【Wine Spectator 93 pts】

【Wine Advocate 91 pts】

ZF420-Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs Champagne NV

$480/btl

In 1859, it won its first trophy at the World Expo, earning it recognition and becoming a favorite of Napoleon III. In 1864, it became a favorite of the Russian Tsar, who labeled it "Russian Special Champagne" in Russian on the bottle label. In 1912, the Titanic, carrying hundreds of bottles of Charles Heidsieck champagne, struck an iceberg, breaking the ship in two and plunging the bottle into the Atlantic Ocean. In 1985, scientists reawakened Charles Heidsieck, having been dormant for 73 years. The champagne house also gained the attention of Rémy Martin, which acquired it and restored it to its former glory. After several successive generations, it is now a top-tier champagne brand under the French EPI (Europeenne de Participation Industrielle).

The winery's underground cellars stretch for eight kilometers, located approximately 30 meters below the surface of Saint-Nicaise in Reims, France. This area was once a Roman quarry in the 3rd century AD, nearly 2000 years ago. Constructed from chalk rock, the cellars have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. The stable temperature and humidity, along with the tranquil environment, provide ideal conditions for aging Champagne, imparting more complex flavors and finer effervescence.

While it is well known that there are three legally permitted grape varieties in the Champagne region, for Hacherche Champagne, the concept of "Time as the fourth varietal" is deeply rooted in their winemaking philosophy. Time, the winery considers, to be the fourth grape in Champagne production, contributing its complex and rich flavors, as well as its uniquely smooth texture.

The core fruit is carefully selected from the most representative Côte des Blancs Grand Cru and Premier Cru villages such as Oger and Vertus in the Champagne region, precisely interpreting the pure chalky terroir. This is a masterpiece of craftsmanship after the winery stopped producing Blanc de Blancs for many years. The wine is aged in the "2,000-year-old Gallo-Roman chalky cellars Crayères", a UNESCO World Heritage site, for lees aging for 3 to 4 years, far exceeding the legal 15 months, perfectly showcasing the winery's signature "creamy and silky" texture.