Charles Heidsieck Brut 2005
If you don’t have a reason to celebrate, invent one so you can pop the cork on this elegant yet ridiculously pleasing champagne. From an acclaimed vintage, and just rounding into its form (if you are patient, wait), this 60 percent pinot noir/40 percent chardonnay blend caresses your olfactory buds with brioche and roasted nuts, and then lusciously leaves your mouth full of tart green apple, bright citrus zest, and more of the deep yeasty notes that brioche hinted at on the nose. It lasts long and is beautifully bittersweet, leaving you with memories of times better than ones you’ve ever had.
It’s not inexpensive at about $80 a bottle (you can pay more, too — shop around), but you don’t get that many decades of excellence in a bottle cheap.
See charlesheidsieck.com.
