Description
PRODUCER
Charles Heidsieck is one of the most admired Champagne houses thanks to the unrivalled and consistently high quality of its wines. Founded in 1851 by the man who would become known as ‘Champagne Charlie’, this family-owned house is the smallest of the Grandes Marques. Their size, and commitment to excellence, has been underpinned by a winemaking team that between them have been named 'Sparkling Winemaker of the Year' at the International Wine Challenge 16 times.
VINEYARDS
Only Chardonnay is used in the blend of this exceptionally textured cuvée. The Blanc des Millénaires 2006 is made from four of the finest Grand Crus in the Côte des Blancs: Cramant, Avize, Oger, Le Mesnil sur Oger and one Premier Cru: Vertus.
VINTAGE
Despite extreme weather conditions, the 2006 harvest was a generous one. The winter was cold with heavy snowfall, followed by several spring storms across May, then stifling heat at the beginning of summer. Record temperatures were recorded during July, with a cooler, wetter August to follow. The sunny and dry weather in September was particularly helpful for maturing the grapes and ensuring an unexpectedly smooth and generous harvest.
VINIFICATION
In the 19th century, convinced that they would be an ideal place to age wine, Charles Heidsieck decided to purchase chalk cellars dating back to Gallo-Roman times, located in the historic heart of Reims. This decision turned out to be a stroke of genius since these cellars proved to be a peaceful haven where the humidity and 10°C temperature remain constant. An extraordinary ageing period of almost 11 years on the lees gives this 100% Chardonnay cuvée an unparallelled complexity and texture.
TASTING NOTES
The Blanc des Millénaires 2006 has a deep golden hue with glints of light green. The nose has floral notes of violets and acacia and deeper notes of blood oranges, stonefruit, fig and date, complemented by subtle herbal notes of tobacco and eucalyptus. On the palate it displays the signature texture of Blanc des Millénaires, starting with a saline and chalky texture, moving into creamy notes of nougat, citrus and whipped cream, with a round and generous finish.
AWARDS
Decanter World Wine Awards 2021, Silver Medal
International Wine Challenge 2021, Gold
Decanter World Wine Awards 2020, Silver
Recommended Glass Pairing
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