The debut of Piper-Heidsieck Rare Rosé 2008 and Rare 2006

Two new pearls enrich the Rare line and underscore this Champagne’s potential to age and its stylistic elegance.

A special occasion to celebrate the important debut of the rosé version of a cuvée de prestige that only true Champagne lovers know and the name of which, Rare, epitomizes it essence. It is Rare in regard to production numbers and rare in regard to the vintages the Chef de Cave at Piper-Heidsieck felt were worthy enough to be make the wine.

The celebrative event took place first in Florence, at the Enoteca Pinchiorri, and then Rome, at the Casa Valadier, with a tasting conducted by Règis Camus. This was his first visit to Italy since the Maison became part of the EPI group, in 2011, which allowed it to benefit from the synergies with the Descours family’s assets and establish an importing rapport with the iconic Montalcino Biondi Santi estate. This was an important step for Piper-Heidsieck and, especially, for the line of Rare cuvée for which the Maison established a different approach, creating a brand that was slightly separated from the name Piper-Heidsieck.

It was also a way to highlight the savoir-faire of the Maison founded in 1785 as “Heidsieck & Cie”, which the young agronomist and enologist Émilien Boutillat had recently inherited from the Chef de Caves Daniel Thibault and later passed on to Règis Camus, who still supervises the group and remains the custodian of the secrets of Rare.

Only nine vintages of Rare have been produced and presented to the market so far: 1976, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2002 and, the latest, 2006, along with a particular version with a late dègorgement, Le Secret 1997.To further underscore the Maison’s savoir-faire, a preview tasting was offered of Rare Rosé 2009, the second edition of this extraordinary, complex and profound Champagne that has an innate capacity to pair with food. With the white version it shares the splendid habillage of the bottle, inspired by the wine created in 1885 by jeweler Pierre-Karl Fabergé in honor of Marie Antoinette, the first fan of the Piper-Heidsieck style.

The Rare presented in 1985, with the golden frame label by Arthus Bertrand, set the benchmark that still today distinguishes the wine and which was explored thanks to a vertical tasting of the vintages 2002, 1998 and 1998 conducted in depth by Règis Camus, which the team at Biondi Santi insisted upon to underscore the potential to age and stylistic elegance of this Champagne.

Rare Rosé 2008 Piper Heidsieck  

96/100 – € 400

A blend of 56% Chardonnay and 44% Pinot Noir, with 10% of the latter fermented on the skin, mostly from Grand Cru villages and that sits on the lees for seven years. A bright color with pink-peach reflections and red-gold hues and a subtle and effervescence. The bouquet has great finesse with notes of spring flowers, hibiscus, tangerine and candied raspberry with a smoky nuance and those of caramel. The mouthfeel is soft and silky with a lovely saline tension and citrusy freshness that leads to a juicy and crispy finish. A superb confirmation in rosé of the great vintage 2008.

Rare 2006 Piper Heidsieck  

95/100 – € 200

A blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir that matured on the lees for at least eight years. The 2006 harvest was the result of a sun-filled year in Champagne that produced rich and generous wines. A scintillating golden color with a fine effervescence and wrapping aroma with notes of pineapple, jasmine and honeysuckle, and lemon custard cream. The mouthfeel has various layers of complexity nuanced by oriental spice but the first sensation is that of a great fruity freshness, inspired by tropical citrus and apricot, with a precise and delicate progression, in which the 8g/l dosage is unnoticeable. The intriguing persistence indicates it will stand the test of time and with age be enriched with nuances.

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