Latest news with #CharlesHeidsieck
Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Ritzy fizz — the best champagne in the world
Here is cause for celebration: research suggests that drinking champagne may lower your risk of cardiac arrest. It's wonderful to have an excuse to open a bottle but, given the dizzying array of fizz available, which to open? Given the occasion, I feel it appropriate to recommend those champagnes so sought-after that they tend to retail at prices that might, under other circumstances, trigger a heart attack. For an aperitif I particularly like a blanc de blancs (a champagne that is 100 per cent chardonnay) — that lemon zip of acidity providing a vivacious start to the evening. Charles Heidsieck's Blanc des Millénaires 2014 (Shelved Wine, £191) is beautiful: hazelnuts and a wisp of smoke, the citrus almost roasted; so is the lemon sherbet and spice of Henri Giraud Aÿ Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs 2014 (Farr Vintners, £325), made by a delightfully eccentric family based in the famous village of Aÿ. Then there are the clos: tiny enclosed parcels of particularly fine terroir. Only about fifteen are left in the region, and they include Clos des Goisses, a steep, 5.5-hectare patch in Mareuil-sur-Äy that has been owned by Philipponnat since 1935. The 2014 (The Whisky Exchange, £300) is a great result from a rainy year: fresh yet complex, with notes of pear and herbs. Krug's Clos d'Ambonnay is far smaller: 0.68 hectares of pinot noir next to its imposing new winery. The 2006 (Hedonism, £2,850) is a luscious blend of figs, orange peel and nuts. Clos Saint-Hilaire, also in Mareuil-sur-Äy and named for its patron saint, is a single hectare of old-vine pinot noir, complete with beehives, lovingly tended by the seventh generation of the Billecart-Salmon family. The 2006 (The Finest Bubble, £380) — aged for 15 years — has flavours of coffee, brioche and clementine; there are never more than 7,500 bottles produced each year. Champagne Bollinger also has two historic clos in its home village of Aÿ, which it chooses to combine into Vieilles Vignes Françaises. These pinot noir vines, some of the oldest in the region, give an extraordinary wine; the 2012 (Hedonism, £1,270) has notes of plum, cinnamon and a hint of cocoa. For reasons of space I am ignoring rosés and magnums, even though everyone knows that rosé champagne lifts the heart as well as protecting it and that, as Winston Churchill is supposed to have said, the perfect bottle size for two people is a magnum, especially if one of them isn't drinking. A heroic drinker, with a particular soft spot for Pol Roger, he nonetheless lived to 90; and on turning 175 in 2024, his favourite brand celebrated its longevity — and his — in the most appropriate possible fashion: by releasing Vinothèque, a selection of six particularly fine older cuvées, all aged in its vast cellars to ensure exemplary provenance. One of these is, naturally, the 1998 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill (Berry Bros, £544), an exceptionally complex wine with notes of white flowers and spice. A leader who was far less long-lived, so little opportunity to suffer from any heart issues, was Tsar Alexander II of Russia, for whom Louis Roederer's Cristal was created: in clear glass and with a flat base to foil anyone trying to hide a bomb in it. Unfortunately he was a more creative thinker than his assassins, who just chucked their bombs into his coach and, when he emerged, at his feet. The 2015 vintage (The Wine Society, £245) has notes of lemon peel and yellow nectarine and perfumes of flowers. Not every top champagne cleaves to a single vintage: since none is ever perfect, Laurent-Perrier prefers to combine three years of grand cru vineyards to make its Grand Siècle. Iteration No 26 (Laithwaites, £190) is a bountiful blend of cream, honey and baked apple. One of the most valuable qualities in a fine champagne is rarity. Grower champagnes are made by families who would once have sold their grapes to the bigger names but now choose to produce their own cuvées, usually in very small quantities. The Jacques Selosse champagnes are now nearly as hard to get hold of as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, but try Les Pierrières Blanc de Blancs NV (The Finest Bubble, £440), a single-vineyard blanc de blancs from Ulysse Collin, whose founder, Olivier Collin, is a Selosse alumnus. Certain top growers circumvent the scarcity problem by buying in some grapes, while staying small and family-owned: Larmandier-Bernier, whose Les Chemins d'Avize Grand Cru 2015 (Lea & Sandeman, £142.50), from 65-year-old vines, has expansive notes of citrus peel and nectarine plus a juicy, almost minty freshness; and Bérêche & Fils, where the brothers Raphaël and Vincent made Aÿ Grand Cru 2015 (The Whisky Exchange, £209), which is rich, lightly spiced and exceptionally moreish. Whichever you choose to drink, raise a glass to beneficial research. It is surely no coincidence that both Britain and France toast the drinkers' health. So here's to yours — or, as the French say, santé.
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Mother's Day Gift Guide: Women-Made Wines
This fragrant red wine hails from Sicily. Donnafugata Most of my mom friends appreciate a gift of wine, and many of them also like to support other women. Here's a roundup of some great, women-made wines in various price ranges to give your mom for Mother's Day. Donnafugata 2022 Bell-Assai - Vittoria DOC Frappato Sicilia, $32 This family winery was founded by Gabriella and Giacomo Rallo in 1983 and leads the way in sustainable winemaking in Sicily. Today, the winery is run by José Rallo, who loves to pair each of her wines with music, and the entire Donnafugata Music & Wine repertoire is available on Spotify. Her entire Made with Frappato grapes, Bell'Assai is ruby red in color with violet reflections, radiating intense floral notes of freesia and lavender followed by fruity aromas of strawberry and cherry. Its soft tannins and fruity notes lend itself to pairing with grilled vegetables, charcuterie and fish soups. Avaline White White, $24 Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power created the Avaline line of wines, and it's headed by CEO Jennifer Purcell and guided by the expertise of winemaker Ashley Herzberg. Avaline White is a dry, vegan-friendly, Spanish wine made with organic grapes. It offers a crisp flavor with a fresh finish that's free of any . undisclosed extras like sugars, colors, and concentrates. Charles Heidsieck Rosé Reserve, $100 Chef de Cave Elise Losfelt is at the helm of winemaking at Charles Heidsieck. The Rosé Réserve takes its inspiration from the Brut Réserve blend, enhanced with great red Champagne wines that strengthen its generous, sharp identity and its delicately fruity mouthfeel. To achieve this ideal balance between freshness and structure, Losfelt selects reserve wines that are intentionally less aged than those used for the Brut Réserve. Sonoma-Cutrer Les Pierres Chardonnay 2022 , Les Pierres Chardonnay $46 Cara Morrison is the first director of winemaking for this storied Sonoma wine brand in 40 years. This Chardonnay offers aromas of lemon zest, wet stone and key lime pie, mingled with citrus blossom and bright lemon curd. It's perfect to pair with prawns, salmon and other seafood. Atticus Wine Pinot Noir Rosé, $34 This boutique estate Pinot Noir project in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA was founded in 2005 by Ximena Orrego and her husband, Guy Insley. Originally from Peru, Ximena brings global influences to her craft, drawing on her experiences living in Panama, Venezuela, Canada, and the U.S. to create expressive Pinot Noirs. Crisp and bright, this Pinot Noir Rosé is full of tropical fruit and white peach aromas with a beautiful minerality. Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, $74.99 Banfi, producer and importer of fine wines, was founded in 1919 and is today woman-owned and operated by third generation family proprietor Cristina Mariani-May. This Brunello is a culmination of over three decades of the winemaker's pioneering research on the clones of Sangiovese, with the goal of producing a more outstanding quality Brunello. Released in the fifth year after harvest, the wine is aged for a minimum of four years, including 2 years in oak barrels. The result offers notes of violet, vanilla and licorice on the nose, with a soft and velvety palate with warm spice notes, making it a match for red meat, game and aged cheeses. Remy Wines Three Wives 2023 Chardonnay, $30 When Remy Drabkin's mom Joan and her two friends were traveling in Alaska with Drabkin's dad Juels, a fisherman there mistook the three of them for all being his wives. That became a hilarious family story, which Drabkin took as the name for her most experimental line of wines. With lemon and citrus aromas, there are only 100 cases of this wine produced annually. Bryn Mawr Vineyards NV Brut Rosé,$35 With a background in molecular biology, Rachel Rose uses a scientific approach to managing the vineyard and the cellar at Bryn Mawr Vineyards. Her sustainable approach to farming includes sheep grazing, organic compost, and pollinator-friendly cover crops. Rose, who is a mother of two herself, crafted this blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier to create a delightful sparkling wine. It has a dry and balanced palate with cranberry, raspberry, and limestone notes, with a touch of rosebud aromas, making it perfect for spring. Bouchaine Vineyards 2022 Pommard Clone Estate Pinot Noir, $70 President and Winemaker, Chris Kajani is a nerd when it comes to Pinot Noir clones. Each harvest, she and her team cultivate a dozen different clones of Pinot Noir, before carefully selecting a few for single-clone bottlings, including the standout Pommard clone. This bottling is juicy, lush and just so robust, it could rival some California Cabernet Sauvignons with its presence and power. This is a lively white blend. Inman Family Wines Inman Family Wines 2024 Whole Buncha Love White Blend $43 Owner, winemaker and one-woman show Kathleen Inman debuts a new addition to her Whole Buncha Love lineup: a white blend with a vibrant new label and a unique composition of varieties. Crafted from 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Gris, this lively blend is sourced from sustainably farmed estate fruit, harvested at night and whole cluster pressed to preserve its fresh and bright character. The result is a wine that bursts with juicy fruit flavors, balanced by natural, tongue-tingling acidity and a crisp, refreshing finish. Imagery Estate Winery Blanc de Blancs, $63 With a label adorned with a custom piece of artwork by California-based printmaker and illustrator Lili Arnold, this bottle makes a stunning gift. Winemaker Jamie Benziger crafts this wine in the classic méthode champenoise style. This wine has bright fruit notes and lively acidity leading to a lingering creamy texture. Trivento Golden Reserve 2022 Malbec, $19.99 Crafted by winemaker Magdalena Viani, this reserve Malbec is perfect for Mother's Day. Vivid red with violet tones, this Malbec offers clear expressions of red fruit, especially raspberries and strawberries. This complex wine has vibrant tannins and a long finish. Drop of Sunshine Sparkling Rosé $25 Led by Sarah Bakx, Drop of Sunshine is a beautiful and balanced sparkling rosé. This bubbly features a blend of French Colombard, Syrah, Riesling, Barbera, and Zinfandel grapes. With notes of crisp red fruit, dominated by cherry, strawberry and raspberry, this pour can be paired with light dishes such as chicken, fish, or even a salad, making it perfect to enjoy over Mother's Day lunch. Garden Creek makes some lovely Chardonnay wines. Garden Creek Ranch Vineyards Garden Creek Ranch Vineyards 2021 Chardonnay, Estate Clonal Selection $80 Crafted by owner, grape grower and winemaker Karin Warnelius-Miller in partnership with her husband, Justin, this wine is thoughtfully composed of five different Chardonnay clones (Hudson, Hyde, 95, 809 and Old Wente) to capture the unique terroir of their Sonoma estate. Garden Creek ages the wine for three years in bottle before release to achieve seamless integration and remarkable elegance. Benziger Family Winery 2022 West Rose Chardonnay, Los Carneros, $48 Benziger Family Wines was the first winery in Sonoma to become biodynamic certified. Winemaker Lisa Amaroli crafted this sustainable and organic wine from Chardonnay grapes grown in the 'sweet spot' of Los Carneros, away from the harsh Pacific wines. It offers a creamy texture and silky roundness, with orchard-fresh aromas of apple, along with citrus and Bavarian cream. Giovese Family Wines Rosie Giovese Vino Rosato, $34.99/3 liter box Founder Amy Ezrin crafts this rosé with chemical-free, organically farmed Italian grapes, including Sangiovesse, Merlot and Lacrima, that are harvested from a sustainably farmed vineyard. 'Rosie is the perfect companion for the eat, on boats, at pools and picnics and getting together with friends and family,' Ezrin says. It's also great for sharing at a big Mother's Day gathering. Mumm Napa Brut Rosé $36 Head winemaker Tami Lotz crafts this sparkling wine with mostly Pinot Noir grapes (76 percent), followed by Chardonnay (22 percent), and Pinot Meunier (2 percent). With notes of strawberry, orange and raspberry, this wine has a pale salmon color and a toasty, biscuity finish.
