Charles Heidsieck Rosé Brut Champagne NV

Product Description

Charles Heidsieck is one of Champagne’s finest Grand Marques. The House was founded in 1851 by Charles-Camille Heidsieck, the original ‘Champagne Charlie’ who inspired George Leybourne’s famous song. Charles Heidsieck’s modern fame rests on the unrivalled quality of their wines, which receive countless awards and accolades year after year.

This success can be attributed to the talented winemakers who’ve crafted their champagnes over the past three decades. Between them, Daniel Thibault, Régis Camus, Thierry Roset and Cyril Brun have been awarded ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’ at the International Wine Challenge sixteen times. No other house has won more than twice. The winemaking team is now led by Elise Losfelt, who succeeded Cyril Brun as cellar master in March 2023. All of Charles Heidsieck’s champagnes are carefully aged in their UNESCO recognised ‘Crayères’ chalk cellars beneath Reims. Comprising several kilometres of interconnected galleries, these cathedral-like cellars were dug out by the Romans over 2000 years ago and were purchased by Charles-Camille in 1867.

In 2022, Charles Heidsieck was one of the first Grand Marques, alongside Piper-Heidsieck, to achieve B-Corp Certification, illustrating an ongoing commitment to improving both their social and environmental impact on the planet. The House embraces a simple, quality-focused winemaking philosophy, which is particularly evident in the ‘Brut Réserve’. For this cuvée, grapes are sourced from 60 different ‘crus’ across the region, with fermentation and ageing of the base wines undertaken primarily in stainless steel to preserve freshness. The final blend comprises 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier, including 50% reserve wines with an average age of 10 years. The ‘Brut Réserve’ is then aged on its lees, in bottle, for at least three years before release. These elements create an expression that is more ‘Premium Cuvée’ than ‘Brut Réserve’, which accounts for its success at competitions.

The ‘Rosé Réserve’ is pale in colour and delicately scented on the nose. The four to five per cent of red wine in the blend is sourced exclusively from Les Riceys, in the Côte des Bar, whose Pinot Noirs are full of flavour yet low in tannin.