Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie

Champagne

Born June 17, 1822, Charles-Camille Heidsieck was a gentleman entrepreneur with a taste for adventure. The authenticity and principles of the man known to the Americans as “Champagne Charlie” have inspired the unique quality of his Champagnes, stored in thousand-year-old Crayères, or chalk cellars. Five generations have since succeeded at the helm of the House, championing that early vision of an exceptional quality, unique champagne.

“For this new edition of Charlie, I took my inspiration from previous editions, tasting each of the past releases to reconnect with the initial creation. My first impression was overwhelming; the freshness and aromatic intensity and silky saline finish could be systematically found in all the wines, as if these qualities transcended the effect of vintage. It was the key.”
–Cyril Brun, Cellarmaster

Tasting Notes

DELUXE FOR THE EYE
Dazzling, luminous golden robe.

A SCENT OF EMOTION
Notes of grapefruit, roasted pineapple enlivened with the vivacity of toasted and mineral notes. After several seconds, aromas of fresh fruits (apricots, vineyard peaches) briefly appear to give way to persistent notes of pastry.

A TREASURY OF FLAVOUR
The texture is truly the soul of Charlie, where we find that paradox of juvenile freshness and fleshiness, with a silkiness fitting of a more mature wine. This “dry fleshiness” is enhanced with a highly nuanced effervescence, composed of extremely harmonious bubbles. The finish reveals candied citrus and the exotic notes of passion fruit.

Origin of Crus: 20% of Pinot Noir from 2016 Harvest, sourced in Aÿ - Grand Cru from the Montagne de Reims.
Laid in Cellars in: 2017
Disgorged in: October 2021
Dosage: 7g/L
Cellaring: Immediately and until 2050

  • 2023-12-01

    100

    points

    Wine Enthusiast, December 2023

    "“The return with a new iteration of this iconic Champagne, first produced in the 1980s, and named after Charles Heidsieck, one of the great Champagne promoters of the 19th century, is to be welcomed. The wine itself lives up to the bill-ing of its history, rich in the house style and with just a hint of maturity. This great wine, still full of white fruits, has so many years ahead. The wine is likely to mature gently for a decade at least. Folio Fine Wine Partners. Cellar Selection.”"

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  • 2023-12-01

    #9 in Top 100

    100 points

    Wine Enthusiast, December 2023

    "The return with a new iteration of this iconic Champagne, first produced in the 1980s, and named after Charles Heidsieck, one of the great Champagne promoters of the 19th century, is to be welcomed. The wine itself lives up to the bill-ing of its history, rich in the house style and with just a hint of maturity. This great wine, still full of white fruits, has so many years ahead. The wine is likely to mature gently for a decade at least. Cellar Selection."

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  • 2022-12-15

    100

    points

    Wine Enthusiast, December 2022

    "Cellar Selection. The return with a new iteration of this iconic Champagne, first produced in the 1980s, and named after Charles Heidsieck one of the great Champagne promoters of the 19th century, is to be welcomed. The wine itself lives up to the billing of its history, rich in the house style and with just a hint of maturity. This great wine, still full of white fruits, has so many years ahead. The wine is likely to mature gently for a decade at least."

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  • 2022-12-01

    94

    points

    Wine Spectator, December 2022

    "There's a lovely, featherlight quality to this elegant Champagne, which combines focus and expression with delicacy and finesse. Features flavors of Asian pear, blanched almond, cherry blossoms and ground ginger that ride the fine, silky mousse, with a subtle minerally streak driving the lasting, creamy finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disgorged November 2021. Drink now through 2027."

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  • 2022-11-07

    97

    points

    Jeb Dunnuck, November 2022

    "The NV Champagne Charlie (2017) is the first release since the 1985 “vintage.” The new rendition embraces the long-held emphasis for this cuvée on reserve wine (despite having previously been labelled as a vintage wine) and now represents 80% of the blend, with only 20% from the base vintage of 2016, the oldest of the reserve wines going back to 1998. The wine is fantastically detailed and unfolds with layers of delicate smoky perfume, peach, and citrus blossoms. A refined and delicate mousse wraps around a core of orchard fruits, quince, and chalk. There is impeccable detail with this edition that will continue to improve over the coming decades. Drink 2024-2044."

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  • 2022-11-03

    94

    points

    James Suckling, November 2022

    "Attractive green gold color with a solid bead. It shows lots of buttered brioche and cooked apples with some underlying white pepper. Some grapefruit. Full-bodied but not heavy, with a solid core of fruit and lots of apple pie and lime flavors. Lively acidity at the end, phenolic and structured. I like the bitter lemon and pie crust. A blend of 48% pinot noir and 52% chardonnay. This will age nicely. Drink or hold."

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  • 2022-08-31

    96

    points

    Wine Advocate, August 2022

    "When Cyril Brun was briefed to recreate this iconic cuvée, he struggled to achieve the plenitude and drama he was looking for. Then, he dug in the Heidsieck archives and discovered, as he tells it, that the famous vintages of Charlie, while vintaged on paper, actually contained reserve wines. Brun therefore gave himself carte blanche to draw on the house's best lots to put together the inaugural NV Champagne Charlie, based on the 2016 vintage but incorporating fully 78% reserve wines dating back two decades. Bursting with aromas of golden orchard fruit, brioche, honeycomb, peaches, spices and buttery pastry, it's full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a layered core of fruit, racy acids and a beautifully refined pinpoint mousse. Some 52% of the blend is Chardonnay, with Brun looking for ripe, exotic Chardonnay to complement more tensile lots of Pinot Noir. It's a compelling, flamboyant wine—the only thing that may make consumers smart is the price."

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TRADE & MEDIA ASSETS /////////////////

Charles Heidsieck – Brand – Sell Sheet

Charles Heidsieck – B Corp – Sell Sheet

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – #9 in Top 100 points – Wine Enthusiast – Sell Sheet

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – 100 points, Wine Enthusiast 2023 – Shelftalker

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – 100 points, Wine Enthusiast 2023 – Sell Sheet

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – 94 points, James Suckling 2022 – Sell Sheet

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – 97 points, Jeb Dunnuck 2022 – Sell Sheet

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – 94 points, Wine Spectator 2022 – Sell Sheet

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – 96 points, Wine Advocate 2022 – Sell Sheet

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – 100 points, Wine Enthusiast 2022 – Sell Sheet

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – Tasting Notes

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – Bottle

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – Beauty – Black background

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – Beauty – Black background

Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie – Beauty – Black background