Heidsieck/Charles Brut Champagne 2013

94-97 points Essi Avellan, MW: "'57% Pinot Noir, 43% Chardonnay. Charles Heidsieck’s racy 2013 vintage is a blend of ten Grands and Premiers Crus: Oger, Vertus, Chouilly, Cuis, Verzy, Aÿ, Ludes, Ambonnay, Tauxières and Avenay-Val d’Or. Usually appreciated for the richness and toast-enriched complexity of its Vintage cuvées, Charles Heidsieck 2013 plays on totally different assets, cool refinement and silky linearity. Despite excellent ripeness of the grapes, the October harvest brought about a tight acid line and fine aromatic restraint to it. Toastiness is subtle for the time being, but remarkably elegant, perfectly lining the sweet orchard fruit profile. Its best quality is the prism like radiance and purity of fruit. Showing highly youthful, this wine promises to be slowly but gracefully ageing. Suitably dosed at 9g/l. (Apr 2023)"

96 points Wine Enthusiast: "Aged for eight years on the lees before disgorgement, the Champagne is deliciously toasty with acidity and fine dryness. Balanced and now finely mature, this great wine is ready to drink. Alcohol 12%. (Dec 2023)"

95 points Tom Hewson (Decanter): "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, and only a quiet praline and caramelised apple richness. Less austere than the 2008, more focused than the 2012 and already quietly harmonious, this superb 2013 closes with chalkiness and verve. This could well prove the most finely-tuned of the recent Charles Heidsieck vintage releases. Drinking Window: 2023-2040. (4/25/23)"

95 points Bettane & Desseauve Guide (2024).

94 points Sarah Mayo (The Wine Independent): "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. Alcohol 12%. Drink: 2023-2035. (11/8/23)"

94 points La Revue du Vin de France: "The 2013 Vintage Brut is vibrant with a beautiful purity of style. It is faithful to the straight, long-lived vintage. (2024)"

94 points Stuart Pigott (JamesSuckling.com): "A very striking nose with Reine Claude plums, old-fashioned apple varieties and some Nordic herbs. Structured and crisp with a very firm core, the finish driving and full of energy. Rich long finish with a chalky core. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, the make up of the blend very unconventional for this house. Drink or hold. (8/7/23)"

93 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "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. Drink: 2023-2038. (Apr 2023)"

93 points Wine Spectator: "[$150 list] Features flavors of crème de cassis, lemon curd, poached apricot and smoked almond framed by well-cut, crunchy acidity, lending fine definition and vibrancy. A broad-shouldered Champagne that's lacy in texture, with a long finish of spices and grapefruit zest. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged 2022. Drink now through 2028. 100 cases imported. (11/30/23)"

93 points Falstaff Guide: "Medium golden yellow, silver reflections, lively, persistent mousse. Green apple, a hint of pear, meadow herbs, smoky nuances, delicate nutty touch. Lean, white apple fruit, taut acidity, mineral-salty, lemon finish, tightly woven, a dry and savoury food companion. Alcohol 12%. (6/10/23)"