Charles Heidsieck : Blanc des Millénaires 2014

Vivacious and graceful, with a lacy mousse and mouthwatering acidity. Offers fine interplay between this vivid frame and honeyed flavors of poached apricot, quince paste, lemon curd, grilled nuts and brioche. Shows good length on the well-spiced finish. Drink now through 2035. 220 cases imported.

A delicate, bright and serene edition of one of Champagne’s top, if lesser-known, prestige blanc de blancs, emphasising purity over creamy richness. Plenty of ripe aromatics, with fragrant apricot, mandarin, some fresh mango playing with hazelnut and coffee macaron complexity. There’s a calm insistence to the palate, closer to the 2004 than the tension and drama of 2007 or the generosity of 2006. Seems set to be one of the vintage’s top performers.

The eighth rendition of this cuvée, the 2014 Brut Blanc de Blancs Blanc des Millénaires evokes a complex, sweet bouquet of candied lemon, confit citrus, blanched almonds, brioche, honeycomb and ripe stone fruits. Full-bodied, broad-shouldered and ample, it features a velvety attack and a vinous, fleshy core of fruit, with a textural mid-palate that leads to a spicy, long and delicate finish. This is a stunning new release of this cuvée, showcasing its depth and elegance.