l