Description
A pale, crystal-clear yellow, to which the higher proportion of chardonnay brings glints of green. A light, airy effervescence. Aromas of dried apricots, notes of little red and black berries (raspberry, blackberry) and a hint of spices. Intense and enticing. An ample and generous harmony. A particularly dense and structured wine, whose generous structure is plush with candied orange peel, highlighted with a touch of smoked tea and toasted almonds. An incredibly long finish and the freshness of the Chardonnays tame the Pinots Noirs’ vigor. Balanced and elegantly charming. From a contrasted year comes an unexpectedly elegantly charming wine. A year that first of all was marked by highly contrasted weather: after a heat wave in July, August witnessed violent storms of rain and hail. A year that offered a contrasted expression of the grapes: the Pinots Noirs were exceptionally intense and impetuous while the Chardonnay was ready for a long maturation. A year that obliged the winemakers to adapt: reducing the proportion of Pinot Noir compared to past years, thus reaching parity between Pinot and Chardonnay to moderate the Pinot Noir’s intensity. A year that asked for patience: the 17 crus that were selected to build the vintage (9 Grands Crus, 7 Premiers Crus – 8 Pinots Noirs, 9 Chardonnays) patiently waited 6 years in the House’s cellars to reach the perfect balance, and express the wine’s elegance and charm. Accolades GOLD MEDAL – MONDIAL DE BRUXELLES 2013 GOLD MEDAL – DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2013 GOLD MEDAL – INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRIT COMPETITION 2013 97/100 – HUON HOOKE 2013 94/100 – WINE ENTHUSIAST 2012 SPARKLING WINE TROPHY – HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS COMPETITION 2012 GOLD MEDAL – CHAMPAGNE MASTERS 2012 95/100 – WINE SPECTATOR 2012 18/20 – BETTANE ET DESSAUVE 2012 97/100 – GILBERT ET GAILLARD 2012 GOLD MEDAL – INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE 2012 GOLD MEDAL – DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2012 It all began with Florens-Louis Heidsieck. Born in Westphalia in 1749, this son of a Protestant minister started out as a draper in Reims where he fell in love with a girl from Champagne… and with the wine from Champagne. He was a self-educated man, overcome with the incredible ambition “to make a cuvee worthy of a queen”. In 1785 he founded the Cloth and Wine Trading Company Heidsieck & Co. He straightaway made his name with a distinctive champagne, whose reputation quickly spread beyond the local region and won favour at court.