2013 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Vintage Brut

The grand, resonant complexity of Charles is brilliantly juxtaposed with the freshness of the cool and late 2013 season, laying out magnificent layers of grand complexity of grapefruit and lemon, apple and pear, fig, white cherries, and then all the marvels of a decade in the depths in almond croissant, crème pâtissière and mixed spice. The acid drive of this cool season is in a sensational place at 11 years of age, meshing seamlessly with crystalline chalk minerality, setting energising freshness and bearing tingling anticipation of grand longevity.

An alluring, detailed aroma that is reserved and layered rather than hugely outgoing at present. There’s some maturity though, a measured weight of light apricot, ripe pear and pale strawberry fruit. Delicacy is the main theme, though, with touches of blossom, white peach.

Disgorged in January of 2023, the 2013 Champagne Millésime Brut was the last vintage from the cellar master for Heidsieck prior to Cyril Brun. The 2013 Champagne Millésime Brut is a bright straw yellow color and is based on the crus of Les Mesnil, Avize, Averney, and Aÿ. It’s fresh with aromas of wet stones, fresh quince, and fresh jasmine flowers. It has a chalky and focused texture, with ripeness to balance it out, and a long, graceful finish. At this stage, it feels more forward with 57% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay. A more mineral-tinged expression, it has a lot of charm and the promise of longevity over the coming two decades. Drink 2024-2044. It will be interesting to see how the Pinot shows itself over time. 8 grams per liter dosage.

The bouquet of the 2013 Brut Millésimé is compellingly fresh and minty, complicated by notes of white fruit—notably pear and apple—citrus and gentle spices, as well as a light touch of smoke. With aeration, elegant pastry notes come to the fore. On the palate, this is a structured, tension-filled but airborne Champagne with racy acidity, fleshy and charming texture and a long, penetrating finish. It should age well over the next eight to 10 years. Disgorged in 2022 with nine grams per liter, this is a blend of 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay.

The Brut Millésme 2013 is a 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay blend from the cooler, slow maturation 2013 vintage and finished with a nine gram per liter dosage. Sourced from ten Grand and Premier Cru villages, of which Le Mesnil and Ay are 15% each to account for 30% of the final blend, the nose reveals subtle brioche, crème brulée and a faint whiff of butterscotch along with undertones of ripe stone fruit. The palate has an incisive and lively acid that lifts the plush mid-palate of ripe stone fruit and citrus to a long and very precise finish that is both elegant and fresh.