Charles Heidsieck Brut Rose 2012 (Champagne, France) - [WS 95] [JS 95] [WE 94] [WA 93]

Charles Heidsieck Brut Rose 2012
(Champagne, France) - [WS 95] [JS 95] [WE 94] [WA 93]


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About the Winery:
The winery was founded in 1851 by 28-year-old Charles-Camille Heidsieck. The very next year he took the unusual step, at that time, of journeying to the United States to sell his Champagne. In fact, he was the first Champagne producer to visit the U.S.A. "Champagne Charlie", as he became known, was a gracious gentleman and a born salesman, personally selling 300,000 bottles of his Champagne in the U.S. in one year! With a beginning like that, you would think that Charles Heidsieck would be a big-selling, well-known Champagne in the U.S. and throughout the world. But it is not.

The winery has undergone a number of changes of control during the 20th century and in 1985, Remy Martin Cognac (a.k.a. Remy-Cointreau) purchased both Champagnes Charles Heidsieck and Piper-Heidsieck (it had purchased Champagne Krug previously). Remy-Cointreau's first move was to re-hire the brilliant Daniel Thibault in 1986 to be Chef de Caves for Charles Heidsieck. Regis Camus joined Charles Heidsieck as assistant winemaker in 1994 and has been the head winemaker of the House since 2002, since the untimely death of Daniel Thibault.

Notes from the Winemaker:

Charles Heidsieck considers 2012 to be self-evident: a “classic” vintage in the noblest sense of the term. The cuvée is enthralling for its power, generosity and structure, combined with smoothness and remarkable freshness. Produced from a precise selection of eleven Grands and Premiers Crus, this blended rosé boasts lushness and elegance, and will age gracefully for many years.

Vineyards: 11 Grands and Premiers Crus – Oger, Vertus, Chouilly, Cuis, Verzy, Aÿ, Ludes, Ambonnay, Tauxières, Avenay, Les Riceys

Vintage:
Harmony reigns despite trying weather conditions. The 2012 vintage recalls the phenomenal years of 1990 or 1996 and yet, the year’s harvest was something of a miracle. Nature had us fearing the worst with a series of climate events representing a potential catastrophe for our vineyards. The spring brought violent attacks of mildew, torrential rains, hailstorms and cold snaps during flowering, followed by sunscald and water stress that drove yield down by 30%. But a beautiful, sunny August enabled slow maturing and good concentration in the grapes, resulting in a late harvest. The grapes proved to be of excellent quality: rich in sugar and good acidity.

Blend: 62% Pinot Noir including 9% red wine, 38% Chardonnay
Dosage: 9g/l

Tasting Notes:
TO THE EYE: A magnificent coppery golden robe offers glints of tangerine with a delicate, dynamic effervescence.
ON THE NOSE: The initial nose is an invitation to indulgence with ripe fruit and toasted, smoky notes reminiscent of the wine’s native mineral soil, giving way to a riot of fruity notes of pomegranate, blackthorn, quince and fresh almonds with a touch of blueberry.
ON THE PALATE: The attack is frank with abundant freshness, signature of its noble composition. The mid-palate brings notes of quince, white pepper and vineyard peaches. With a well-balanced tannic structure, the finish is silky.

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Fragrant, with wafts of roasted nuts and toasted brioche -- a profile that underscores the palate's flavors of steeped raspberry, peach skin, ground coffee, vanilla and candied mandarin orange peel. Reveals vibrant, well-integrated acidity, which keeps this rich version trim and focused and drives the long, fine-textured finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged 2021. Drink now through 2035. 125 cases imported." – Alison Napjus (Dec 2023)

95 Points - James Suckling:
"A very elegant vintage rosé with wonderfully expressive red berry, blood orange and rhubarb aromas. Complex and finely-nuanced, this glides over your palate in spite of the healthy structure. Long finish that's driven by the fine tannins and chalky minerality. The same basic blend as the 2012 vintage champagne from this house, but with 9% of red wine. Drink or hold." - (July 2023)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Impressively young, this Champagne also has great maturity. This balance and tension gives it crisp fruit along with touches of spice. The wine, aged for 10 years on its lees, is now ready to drink. - Roger Voss (Dec 2023)

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"Disgorged with nine grams per liter dosage in 2021, the 2012 Brut Rosé is a blend of
62% Pinot Noir and 38% Chardonnay sourced from 11 villages. Nine percent red wine from Les Ryceys has been added. Offering up aromas of blueberry, wild strawberry, pomegranate, almond and spring flowers, the palate is energetic with lively acids, perfectly balanced and juicy, but it already exudes freshness and clarity that lead to a finish with a light grace note of gastronomic bitterness. It will drink at its peak in four to six years’ time." - Yohan Castaing (Apr 2023)