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  • Country ranking ?

    769
  • Producer ranking ?

    1
  • Decanting time

    15min
  • When to drink

    As soon as possible
  • Food Pairing

    enjoy without food

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ANOTHER DISCOVERY IN A BALTIC SHIPWRECK

In July 2010, bottles over 200 years old were discovered in a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea. Between 1825 and 1830, a cargo galley sank with more than 150 bottles of champagne from different brands, including Heidsieck & CO Monopole, on board. In November 2010, the oenologists who examined the cargo revealed that some of the first bottles they found had the oldest known vintages of the following champag...

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The Story

In early 1900, Heidsieck & Co Monopole was the market leader in Europe. The rulers of Germany and Austria-Hungary, such as Tsar Nikolai II, were its faithful customers. Champagne was already known worldwide when in 1911, the King of England granted the Heidsieck & Co Monopole champagne house the prestigious royal warrant, in which the house then became “Purveyors of Champagne by appointment to his Majesty”. In Russia, for its part, where Heids...

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Wine Information

From the bottom of the ocean to a world record
On the morning of 3 November 1916, the German submarine U-22 stopped a small Swedish schooner, Jönköping, off the Finnish coast. In the cargo hold of this unlucky ship were 3,000 bottles of champagne, 10,000 gallons of cognac, and 17 barrels of Burgundy wine that had been ordered by the court of Tsar Nikolai II. The commander of the U-22 decided to sink the schooner but save the lives of its crew...

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Average Bottle Price

2023 2022 2021 2020 2018 2016 2015 2014 2012 2011 2010 2005 2000
8 650€ +15.5% 7 490€ +31.6% 5 690€ +21.6% 4 680€ +32.2% 3 540€ +19.2% 2 970€ +11.9% 2 655€ +32.2% 2 009€ -37.4% 3 211€ -25.1% 4 288€ +18.0% 3 633€ -5.5% 3 845€ +164.3% 1 455€

This data comes from the FINE Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions in 20 countries. The average prices from each year have been collected since 1990. This chart plots the index value of the average price of the wines.

Latest Pro-tasting notes

48 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Deep, Gold and Clear

ending

Long, Lingering and Flavorful

flavors

Nutty, Honey, Apricot, Toasty, Dried-fruit and Tropical fruits

nose

Open, Generous, Complex and Fresh

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, Low alcohol content, Medium tannin, Well-Integrated, Well-structured, Balanced, Mature, Medium-bodied, Harmonious, Fresh, Fruity, Medium-Sweet and Silky tannins

Verdict

Exotic and Well made

Written Notes

The world's most famous Champagne, but also one of the most common prewar Champagnes. In other words, this is the Champagne that has lain on the bottom of the Baltic Sea since the ship Jönköping went down in 1916! Probably a rather ordinary wine that, under exceptional and perfect slow-storage conditions, has become fantastically idiosyncratic and interesting. The cold water has apparently had a preserving effect on the semi-sweet Champagne that was bound for the Russian army's officers. The color is incredibly light, and the entire wine comports itself as if it was born in the 1970s. The nose is dominated by apple and banana, but there is also a deeper side, with notes of tar and petroleum. The wine does not taste as sweet as it probably is it is very enjoyable. The greatest part of the pleasure is, of course, intellectual, emotional, and historical. The wine has degenerated slightly in recent times.

  • 89p
In the early hours of November 3rd 1916, off the coast of Finland, the Jönköping, a small Swedish wooden schooner, was stopped by the German submarine U-22. She was carrying 3,000 bottles of champagne, 10,000 gallons of cognac and 17 barrels of burgundy wine, as well as steel products in her hold. Because of the steel products, the commander of the U-22 decided to sink her instantly, but saved the lives of the crew. The vessel went down in less than an hour, remaining untouched at the bottom of the Baltic Sea for more than 80 years. In early 1997 a wreck was found by a Swedish search team at a depth of 64 meters. The water temperature in the Baltic Sea, hovering around four degrees Celsius, the total darkness and the water pressure at 64 meters had combined to preserve these bottles in immaculate condition for 82 years. An astonishing, very old looking bottle. Excellent level; decanted only five minutes before tasting. Pale and light, almost youthful colour. Still has some sparkle left. Sweet, fruity, and fresh nose dominated by honey and exotic fruit and raisins. Sweet and one of the richest champagnes we ever tasted. It has an amazingly good balance and structure. Not too sweet, even though the Heidsieck Goût American style had a relatively high dosage. Surprisingly long and pleasing wine, which moved smoothly and easily down our throats, leaving a most memorable and historic aftertaste.
  • 97p

The champagne was originally planned to ship to the Russian Imperial family in 1916. But a shipwreck off the coast of Finland resulted in the champagne being lost at sea. In 1997, divers actually discovered the bottles of the 1907 Heidsieck champagne. The wine shows a still youthful golden colour with slightly copper coloured hue. Excellent and complex nose with aroma reminiscent of brioche and roasted hazelnuts, ripe and dried apricots, candied zests and fine hints of caramel. On the palate a discreet hint of CO2, excellent depth and length, complex and well-balanced. A wine matured in grace, still displaying freshness despite the maturity. 

  • 99p
Heidsieck Gout Americain 1907: Amazing champagne which has everything a great wine should have. My mother was born in the town of Jönköping, which was also the name of the shipwreck carrying this bottle. A strangely moving experience. 98 pts.
  • 98p
A: light, almost youthful N: sweet, exotic fruit P: one of the richest champagnes we have tasted, and has amazingly good balance and structure E: not very sweet, even though the Heidsieck Gout Americain style had a relatively high sugar dosage In a nutshell: excellent level; decanted five minutes before tasting. A high dosage wine. No malolactic fermentation. Final verdict: leaving a most memorable and historic aftertaste
  • 97p
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Information

Origin

Épernay, Champagne

Grapes

100% Chardonnay

Age of vines

45

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Good

When bottled

1910

Release state price

1€

Investment potential

Good

Fake factory

Serious

Glass time

15-30min

Drinking temperature

8

Inside Information

The North Sea’s temperature, hovering around four degrees, the total darkness of the sea bottom and the water pressure at 64 metres had preserved the bottles in impeccable condition for 82 years. When Jönköping sank, its cargo hold contained some 50 wooden boxes of champagne, 60 bottles in each. Of these, some 2,500 bottles were lifted after seven successful rescue trips, in which I have had the pleasure to taste three of them.

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