Charles Heidsieck Brut reserve

Charles Heidsieck is one of Champagne’s finest Grand Marques. The House was founded in 1851 by Charles-Camille Heidsieck, the original ‘Champagne Charlie’ which inspired George Leybourne’s famous song. Charles Heidsieck’s modern fame rests on the unrivaled 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 recognized ‘Crayères’ chalk cellars beneath Reims. Comprising several kilometers 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.  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.