Cyril Brun, former cellar master, comes back on the genesis of the Champagne Charlie cuvée, relaunched on the occasion of Charles Heidsieck’s bicentennial.

An exceptional personality encapsulated in a legendary cuvée

HOW DO YOU GET A FOUNDER INSIDE A BOTTLE?

Everyone knows about the genie inside the lamp. You rub the lamp, and the genie pops out. For the Champagne Charlie cuvée, we were faced with the reverse: we had to take inspiration from history, starting with the founder’s character, Charles-Camille Heidsieck (1822 - 1893), to create a champagne wine worthy of his character.

A TASTE OF HISTORY, A SCENT OF LEGEND…
AND A CERTAIN TALENT FOR HAPPINESS.

The Champagne Charlie legend is intertwined with the soul of a man who bequeathed so many new ideas to his House, and who knew what it was to be an entrepreneur, a gentleman and an innovator. Free-spirited and adventurous, his inspiration was enough to encourage his heirs today to recreate a cuvée in his name and, more particularly, in his nickname.

 

The Charles Heidsieck House and the spirit of Charlie invites you to savor times gone by while letting yourself be transported by a desire to form emotions, friendships and lasting dreams. Time has the power to amplify happiness.

AN IMPORTANT LEGACY: THE ART OF BLENDING

Charles Heidsieck transmitted an important legacy: the art of blending. While his competitors focused on meticulously selecting crus, vines and varietals, he concentrated on establishing agreements with the most gifted winegrowers in Champagne, picking out wines from a large range of villages. He could turn every cuvée to good effect, leaving each to age at its own pace, depending on its character, until full maturity. One bottle of Charles Heidsieck wine can contain up to almost 60 different crus, each differing in cellaring times but generally longer than the average time.
 
In addition, our art of blending ensures that Charles Heidsieck wines boast good cellaring potential. The Champagne Charlie cuvée will be one of the most distinctive from an ageing point of view: a large part of the blend comes from réserve wines aged on lees for up to 25 years.

Cellared in 2017

Close to 80% matured réserve wines and 20% wines from 2016.
48% Pinot Noir and 52% Chardonnay.

To the eye

Dazzling, luminous golden robe.

On the nose

Notes of grapefruit, roasted pineapple enlivened with the vivacity of toasted and mineral notes. After several seconds,aromas of fresh fruits (apricots, vineyard peaches) briefly appear to give way to persistent notes of pastry.

On the palate

The texture is truly the soul of Charlie, where we find that paradox of juvenile freshness and fleshiness, with a silkiness befitting of a more mature wine. This ‘dry fleshiness’ is enhanced with a highly nuanced effervescence, composed of extremely harmonious bubbles. The finish reveals candied citrus and exotic passionfruit notes.