Charles Heidsieck : Vintage 2013

Features flavors of crème de cassis, lemon curd, poached apricot and smoked almond framed by well-cut, crunchy acidity, lending fine definition and vibrancy. A broad-shouldered Champagne that's lacy in texture, with a long finish of spices and grapefruit zest. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged 2022. Drink now through 2028. 100 cases imported.

An alluring, detailed aroma that is reserved and layered rather than hugely outgoing at present. There’s some maturity though, a measured weight of light apricot, ripe pear and pale strawberry fruit. Delicacy is the main theme, with touches of blossom, white peach, and only a quiet praline and caramelised apple richness. Less austere than the 2008, more focused than the 2012 and already quietly harmonious, this superb 2013 closes with chalkiness and verve. This could well prove the most finely tuned of the recent Charles Heidsieck vintage releases. 57% Pinot Noir, 43% Chardonnay with nine years on lees.

A very striking nose with Reine Claude plums, old-fashioned apple varieties and some Nordic herbs. Structured and crisp with a very firm core, the finish driving and full of energy. Rich, long finish with a chalky core. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, the make-up of the blend very unconventional for this house. Drink or hold.

Medium golden yellow, silver reflections, lively, persistent mousse. Green apple, a hint of pear, meadow herbs, smoky nuances, a delicate nutty touch. Lean, white apple fruit, taut acidity, mineral-salty, lemon finish, tightly woven, a dry and savoury food companion.

Disgorged in January 2023, the 2013 Champagne Millésime Brut was the last vintage from the cellar master for Heidsieck prior to Cyril Brun. The 2013 Champagne Millésime Brut is a bright straw yellow color and is based on the crus of Les Mesnil, Avize, Averney, and Aÿ. It’s fresh with aromas of wet stones, fresh quince, and fresh jasmine flowers. It has a chalky and focused texture, with ripeness to balance it out, and a long, graceful finish. At this stage, it feels more forward with 57% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay. A more mineral-tinged expression, it has a lot of charm and the promise of longevity over the coming two decades. Drink 2024-2044. It will be interesting to see how the Pinot shows itself over time. 8 grams per liter dosage.

The Brut Millésime 2013 is a blend of 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay from the cooler, slow-maturing 2013 vintage, finished with a nine gram per liter dosage. Sourced from ten Grand and Premier Cru villages, of which Le Mesnil and Ay account for 15% each—30% of the final blend—the nose reveals subtle brioche, crème brûlée and a faint whiff of butterscotch, with undertones of ripe stone fruit. The palate shows incisive, lively acidity that lifts the plush mid-palate of ripe stone fruit and citrus into a long, very precise finish that is both elegant and fresh.

A nose true to this cool vintage, clean and mineral, with a restrained, not overly exuberant aromatic profile. The wine is firm on the palate, yet offers a chiselled framework, with neither excess richness nor austerity. The juice has lovely length on the palate. It’s a characterful wine.

A nose with slight reduction revealing aromas of Japanese spices, vanilla brioche, roasted grain, with a toasted edge leading into a round, indulgent palate, marked by notes of mocha and white pepper, all carried by lively acidity.

The 2013 Brut Millésime, a blend of 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay from Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs, spent nine years on lees. House-typical smokiness seductively wraps around ripe Mirabelle plum and woodland lichen. The palate surprises with its sprightly, youthful energy, showcasing ripe yellow plum and citrus nuances. Lovely now, it offers real mileage despite lacking tons of concentration, compensating with immense perfume and length. Dosage is 9 grams per liter. (Lot L240028-3206) - Anne Krebiehl MW

Aged for eight years on the lees before disgorgement, the Champagne is deliciously toasty with acidity and fine dryness. Balanced and now finely mature, this great wine is ready to drink.

The bouquet of the 2013 Brut Millésimé is compellingly fresh and minty, complicated by notes of white fruit—notably pear and apple—citrus and gentle spices, as well as a light touch of smoke. With aeration, elegant pastry notes come to the fore. On the palate, this is a structured, tension-filled but airborne Champagne with racy acidity, fleshy and charming texture and a long, penetrating finish. It should age well over the next eight to 10 years. Disgorged in 2022 with nine grams per liter, this is a blend of 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay.