Charles Heidsieck : Millésimé Brut Collection Crayères 1981

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of Millésimé Brut Collection Crayeres 1981

Tasting

Appearance
This prestigious champagne displays a stunning golden hue with beautiful copper highlights, distinguished by remarkably fine bubbles.

Nose
The initial nose reveals aromas of toasted notes and mocha, quickly followed by a hint of salinity typical of Champagne. With a bit of aeration, the bouquet opens up, offering scents of candied citrus fruits such as tangerine and grapefruit, accompanied by notes of ginger and dried figs.

Palate
The 1981 vintage stands out on the palate for its remarkable freshness, all the more surprising for a wine of this age. Generous, it offers a silky texture and evolved aromas of mocha and toasted bread. This perfect balance between freshness and maturity makes this champagne a truly remarkable bottle.

Food and Wine Pairings

Dishes based on slow-cooked white meats (such as seven-hour leg of lamb) or fish (red tuna curry with coconut milk) make for noble and refined pairings with this vintage champagne.

The Charles Heidsieck House unveils a limited edition vintage champagne

The estate

A benchmark in the field, the Champagne Charles Heidsieck House preserves a prestigious heritage with cellars that are two millennia old. As a pioneer, Charles Heidsieck set itself apart as early as the late 1980s by highlighting the exceptional aging potential of its multi-vintage Brut champagne. In 1987, Charles Heidsieck became the first Champagne house to indicate the year of “cellaring” in order to track the wine’s evolution over time.

The vineyard

The Charles Heidsieck House owns a vineyard of about 60 hectares in the Marne and Aube. This vineyard is certified for sustainable viticulture as well as High Environmental Value certification. In addition to its own vineyard and following the Champagne model, Charles Heidsieck meets its needs through long-term supply contracts with rigorously selected winegrowers and cooperatives in Champagne.

The wine

The Charles Heidsieck House has exceptionally opened its oenotheque, making a limited number of bottles from the remarkable 1981 vintage available. In total, 354 bottles and 441 magnums are available worldwide.

The vintage

In 1981, after a mild and wet winter, intense frosts in April gave way to a long, sunny summer. The harvest, which was remarkably brief, took place during a warm and sunny October, producing grapes perfectly balanced in ripeness and freshness.

Blend

This Brut champagne is the result of a blend of pinot noir (60%) and chardonnay (40%).