Charles Heidsieck : Vintage 2018

In the context of so extreme a vintage, Charles Heidsieck’s 2018 Brut Millésimé is a wine of considerable success. Disgorged in May 2024 with a dosage of eight grams per liter, it soars from the glass with aromas of pomelo, pear and lemon confit, mingling with brioche and jasmine, framed by a deft touch of smoky reduction. On the palate, it is full-bodied and enveloping, with a fleshy and charming fruit core, enlivened by ripe but vibrant acidity and a pillowy mousse, concluding with a toasty, saline-tinged finish. Flamboyant and immediately seductive, it promises a broad window of enjoyment. The blend consists of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay.

A toasty Champagne, with a rich range of baked cassis, cherry, brioche, vanilla, saffron and spun honey aromas and flavors buoyed and balanced by vivid, lemony acidity. Shows depth and length, with the profile expanding on the finely detailed, vivacious mousse and echoing on the persistent, focused finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged April 2024. Drink now through 2045. 50 cases imported.

Full bottle 1,653 g. 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay from a mix of mainly Premiers and Grands Crus in Ambonnay, Tauxières, Vertus, Bouzy, Verzy and Trigny. Early harvest. Disgorged 2024 with a dosage of 8 g/l after 5 years' ageing on lees. B Corp company since 2022. Savoury, tight bead with some hint of blackcurrants(!), and a little richness and lemon sherbet on the long finish. Definitely not an austere grower's champagne! Quite long and flattering. Hint of cordite. Sweeter than average for a top champagne but it really builds on the end. (JR)

Émilien Erard’s first vintage working at Heidsieck, the 2018 Champagne Millesime Brut has a shimmering yellow hue, while the nose reveals notes of ripe peaches, with a fleshy stone fruit character that is characteristic of the house. Disgorged in 2024, this 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay blend, with no oak, was aged entirely in stainless steel tanks. They were aiming to preserve the freshness of this vintage to enhance its aging potential. The mousse is frothy and floral, expressive and open in this vintage. Drink 2026-2050.