Charles Heidsieck Rosé Millesime 2018

A food wine! Round and perfumed with quite substantial body. Rewarding and absolutely ready to enjoy – preferably at the table.

During the course of this year, I predict only a handful [Champagne releases] will be genuinely eye-catching – those that are of sufficient ‘must-buy status’ to make it into my Finest Fifty round-up at Christmas. These are two of them! There is no doubt that these two 2018s are spectacular. […] The Rosé, by contrast, is masterful, near-tannic and surprisingly brittle, with a commanding flavour that straightens the spine and insists on your full attention. It is reserved, proud, formal and structured and needs a year or more to drop its shoulders and acclimatise to its surroundings. The yin and yang of the 2018 Charles Heidsieck is fascinating, and you need both in your collection to find completeness.