Over the past 42 years, Charles Heidsieck has developed a captive audience for its prestige vintage Blanc de Blancs cuvée. The 2017 Blanc des Millénaires marks only the tenth release following 1983, 1985, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2014.
 
Crafted over the past nine years, the 2017 Blanc des Millénaires was blended and laid down in 2018 by Cyril Brun (Cellar Master 2015-2023), before being brought out of the Maison’s majestic crayèresby the newly appointed Chef de Cave, Emilien Erard (2025-present).  It is these two-millennia-old chalk cellars that inspired the name ‘Blanc des Millénaires’. Emilien joined and has since been actively involved in the winemaking team and managing its long-term grower relationships. As a result, he oversaw the tirage while working under Cyril, before subsequently managing the disgorgement and dosage of the wine in June 2025 with Elise Losfelt.
 
The Chardonnay for the 2017 Blanc des Millénaires was meticulously selected from four Grands Crus villages in the Côte des Blancs– Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Oger and Chouilly– blended with some Vertus Premier Cru. Primary fermentation was undertaken in stainless steel tanks, after which the wine was racked and underwent malolactic fermentation. It was then bottled and lees-aged for seven years before disgorgement in June 2025, with a 9g/L dosage.

2017 VINTAGE REPORT
 
The 2017 vintage will be remembered as one of extremes. Despite some critics' early reservations about the vintage, Chardonnay prevailed in the face of adversity. In true Charles Heidsieck fashion, the Maison unveils another Blanc des Millénaires from a year where assiduous viticultural practices and astute winemaking triumphed once more. The Maison has a long track record of seeing potential in underestimated vintages, with similarly challenging years, such as 2014 and 2007, also declared by the Maison and acclaimed by journalists upon release.
 
2017 began with a dry Winter, followed by a mild Spring which fostered excellent flowering conditions, particularly in the Côte des Blancs. Spring frosts in the third week of April reduced Champagne’s potential crop considerably, with the Côte des Bars worst affected. Warm and sunny weather persisted until late July before giving way to a succession of storms and hailstorms, heightening vigilance ahead of harvest and further reducing yields. Certain villages, such as Cramant, were severely affected by the heavy rainfall and hail in August, whereas Chouilly was spared, producing Chardonnays of remarkable quality. This unprecedented set of circumstances explains the inclusion of Chouilly Chardonnay in the Maison’s 2017 Blanc des Millénaires –a first since 1983.
 
“Even when growers struggled in 2017, the Côte des Blancs’s well-positioned terroirs still excelled.”
– Kristaps Karklins'Champagne: Côte des Blancs'

Shipping from France in October/November 2026