Blanc des Millenaires 1995 brut Champagne by Charles Heidsieck

Bought in Canada @ around RMB 1,100 in May 2008

Tasted on Sept 12,2008 @ Cantonese restaurant

This prestige Blanc de Blancs is made with Chardonnay from five of the best crus from the Côte des Blancs -- Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Vertus, Cramant and Avize.

For a 13-years-old, the color is surprisingly light -- pale lemon! Immediately indicating this bottle has been only recently disgorged. Fine cordon, truly tiny bubbles and gentle effervescene.

A burst of yeasty notes upon opening but soon disappeared. When first poured into the glass, the nose is so young -- green apple, white flowers and polished wood! This confirms recent disgorgement. When aired, the nose gradually developed into ripe citrus fruit with discreet notes of orange peel, and then finally hazelnut with licorice. The fruit is so rich here that I can't detect any mineral notes on the nose.

After an initial burst, the acidity is very soon molten down by the rich fruit -- tons of exotic mango! The palate is so generous, supply and creamy that one can hardly believe this is a Blanc de Blancs from the chilly and chalky La Champagne...but this is no doubt Daniel Thibault's personal seal! This is just too easy to drink and I have to restrain myself from finishing the bottle too quickly...After 30 minutes in the glass, the fruit finally thins up a bit with notes of hazelnut, almond and licorice showing up.

This light-hearted exotic charmer is a crowd pleaser for sure. But the acidity is already molten down -- so be light-hearted and enjoy it now! Don't store too long!

Another bottle tasted on Dec 21, 2008

Green gold. Few and delicate streams of bubbles.

The nose starts with lime and green apple, gradually evolving towards toast and honey, then ending with slight notes of butter. Interesting in that when well chilled, the toasty and honey notes are generous on the nose, while warmed up, the nose becomes rather mute...

The first attack on the palate is surprisingly 'green' - green apple and lime with mouthwatering acidity - stony and refreshing, though the mousse is indeed creamy. For a 13-year-old blanc de blancs, such youthful acidity and freshness lead me to believe that malolactic fermentation (MLF) has been blocked, as this chardonnay bottling is NOT oily at all...though it's well known that the late Daniel Thibault chose MLF to achieve Charles Heidsieck creamy style.

Some 40 minutes after un-corking, the palate evolves to the next stage - supple and full with tons of ripe mango fruit and honey, ending with sour-sweet notes of haw. The finish is very long and mouthwatering.

This is a superb bottle with more life than the one tasted back in last May.

Daniel Thibault, Charles Heidsieck's late wine-making genius, can rest well in peace and will be remembered by the wine world and champagne lovers around the globe.