This is one of the best NV blends out there. It’s made from 60 different crus, with 40% reserve wines (a very high proportion), and bottled in 2011 before disgorgement in 2017. There is no oak in the cellar here. Average age of reserve wines is 10 years: most are there to iron out inconsistencies in the vintage, but there are also some old ones to add ‘spice’.

Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV France
This is rich but refined with subtle toast and bread characters, a touch of hazelnut and salted almond nuttiness, and linear lemon and ripe apple fruit. There’s a bit of grip here and the acid is countered by slight nougat and apricot sweetness, with a long lemony finish. There’s weight here but no make-up, and it’s pretty serious stuff. I can’t think of many multivintage blends that I’d rather have over this. 93/100

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