96-98 points Essi Avellan, MW: "(52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir). Based on the 2016 vintage, this wine builds on a magnificent wealth of reserve wines. It already has a high expression on release: a super-complex nose, in which vanilla, burned sugar, caramel and liquorice meet tangerine, pineapple, dried apricots and honey. The sumptuously sweet character continues on the soothingly mellow palate, oozing reserve-wine richness. Here, the 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir (going back to 1998) blend harmoniously into something luxuriously textured. Perfectly balanced with its dosage. No need to wait, even if the new Charlie has the structure to age too. Dosage 7g/l. (Aug 2022)"
97 points Yohan Castaing (Decanter): "An astonishing bouquet presenting notes of petroleum and flint that mingle with scents of pastry and both dried apricot and apricot jam. Complexity and generosity stand out on the palate, with that exemplary creamy and mellow mouthfeel that aged Champagnes at their best can have, but there is also freshness and an underlying crystalline sensation serving as counterpoint to the fullness of texture that is enhanced by the dosage. The chalk-infused finish is long and subtle, leaving a lingering impression of spices, including vanilla and pepper, as well as dried fruits. Bottled and cellared in 2017. Disgorged: November 2021. Dosage: 7g/L. 80% reserve wines and 20% wines from the 2016 harvest. 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir from Aÿ. Drinking Window: 2022-2030. (Jul 2022)"
97 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(tasted in 2023 in Australia; 52% chardonnay, 48% pinot noir; 28% 2016 base, 72% reserves of predominantly chardonnay, back to 1998, including 35% of reserves of more than 15 years of age, aged on lees for up to 25 years; 8g/L dosage; 2000 bottles). There have been several attempts among Champagne's important players in recent years at manifesting brand new prestige cuvées largely around substantial and deep reserves with wildly varying levels of success, but none more compelling than Champagne Charlie. It's been 18 months since my first, unforgettable encounter with the new Charlie and I have watched the evolution in bottle of this unique creation with avid interest on many occasions through its yet short life. It upholds a brilliance to its medium straw yellow hue and a brightness to its white fruit accents, with chardonnay projecting its personality more confidently than ever at this age in a pop of preserved lemon, white peach and pineapple core. Its deep reserves reverberate with profound complexity that spans toast, roast nuts, dark spice and tarte tatin. Yet for such a deep maelstrom of character, it projects such a focused and pristine energy on its streamlined tail of vibrant acidity and frothing, saline, fine yet strong chalk minerality that its future is assured. It displays every resounding promise to reveal even more of its profound greatness after yet another decade than it does just a year after its release. (Edition VII; 2024)"
97 ponts Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The NV Champagne Charlie (2017) is the first release since the 1985 “vintage.” The new rendition embraces the long-held emphasis for this cuvée on reserve wine (despite having previously been labelled as a vintage wine) and now represents 80% of the blend, with only 20% from the base vintage of 2016, the oldest of the reserve wines going back to 1998. The wine is fantastically detailed and unfolds with layers of delicate smoky perfume, peach, and citrus blossoms. A refined and delicate mousse wraps around a core of orchard fruits, quince, and chalk. There is impeccable detail with this edition that will continue to improve over the coming decades. Drink 2024-2044. (11/7/22)"
96 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "When Cyril Brun was briefed to recreate this iconic cuvée, he struggled to achieve the plenitude and drama he was looking for. Then, he dug in the Heidsieck archives and discovered, as he tells it, that the famous vintages of Charlie, while vintaged on paper, actually contained reserve wines. Brun therefore gave himself carte blanche to draw on the house's best lots to put together the inaugural NV Champagne Charlie, based on the 2016 vintage but incorporating fully 78% reserve wines dating back two decades. Bursting with aromas of golden orchard fruit, brioche, honeycomb, peaches, spices and buttery pastry, it's full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a layered core of fruit, racy acids and a beautifully refined pinpoint mousse. Some 52% of the blend is Chardonnay, with Brun looking for ripe, exotic Chardonnay to complement more tensile lots of Pinot Noir. It's a compelling, flamboyant wine—the only thing that may make consumers smart is the price. Drink: 2023-2040. (2022)"
96 points Tom Hewson (TimAtkin.com): "52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir. The return of Charles Heidsieck's true Prestige Cuvée is remarkable not only for the quality of the wine (and perhaps the price), but for the admirable choice of not simply going 'big' in terms of style. The youngest wine is from 2016 (20% Aÿ Pinot Noir), the rest composed of reserves back to 1998. What is striking is the harmony, purity and resolution of flavour here, with fragrant tropical fruits, brightness of starfruit and orange peel and fine apricot tart flavours, all sitting under gentle praline richness. Nothing steps out of line - a real sense of assemblage. Luxurious enough on the palate to enjoy now, but subtly-built for further ageing in bottle, this will be a fascinating cuvée to follow. (Dec 2022)"
96 points La Revue du Vin de France: "We are delighted to see the cuvée Charlie again with another philosophy: this wine, mis en cave in 2017, made from old wines and refreshed with 20% of wine from 2016, asserts itself with power and personality. We can only rejoice in this reunion. (2023)"
96 points Anne Krebiehl, MW (Falstaff): "Fresh, ripe apricot and salted shortbread are immediate on the nose. More air reveals a mouthwatering streak of ripe and juicy greengage, grapefruit zestiness and melted butter. The palate is wonderfully brisk, taut at first but endowed with cooling, depth with hints of chalk and more apricot, accentuated by fine mousse. This is complex, taut, fine and beautifully vertical. It will age beautifully. (1/1/22)"
97 points Yohan Castaing (Decanter): "An astonishing bouquet presenting notes of petroleum and flint that mingle with scents of pastry and both dried apricot and apricot jam. Complexity and generosity stand out on the palate, with that exemplary creamy and mellow mouthfeel that aged Champagnes at their best can have, but there is also freshness and an underlying crystalline sensation serving as counterpoint to the fullness of texture that is enhanced by the dosage. The chalk-infused finish is long and subtle, leaving a lingering impression of spices, including vanilla and pepper, as well as dried fruits. Bottled and cellared in 2017. Disgorged: November 2021. Dosage: 7g/L. 80% reserve wines and 20% wines from the 2016 harvest. 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir from Aÿ. Drinking Window: 2022-2030. (Jul 2022)"
97 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(tasted in 2023 in Australia; 52% chardonnay, 48% pinot noir; 28% 2016 base, 72% reserves of predominantly chardonnay, back to 1998, including 35% of reserves of more than 15 years of age, aged on lees for up to 25 years; 8g/L dosage; 2000 bottles). There have been several attempts among Champagne's important players in recent years at manifesting brand new prestige cuvées largely around substantial and deep reserves with wildly varying levels of success, but none more compelling than Champagne Charlie. It's been 18 months since my first, unforgettable encounter with the new Charlie and I have watched the evolution in bottle of this unique creation with avid interest on many occasions through its yet short life. It upholds a brilliance to its medium straw yellow hue and a brightness to its white fruit accents, with chardonnay projecting its personality more confidently than ever at this age in a pop of preserved lemon, white peach and pineapple core. Its deep reserves reverberate with profound complexity that spans toast, roast nuts, dark spice and tarte tatin. Yet for such a deep maelstrom of character, it projects such a focused and pristine energy on its streamlined tail of vibrant acidity and frothing, saline, fine yet strong chalk minerality that its future is assured. It displays every resounding promise to reveal even more of its profound greatness after yet another decade than it does just a year after its release. (Edition VII; 2024)"
97 ponts Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The NV Champagne Charlie (2017) is the first release since the 1985 “vintage.” The new rendition embraces the long-held emphasis for this cuvée on reserve wine (despite having previously been labelled as a vintage wine) and now represents 80% of the blend, with only 20% from the base vintage of 2016, the oldest of the reserve wines going back to 1998. The wine is fantastically detailed and unfolds with layers of delicate smoky perfume, peach, and citrus blossoms. A refined and delicate mousse wraps around a core of orchard fruits, quince, and chalk. There is impeccable detail with this edition that will continue to improve over the coming decades. Drink 2024-2044. (11/7/22)"
96 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "When Cyril Brun was briefed to recreate this iconic cuvée, he struggled to achieve the plenitude and drama he was looking for. Then, he dug in the Heidsieck archives and discovered, as he tells it, that the famous vintages of Charlie, while vintaged on paper, actually contained reserve wines. Brun therefore gave himself carte blanche to draw on the house's best lots to put together the inaugural NV Champagne Charlie, based on the 2016 vintage but incorporating fully 78% reserve wines dating back two decades. Bursting with aromas of golden orchard fruit, brioche, honeycomb, peaches, spices and buttery pastry, it's full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a layered core of fruit, racy acids and a beautifully refined pinpoint mousse. Some 52% of the blend is Chardonnay, with Brun looking for ripe, exotic Chardonnay to complement more tensile lots of Pinot Noir. It's a compelling, flamboyant wine—the only thing that may make consumers smart is the price. Drink: 2023-2040. (2022)"
96 points Tom Hewson (TimAtkin.com): "52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir. The return of Charles Heidsieck's true Prestige Cuvée is remarkable not only for the quality of the wine (and perhaps the price), but for the admirable choice of not simply going 'big' in terms of style. The youngest wine is from 2016 (20% Aÿ Pinot Noir), the rest composed of reserves back to 1998. What is striking is the harmony, purity and resolution of flavour here, with fragrant tropical fruits, brightness of starfruit and orange peel and fine apricot tart flavours, all sitting under gentle praline richness. Nothing steps out of line - a real sense of assemblage. Luxurious enough on the palate to enjoy now, but subtly-built for further ageing in bottle, this will be a fascinating cuvée to follow. (Dec 2022)"
96 points La Revue du Vin de France: "We are delighted to see the cuvée Charlie again with another philosophy: this wine, mis en cave in 2017, made from old wines and refreshed with 20% of wine from 2016, asserts itself with power and personality. We can only rejoice in this reunion. (2023)"
96 points Anne Krebiehl, MW (Falstaff): "Fresh, ripe apricot and salted shortbread are immediate on the nose. More air reveals a mouthwatering streak of ripe and juicy greengage, grapefruit zestiness and melted butter. The palate is wonderfully brisk, taut at first but endowed with cooling, depth with hints of chalk and more apricot, accentuated by fine mousse. This is complex, taut, fine and beautifully vertical. It will age beautifully. (1/1/22)"
| Product SKU | 345023 |
| Producer | Heidsieck/Charles |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Varietal | Champagne / Sparkling Blend |
| Vintage | NV |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | White |
| Blend | 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir |
| Ships To |
