Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Review

Luxury should, and always will, go hand in hand with quality. If we are really lucky, price doesn`t have to be a factor.

This is of course a rare thing. These days quality goes hand in hand with price, it`s a given. There are, however, some exceptions to the rule.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve is a good example. Budget Champers for the recession that really has a superior taste. For quality, this is the cheapest champagne prices around.

Back in 1851, Charles Heidsieck founded the champagne house of the same name. He imbued his wines with a unique style and an enduring excellence. Immediately recognized and acclaimed by monarchs, experts and connoisseurs alike.

The House and its wines earned their first medals during the Universal Exhibition of 1859. The Emperor Napoleon III himself was prone to drinking the Maison’s champagne, showing a preference for the “high style very dry” which had traditionally been made for the British
market.

The original `Champagne Charlie`, Heidsieck was a maverick. The first champagne producer to make the trip to New York, The tireless self-promoters success was immediate.

After Charles-Camille Heidsieck’s voyage to Russia in 1864, the Tsar’s entourage particularly appreciated his champagne and the labels on the champagne bottles soon carried a caption which read “specially chosen for Russia”.

Charles Heidsieck was also an official supplier to the courts of H.M. the King of Sweden and his R.H. the Grand Duke of Sax-Weimar. In 1957, President Dwight David Eisenhower had a Charles Heidsieck vintage 1949 served during a dinner in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

A rich history indeed, complete with high praise from World leaders and royalty.

Blind Tastings are welcomed by the Charles Heidsieck house. Charles Heidsieck has always been acclaimed by professional tasters, recognised as being `those who know`.

The quantity of medals and trophies regularly earned by Charles Heidsieck is simply extraordinary. The winemaking team has been awarded the “Winemaker of the Year” trophy nine times by the UK International Wine Challenge (1994, 1998-2002, 2004, 2007, 2009).

Impressive, Yes?

There`s more. The Brut Réserve can be bought from any good wine retailer for £31.99.

This is the most perfect expression of the Charles Heidsieck style: at the same time unctuous, round and vivacious, Champagne with an elegant complexity. An aperitif wine by excellence, it is also the perfect accompaniment to simple but savoury food.

There is a depth to the Charles Heidsieck range, topped with the remarkable Blanc des Millénaires.

A mythical cuvée, made exclusively from Chardonnay, the grape varietal of elegance and distinction, whose noble and more mature notes are expressed with distinctive and balanced elegance (£89.99).