Behind the Bubbles: Champagne Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blanc

Champagne is the iconic sparkling wine adored by many across the globe. If you’re anything like us, you’ll always be on the lookout for a new bottle of bubbles to try. There’s an array of choice when it comes to choosing the perfect bottle for the perfect moment. Whether that be for a special occasion, simply enjoying a glass alongside a delicious meal during the week or gifting a bottle to a loved one. But with several types of Champagne available, there can often be confusion between the different styles. The good news is you’re in great hands. We know a thing or two when it comes to wine, especially Champagne. Join us as we take you behind the bubbles of a Blanc de Blancs Champagne and we’ll tell you all about the dazzling delight from the Champagne House, Charles Heidsieck, which we can’t get enough of.

What is a Blanc de Blancs Champagne?

You might have spotted the terms Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, Brut, Demi-Sec or Rosé on the label when you’ve previously purchased a bottle of bubbles. But what does this mean? Well, these terms help determine the level of sweetness in Champagne and the grapes it is made from. The three main grape varieties used to make Champagne are typically:

  • Chardonnay (white grape)
  • Pinot Noir (black grape)
  • Pinot Meunier (black grape)

A Blanc de Blancs style of Champagne is made exclusively from white grapes, usually Chardonnay. Blanc de Blancs literally means ‘white of whites’.

A Blanc de Blancs we LOVE

Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs

WAS £65 NOW £58.99

Charles Heidsieck is one of the great names of Champagne and produces some of the finest cuvées. The Champagne House was founded in 1851 by Charles-Camille Heidsieck, the original ‘Champagne Charlie’ who was the first to seduce Americans with Champagne and was at the centre of the New York social scene in the 1850s. The foundation of its modern fame rests on the unrivalled quality of its wines, many of which are award winning. This success is down to the remarkable winemaking team over the past three decades: Daniel Thibault, Régis Camus, Thierry Roset and Cyril Brun have between them been awarded ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’ at the International Wine Challenge sixteen times. No other Champagne house has won this award more than twice.

The Champagne House’s Blanc de Blancs combines several of the best hand-picked Chardonnay Crus from three Champagne sub regions. After the first fermentation in stainless steel, the wines were racked to separate the lees and then underwent malolactic fermentation to soften the natural acidity and to enrich their texture. The Blanc de Blancs is an artful blend of different years and terroirs, with 25% reserve wine, to produce a wonderfully complex fizz with rich maturity. All the reserve wines were aged in stainless steel vats on their fine lees. To achieve the depth and complexity required by the house style, the Blanc de Blancs ages for up to 72 months in Charles Heidsieck’s chalk cellars (The Crayères); much longer than the legal requirement of 15 months.

It’s a pale, crystalline gold in colour. The nose is characterised by aromas of mature Chardonnay; white peach, candied citrus with notes of lime, honeysuckle and fresh hazelnuts giving way to subtle hints of tangerine and lemon. On the palate, the Blanc de Blancs bears all the hallmarks of a Charles Heidsieck Champagne: boldness, generosity and elegance. Embracing yet light, it displays appealing mineral, slightly salty, iodine notes, and has a silky, creamy texture – unexpected from a Chardonnay – that leaves a lasting impression.

Discover more from Charles Heidsieck

Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve

WAS £45 NOW £39.99

Generously fruity and toasty with terrific freshness on the finish. Made with up to 50% reserve wine averaging 10 years of age, this non-vintage is exceptionally rich and complex, and goes beautifully with a range of fine canapés.

Champagne Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve

WAS £49.99 NOW £44.99

Simply magnificent with subtle aromas of homemade strawberry jam, peaches, ginger and cinnamon. The pink was named No.1 in the Rosé Non-Vintage rankings by the famous Fine Champagne Magazine.

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About Laithwaite's Wine

We’re wine nuts, not wine snobs. We’ve been exploring the world on a mission to find great wine for the last 50 years. If you love adventure as much as we do, you belong with us. We know our winegrowers like family – and in some cases they actually are. Expect to hear from these legends of the soil, see behind the scenes access into vineyards and wineries and get news on fresh finds from our travels on this page. Drink responsibly. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for further health information. You must be aged 18 or over to follow.

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