Vintage wines in Champagne seem to have been produced more and more by some of the large Champagne houses in recent years so when a producer that usually focuses on the quality of their Non-Vintage wine, such a Charles Heidsieck, releases a vintage cuvée it is an exciting time.

For Charles Heidsieck, 2012 was an obvious choice to declare a vintage. After the phenomenal 2008 vintage, which requires more ageing to show its full potential, 2012 provides a beautiful contrast as a very classic and elegant vintage. The Wine Advocate's William Kelley even notes it's 'more generous and demonstrative' style in comparison to the famous 2008 vintage.

Scoring 95 points at the International Wine Challenge Awards, 94 points from the Wine Advocate, 93 points from Decanter and 17/20 from Jancis Robinson, the Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésimé 2012 is an beautiful 'gourmand style of Champagne' (DC) that will keep enchanting you with every taste.

Made from a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay and sourced from ten meticulously selected Grands Crus and Premiers Crus, the early growing season in 2012 gave Charles Heidsieck a real fright. Spring brought violent attacks of mildew, torrential rains, hailstorms and extreme temperature fluctuations that drove yields down by 30%. Thankfully, a beautiful, sunny late summer saved the vintage, enabling slow maturation to produce excellent grapes that were rich in sugar with excellent acidity.

The resulting 2012 is an enticing cuvée with pleasant smoothness on the medium to full-bodied palate. 'Elegantly fleshy and nicely concentrated' (WA) with aromatic intensity, it has a beautiful saline freshness that is so typical of the House. Cyril Brun, Chef de Cave at Champagne Charles Heidsieck, sees 2012 as having the richness of 2006 and the austerity of 2008 meaning it is drinking beautifully now but it will 'nonetheless reward a bit of bottle age' (WA).

Offered at only £320 per case IB, the Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésimé 2012 is such an 'exciting combination of producer and vintage with real potential' (JR). Champagne fans rejoice!