Charles Heidsieck : Blanc des Millénaires Collection Crayères 1985

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Blanc des Millénaires Collection Crayères 1985 by Charles Heidsieck 

Tasting

Color
Beautiful pale gold color, with delicate bubbles that rise slowly, forming a fine cord of ephemeral foam.

Nose
The fresh nose opens with a light floral bouquet, lifted by notes of tea and citrus, notably bergamot. White-fleshed fruits, gooseberry, and juicy grapes add a fruity sweetness, evolving into pastry-like aromas of brioche, praline, vanilla, and caramel.

Palate
The palate delights with its creamy and airy texture. The finish, tense and saline, lingers on lively citrus notes, highlighted by a zesty touch of pink grapefruit.

A Vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne Combining Freshness and Indulgence

The Estate

An essential reference, the House of Champagne Charles Heidsieck oversees a prestigious heritage with two-millennia-old chalk cellars. A pioneer, Charles Heidsieck distinguished himself from the late 1980s by highlighting the exceptional aging potential of his multi-vintage Brut Champagne. In 1987, Charles Heidsieck became the first Champagne House to indicate the year of cellar placement to track the wine’s evolution over time.

The Vineyard

The Blanc des Millénaires 1996 comes from a selection of crus of the Côte des Blancs, the renowned terroir of Champagne.

The Champagne

Le Blancs des Millénaires embodies the marriage of great Chardonnays and meticulous craftsmanship. The House of Charles Heidsieck imagined this cuvée as a Blend Champagne made exclusively from Chardonnays at a time when this style of Champagne was still entirely innovative.

This 1985 edition of the « Collection Crayères » once again opens Charles Heidsieck’s Œnothèque. A tribute to the founder, this champagne Blanc de Blancs was cellared in 1986 and disgorged in 2021. Its dosage is 9 g/L (8 g/L in magnums).

The Vintage

This year was exceptional for the harvest, despite severe winter frosts that damaged part of the Champagne vineyards. Sunny weather from early July promoted great richness in the grapes, particularly the Chardonnays, which stand out for their maturity, finesse, and elegance. The patience required for the full development of the wines is already perceptible.

Winemaking and Aging

This 1996 vintage Champagne aged for 24 years in the millennia-old chalk cellars that gave it its name.

Grape Variety

Chardonnay (100%).