The Spectator 17th Dec 2020
"From the house of the great ‘Champagne Charlie’ himself, it always astounds me how few folk seem to have heard of it. But once tasted, never forgotten, thanks to its glorious toasty, creamy, nutty brioche and preserved fruit flavours and sheer weight and complexity due, no doubt, to the high preponderance of reserve wines in the blend. If you drink one champagne this Christmas, please drink this. - Jonathan Ray"
Times of Tunbridge Wells 18th Jun 2020
"Who doesn’t beam when
they hear that champagne cork pop? This opulent, full-bodied and masterful
bottle from a small, iconic champagne house is the perfect pick-me-up — and a
very special drink to toast our dads. Charles Heidsieck age their NV champers
for at least five years before disgorging (far longer than the legal
requirement of 15 months) and use 40% of old reserve wines, thereby bestowing
an ample core of buttered water biscuit, bread dough, nuts and acacia; all
qualitative clues to a full-flavoured and attractively textured palate.
Marvellous. - James Viner"
The Sunday Times 7th Jun 2020
"From the house
founded in Reims in the mid-19th century by “Champagne Charlie” Charles Camille
Heidsieck, this is one of the best non-vintage bubblies on the market. Complex
and sophisticated, with sumptuous notes of biscuit, brioche and ground almonds.
A treat for the senses. - Will Lyons"
Calibre Magazine 18th Dec 2019
"Charles Heidsieck
relentlessly win medals and trophies for its wines – it may not have the
marketing clout of some of the most famous marques, but it punches well above
its weight on quality. For this, its standard champagne, around half of the
blend consists of reserve wines, the oldest of which date back to 1990. And you
can see that in the wine itself.
It is honeyed, rich and powerful, with biscuit and brioche notes combined with
lemon curd. For the money, this is hard to beat and will satisfy and impress
all your guests. - Matt Pym"
The Field 15th Nov 2019
"Sometimes, however,
only first-rate champagne will do, and none is more first-rate than that from
old Champagne Charlie himself, the Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV. Made with
a higher number of reserve wines than is usual in Champagne and aged far longer,
it's a fabulous fizz, full of toast, brioche, honey and white stone fruit. - Jonathan Ray"
Decanter 2nd Nov 2019
"Neatly constructed and
eloquent, with a nose of plum and yellow fruit, coupled with hints of spring
flowers. - Panel tasting"
The Sunday Times 5th May 2019
"I had forgotten how
good this Brut Réserve is until a Parisian sommelier jogged my memory. Intense
notes of brioche and roasted almonds, with a delicate texture and lasting
flavour. - Will Lyons"
Manchester Evening News 21st Dec 2018
"The best non-vintage
Champagne is Charles Heidsieck but it comes at a price, namely about £40-£45 a
bottle. The Wine Society’s six for the price of five is therefore a great
option. - Andy Cronshaw"
independent.co.uk 29th Nov 2018
"Picking up a
non-vintage master award at the Drinks Business Champagne Masters 2018, this
copper coloured fizz is richly aromatic. Expect plenty of toasted brioche
flavours, alongside ripe red fruit, a creamy nuttiness as well as crisp
acidity. It really does have it all. Complex, with a long lasting finish, we
like this with smoked salmon and charcuterie. - Stacey Smith"
The Mail on Sunday 31st Dec 2017
"My pick of the
Champagne producers for a treat on New Year’s Eve is Charles Heidsieck. The
straight non-vintage is a bullseye. - Olly Smith"
Financial Times 20th Dec 2017
"This is a house with
extraordinary cellars and stocks of ancient wines. Under new ownership, it is
in full revival mode. - Jancis Robinson"
ft.com 12th Sep 2017
"With an unusually
high level of reserve wines in its blend and a minimum ageing of six years
before release, this has wonderful depth of flavour with toast, brioche,
caramel, white stone fruit and honey. - Jonathan Ray"
Manchester Evening News 17th Dec 2016
"This famous estate
has been consistently making fabulous Champagne for many years in the chalk
cellars that run underneath the city of Reims. Even the NV has complex biscuit
notes on the nose and a palate of rich elegance and harmony. - Andy Cronshaw"
The Mail on Sunday 4th Dec 2016
"Extra ageing gives a
perfect balance of richness to refreshment. - Olly Smith"
Decanter 4th Jul 2016
"
Gold,
Decanter World Wine Awards: An energetic nose of smoky lime zest, peach,
butterscotch and toast. The palate is round and elegant with a creamy
texture, delicate lime and strawberry fruit, lively acidity and spicy
biscotti notes. A finish of fuity finesse and elegant minerality.
"
The Scotsman 11th Jun 2016
"It has a rich
biscuity aroma and honeyed palate from the high percentage of mature reserve
wines. - Rose Murray Brown"
The Oldie 26th May 2016
"
Superb. - Bill Knott
"
Champagne&Sparkling Wine World Championships 2014 1st Sep 2014
"Gold medal: Heavenly
toast! Very deep golden colour with a full, rich, evolved, super-toasty nose,
with notes of dried fruits, pencil-shavings, yeast extract, coffee and a flick
of vanilla. The palate is equally full-bodied and complex, in a smooth, intense
and very long, blockbuster style, without being heavy. Gorgeous! - Tom Stevenson"