Champagne

In Chopine, Iamato, Kouneli and Olympie III we offer a choice of brut, non vintage champagnes "on tap" (in other words, you can drink it whenever you wish): Charles Heidsieck and Veuve Clicquot.

We chose these two champagnes after a blind wine tasting with friends and past clients. Charles Heidsieck was, by a good margin the favourite choice of those who tasted it. Veuve Clicquot gave a good showing and because it is well known and popular with many guests we have decided to include this in our offering.

Charles Heidsieck

Charles Heidsieck is simply an outstanding wine which satisfies from the moment it touches the tongue to the last swallow. You can read a very good review of it at TheWineDoctor.Com.

The origins of Charles Heidsieck lie in 1785, when it started life as a Champagne company under the auspices of Florenz-Ludwig Heidsieck. The house of Charles Heidsieck has seen something of a renaissance in recent years and instrumental in the revival of this house has been Daniel Thibault. Thibault was an excellent wine maker and blender, and has been responsible for what are probably the finest wines ever to bear the label of Charles Heidsieck.

Whereas most houses have only a few vintages at their disposal for the production of the non vintage cuvée, Thibault had over eight vintages. Masterful blending of these older wines into the non vintage cuvée - which makes it sound more like a multi-vintage prestige cuvée along the lines of Krug NV or Laurent-Perrier's Grand Siecle - with the reserve wines comprising up to 40% of the final blend, is what results in such a fabulous wine.

To quote in full from 2007 Champagne Information Bureau Tasting tasting notes.

Charles Heidsieck Mis en Cave 2003 Brut Réserve NV: This is the 2003 cellaring, so largely based on the 2002 vintage. Deep, smoky, brioche and fruit. Some depth and complexity here, belying the generous use of reserve wines I would think. Very fine, gentle and composed on the palate. Appealing, soft, fine mousse. Full of appeal, perhaps not as concentrated as some previous releases of this particular cuvée but very good nevertheless. Certainly one of the better wines here today.
From the 2007 Champagne Information Bureau Tasting. 16.5+/20

Veuve Clicquot

Veuve Clicquot or Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin to give it its full name is perhaps the most recognised champagne in the world and really needs no introduction. Brut Non-Vintage is a blend of fifty crus, one third Chardonnay and incorporates up to one third reserve wine. You can read a very good review of it at TheWineDoctor.Com.

To quote in full from 2007 Champagne Information Bureau Tasting tasting notes.

Lime leaves on the nose, oranges, smoky, and some sulphur. Soft, unfocussed, creamy foamy style, peppery and sherbetty. Slightly bitter character too. Lacks precision and presence, fading away to almost nothing on the endpalate. Disappointing.
From the 2007 Champagne Information Bureau Tasting. 14/20

You can find out more about Champagne Information Bureau from their web site at www.champagne-civc.co.uk.