Charles Heidsieck Rose Millesime 2006 Magnum (1.5 ltr)

Description

Tasting Notes:
An intense nose of freshly made strawberry jam and mingle with cinnamon, cardamom, honey and pink praline.

On the palate it is layered and complex with notes of liquorice, blackberry tea, cherries, pink peppercorns and fresh figs.

The finish is long and sophisticated.

Vintage 2006:
This Rose was made from a selection of 15 crus throughout Champagne. The Chardonnay was picked from Oger, Mesnil-sur- Oger, Cramant and Vertus – all mainstays in the classic Charles Heidsieck blends. Key vineyards for the Pinot Noir were Avenay, TauxiËres, Ambonnay and Ay.

Grapes which make the red wines for the rosÈ element were from Bouzy, Ambonnay, Les Riceys, Verzenay and Hautvillers.

2006 in Champagne presented various challenges in the vineyards, which ultimately led to a very successful harvest. Winter was very cold, with heavy snowfall across the region. The spring that followed was punctuated by violent thunderstorms, leading to a scorching July, then a cool August. The alternation of hot and cool weather was very beneficial for the maturation of the grapes. The Pinot Noirs were particularly rich, leading Charles Heidsieck to select this year to make a vintage Rose.

Grape Variety:
63% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay

Vinification:
After the first fermentation, the wine is racked to separate the lees and then undergoes malolactic fermentation to soften the natural acidity. 8% of the blend is vinifed as a red wine. After blending, the cuvÈe is bottled and selected yeast added to begin the second fermentation. The bottles are placed in the cellar at a temperature of about 10°C to age for a minimum of 8 years before release.

Background Information:
Charles Heidsieck is one of most admired Champagne houses thanks to the unrivalled and consistently high quality of its wines. The current range is one of the most awarded collections of wines in the world, something underlined when Chef de Cave Thierry Roset was named ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’ at the International Wine Challenge this year. This was the 15th time that Charles Heidsieck’s winemaking team had won this award, but the first for Thierry, who has been working at the house since 1988. He took over the reins in 2012, having worked with both the great Régis Camus and the legendary Daniel Thibault. This winemaking legacy, paired with the house’s flamboyant history since its foundation in 1851 by the man who would become known as ‘Champagne Charlie’, makes it a unique offering from Champagne: a house with great wines, champagne heritage and proven quality throughout its range.

Charles Heidsieck benefit from the richness available across the entire Champagne region, having built exceptional relationships with the most experienced growers. They select grapes from 120 crus across the Champagne appellation.