1981 | Charles Heidsieck | La Collection Crayeres Brut Millesime (Double Magnum)

Really rich golden yellow colour. Some nice small bubbles still coming through. An incredibly alluring nose of mushroom and truffle. Lovely acidity still and immense power! Lime, mushroom and nuts galore on the palate. Great dryness and such impressive length. With more time in the glass, this is still very fresh.

Reviews:

• Wine & Spirits: From its initial scents that bring fossilized oyster shells to mind, this wine seems to defy time with its youthful energy. It has the raciness of the 1996 vintage without any aggressive edges. The power and tension of the wine feels encapsulated by the structure, yielding hints of Moorish spices and darker tones of salted plums and truffles.

• Wine Cellar: Vivid yellow-gold. Deeply scented bouquet of dried apple, nectarine, honey, orange rind, toffee and gingerbread. Broad, palate-coating orchard and pit fruit flavors are complemented by toasty lees and spice nuances and lifted by slow-building minerality.

Producer Information

Charles Heidsieck is a prestigious Champagne producer. Its house style is structured and creamy, with a high proportion of reserve wine used in the Brut NV. Charles Heidsieck uses the three main Champagne grapes; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, in the wines, and the grapes of which are now sourced from more than 200 growers throughout Champagne. The house began in 1851 when its eponymous founder – the original "Champagne Charlie" – went into business for himself. Rather than investing in vineyards, Heidsieck invested in underground chalk cellars based in the center of Reims. The cellars, which are still part of the house today, are 60 feet (18m) below ground and have a constant temperature and humidity – they have been used to age wines for nearly 150 years. The cellars were less than 330 feet (100m) away from the German front line during the First World War and managed to survive, even though 80 percent of Reims was destroyed. In 1852, Charles Heidsieck left France for America, a market that was so far untouched by Champagne. He found great success there and was seen as not only an ambassador for Champagne but for France as a whole. Today, Champagne Charles Heidsieck is a premium producer of sparkling wines. The house produces both classic brut and rosé non-vintage wines, both of which are aged for three years, around 20 months longer than is legally required for non-vintage champagnes. There are also a range of vintage expressions in the portfolio.

DISCLAIMER** This is a single item listing unless otherwise noted in the description. Retailer advises either in stock or in route to their location. Usually ships within one to four business days. Longer processing times may occur especially around holiday(s). Some items may become backordered or delayed without notice due to demand & will ship out upon arrival. Overseas 700ml products typically have longer processing/transit times. You can always verify product availability by calling 1-888-548-0333. Please refer to our cancellations & returns agreement or reach out to our support team at help@caskcartel.com for any additional questions.

Our dedicated team specializes in creating personalized shopping experiences. If you’re looking for a specific item or collection that isn’t appearing on our marketplace, please reach out to us at concierge@caskcartel.com or fill out the product inquiry form and one of our dedicated team members will be in touch.  Whether it’s a product you’ve experienced while traveling or a rare, hard to find item you’ve been searching for, we have an established global network of retailers with the ability to locate and source the rarest and hardest to find products.