Heidsieck/Charles Brut Champagne Blanc des Millénaires 2007

98 points Anne Krebiehl, MW (Falstaff): "The nose is very subtle, has glimpses of oyster shell and lemon. The palate is taut, bright, super-fresh, linear, lemony and just incredibly youthful. There is a vein on ripe, lemony freshness that pervades this wine, that sets the tone, that defines its character. This is intense, insistent, urgent, yet also gentle and smooth with very fine mousse. A wonderful and most compelling personality. Exquisite. The finish is a serene stretch of lemony, chalky, profound freshness. Drink now or keep. Will evolve. (3/29/22)"

98 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(tasted in 2021, 2022 and 2023 in France and Australia; five grand crus and one premier cru of the Côte des Blancs in similar quantities; Oger for its finesse and smoothness, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger for its structure, Avize for its minerality, Cramant for its complexity, and Vertus for its vibrancy and floral notes; the seventh vintage in 24 years, following 1983, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2004 and 2006; 8g/L dosage; technological cork). The pristine purity and focus of 2007 Blanc des Millénaires holds it steadfast and resolute, and at 17 years of age its endurance is proclaimed in primary freshness that epitomises the greatest crus of the Côte des Blancs. White peach, grapefruit and lemon unite with apple and pear, basking in the generosity and the creamy texture that build the inimitable mouthfeel of Charles. A glittering cascade of chalk minerality is energised by the beautiful natural acidity of 2007, driving a finish of brilliant line and length, promising a spectacular future over the coming decade. (Edition VII; 2024)"

97 points Wine Enthusiast: "[$290 list] One of the great Blanc de Blancs Champagnes, this wine only hints of its age and maturity. Up front, the wine has layers of white fruits and a steely texture. It is behind those features that the brioche and almond character begins to show. This is a wonderfully balanced wine, ready to drink now. (Dec 2022)"

96 points Simon Field, MW (Decanter): "Seven up for Charles Heidsieck; the seventh release of their magnificent Blanc des Millénaires Champagne, the 2007. Their charismatic chef de caves, Cyril Brun, describes the wine as ‘dangerous’, as in dangerously good, and it is hard not to concur. The legendary Daniel Thibault, who made the first Blanc des Millénaires in 1983, was aspiring to make a very specific style of Chardonnay, rich and indulgent at the same time as being classical and rigorous of construction, a deft paradox in other words. The 2007, child of a cooler, more linear vintage than the rather heady 2006, has achieved this ambition with great aplomb. Cyril is confident that stylistically the 2007 will be closest to the 2004 and the 1995, both greatly lauded and both of which have had an unfailing capacity to win virtually every competition into which they are entered. The pale gold shimmers invitingly, its mousse discreet yet persistent, its aromatics hitherto dominated by notes of grapefruit, yuzu, citrus and quince, behind that sourdough, flint-stone and intimations of toast and honey, both of which will become more pronounced over the splendours of a long life. 20% each of five great villages, all but Vertus ranked as Grand Cru, have provided the raw materials for this most magisterial of Blanc de Blancs Champagnes. Dosed at 7.3g/L (the lowest ever at Charles) and disgorged in July 2021, with a smart new bottle design. Drinking Window: 2022-2032. (Mar 2022)"

96 points James Suckling: "Intense oyster-shell and candied-lemon aromas pull you into this very elegant champagne, which is so precise on the sleek and focused palate with a finish of crystalline purity and brightness. Still really youthful, thanks to the uplifting freshness! A Blanc de Blancs from 5 top Crus in the Côte des Blancs. Drink or hold. (7/12/22)"

96 points Bettane & Desseauve Guide (2023).

95+ points Sarah Mayo (The Wine Independent): "The Blanc des Millionaires 2007 is only the 7th Millionaire bottling since 1983 when the sole declared ambition of the House was to capture the purest expression of the Côte des Blancs. Only made in the best Chardonnay vintages, the blend is an equal proportion assemblage of Chardonnays from each of the Côte des Blancs villages, (except Cuis). This assemblage delivers exceptional fruit purity on the nose with expressive notes of honeysuckle, ripe golden apple, lemon curd and a whiff of chalk dust. The light to medium-bodied palate has a delicate ripe fruit core and a filigreed acid line delivering excellent freshness. Engaging throughout, it has a long, gorgeous finish. Disgorged in early 2023 and finished with an eight gram per liter dosage. Lot: L230340-3022. (11/8/23)"

95+ points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "Also tasted last year, the 2007 Champagne Blanc De Millénaires is the cuvée that features Chardonnay from the Côtes De Blancs, with five crus represented in the blend. Pouring a bright yellow straw hue, it’s expressive with a floral profile on opening and is rounded and balanced on the palate, with layered refinement to its lovely notes of fresh Meyer lemon, candied citrus, and fresh croissant, an elegant, rounded mousse, a chalky texture, and a floral finish that lasts long on the palate. 8 grams per liter dosage. This is the second release of disgorgement, with this one being disgorged in 2023, where the previous release had been disgorged in 2021. (11/17/23)"

95 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "Cyril Brun considers the 2007 vintage more interesting for Chardonnay than 2008, and Charles Heidsieck's 2007 Brut Blanc de Blancs Blanc des Millénaires is certainly a compelling wine. Unwinding in the glass with scents of crisp stone fruits, honeycomb, buttered pastry, yellow apples, pear and freshly baked bread, it's full-bodied, ample and seamless, with a concentrated core of fruit and a chiseled, racy profile. Combining generosity and tension, it's a terrific new release. Drink: 2023-2043. (Aug 2022)"

95 points Tom Hewson (TimAtkin.com): "100% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger and Vertus. The new Blanc des Millénaires presents the very best of the 2007 vintage, one that shows an intense, bristling kind of energy for Chardonnay. A compressed, tight core of chalky, pure flavours – green plum, charred peel, white flowers – with a lick of sea salt. Tasted again in November 2022, this cuvée showed richer sourdough and butter profile, suggesting it is opening up fairly obligingly. Much more focus than the 2006, yet more attitude than the serenelyattractive 2004. (Dec 2022)"

94-95 points Essi Avellan, MW: "The 2007 is the seventh edition of Blanc des Millénaires since the initial release of the 1983. It is also the first vintage released in the new bottle shape, and the thin neck should help the wine's longevity. In the months following its release, this has opened up beautifully and is starting to show irresistible sweet, even tropical notes, as well as a sumptuous toastiness. There is also a mild toffee note that speaks of mild oxidative evolution. In a nice contrast to the sweetly seductive nose, the palate is firm and feisty, with brisk acidity contributing a lot of energy. This is not a vintage of the brightest fruit, but it is a fresh and driven one. Disgorged 2021; dosage 9.5g/l. (Aug 2022)"

94 points Wine Spectator: "[$290 list] Sleek and linear, with racy acidity defining the up-front impact on the palate, but then the plushly creamy texture deftly delivers woven aromas and flavors of apricot and ripe white raspberry, pickled ginger, white blossoms and salted Marcona almond, allowing them to expand through to the mineral-laced finish. Disgorged 2021. Drink now through 2030. 259 cases imported. (12/15/22)"