Average rating 4.9/5 stars across all Google and external reviews
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Bought directly from Liberty Wines Ltd, UK agent for Rare, the bottles are stored in bond at London City Bond Eton Park, in ideal conditions at a constant 13°C. For same-day deliveries, small quantities are kept in our office cellar, where the temperature is maintained between 11–13°C. We source all our bottles directly from the Maison or their official UK office, eliminating the risk of poor storage. This is crucial, as champagne quality is highly sensitive to heat: temperatures above 18°C accelerate maturity significantly, which compromises quality.
Piper-Heidsieck's roots trace back to Florens-Louis Heidsieck, who created the original company of Heidsieck & Co. Christian Heidsieck joined the venture alongside Guillaume Piper and once Florens-Louis died in 1828, the duo decided to continue the adventure side by side, founding Champagne Piper-Heidsieck.
In 2011 both Charles Heidsieck and Piper-Heidsieck were bought by EPI Group headed by Christopher Descours, he has added significant finance into the companies allowing them to grow their vineyard holdings, grape purchasing and production. The brands are now growing their sales fast after many decades of decline. Today, production occurs alongside sister company Charles Heidsieck in an ultra-modern functional wine-making facility on the southern outskirts of Reims. Their characteristics differ quite considerably, with Piper opting for a fruitier and lighter style of base wines.
Piper-Heidsieck Rare is a truly unique prestige cuvée. In the summer of 1976, an unprecedented heatwave struck France, the likes of which the Champagne region had never experienced before. Piper-Heidsieck's winemaking team began to wonder: could it be possible to create a cuvée given the remarkable conditions? Taming the natural forces was no easy task and when assemblage was complete and the final blend bottled, the team were so proud of the final product, they called it Rare. The brand started as Piper-Heidsieck Rare and in 2019 this became simply Rare. These cuvées are only produced in these exceptional years: 1976, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013 & 2015. In 2018 a new rose cuvee was released with 2007, now followed with 2008 and 2012.
Weather in 1985 & 2015: Two radically different expressions, climatic polar opposites. Rare Millésime 1985 was born from a cold ordeal, a polar winter followed by a devastating black frost. The vines had to survive, adapt, and fight against extreme conditions. This adversity forged a wine with a strong character. Conversely, Rare Millésime 2015 was marked by intense heat and prolonged drought. The vines faced a different kind of challenge adapting to excess heat and a lack of water, instead of surviving the cold.
A great opportunity to buy an old vintage of Champagne Rare 1985 that has been cellared in the Rare Cellars on the edge of Reims until October 2025.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 14 Crus - 79% Grand Cru & 21% Premier Cru | Chardonnay: Avize, Oger, Villers-Marmery, Vaudemanges, Verzy, Ambonnay, Chouilly & Montgueux | Pinot Noir: Verzy, Verzenay, Ambonnay, Bouzy & Tauxieres.
Grape Varieties for 1985 & 2015: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir
Lees Ageing for 1985: 39 years
Lees Ageing for 2015: 9 years
Dosage: 9 g/l (1985)
Dosage: 10 g/l (2015)
Both Disgorged: February 2025
Production: 250 Duo Packs
Drink: Now to 2035+
1985 Tasting Note:Mineral tones combine with the autumnal harmonies of dry fruits and toasted aromas, unveiling a great wine. The subtle notes of candied fruits, the intense accents of truffle and Armagnac, enhanced by floral harmonies give a brilliant energy and spectacular finish to this impressive vintage. Thanks to its remarkable structure, it will continue to improve over the years while keeping its vivacity.
2015 Tasting Note:The first nose suggests aromas of lime, exotic fruits such as passion fruit and kiwi. After a hint of pastry notes, the nose develops aromas of cardamon, green tea, as well as pistachio and toasted almond. Very fresh and lively, on the palate. Rich flavours of fresh almond emerge, as well as smoky, coffee and green tea flavours. The texture is silky and voluptuous. The exceptional finish demonstrates notes of pomelo, spicy notes with peppermint and a hint of minerality.
Piper-Heidsieck's roots trace back to Florens-Louis Heidsieck, who created the original company of Heidsieck & Co to pursue his ambition of “creating a cuvée worthy of a queen”. He fulfilled his dream perhaps earlier than anyone could have expected: once Marie Antoinette had tasted his creation, she became the first Heidsieck & Co ambassador. Florens-Louis’ nephew, Christian Heidsieck joined the venture alongside Guillaume Piper and once Florens-Louis died in 1828, the duo decided to continue the adventure side by side, founding Champagne Piper-Heidsieck.
In 2011 both Charles Heidsieck and Piper-Heidsieck were bought by EPI Group headed by Chritopher Descours, he has pumped significant finance into the companies allowing them to grow their vineyard holdings, grape purchasing and production. The brands are now growing their sales fast after many decades of decline. Today, production occurs alongside sister company Charles Heidsieck in an ultra-modern functional wine-making facility on the southern outskirts of Reims.
Their characteristics differ quite considerably, with Piper opting for a fruitier and lighter style of base wines. In recent times, the House has shifted from royal accolades to becoming a favourite amongst celebrity stars. Indeed, the legendary Marilyn Monroe famously declared in 1953: “I go to bed with a few drops of Chanel No. 5 and I wake up each morning to a glass of Piper-Heidsieck; it warms me up.”
The prestige cuvée Rare Champagne became its own brand in September 2018. Previously labelled, marketed and sold under the Piper-Heidsieck name, Rare Champagne is now managed and labelled independently. Previous Piper-Heidsieck Cellar Master Régis Camus has subsequently assumed the new role of Cellar Master for Rare Champagne.
Cellar Master: Émilien Boutillat
Winery Location: Reims | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Montagne de Reims
Annual Production (bottles): 8,000,000
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Rare:
Émilien Boutillat - October 2018 - Current
Emilien studied at the School of Agronomy in Montpellier, focusing on both viticulture and enology. Early in his career he worked in quite a variety of winegrowing regions beyond Champagne: for example in the Rhône, Bordeaux and abroad in New Zealand, California, Chile, South Africa. He first worked for several harvests at houses like Cattier and Armand de Brignac before joining Piper‑Heidsieck in October 2018 as the chef de cave for the House. At the time of his appointment with Piper-Heidsieck in 2018 he was “the youngest chef de caves” at a large Maison in Champagne.
Regis Camus - 2002 to 2022
Regis studied in 1974 and 1975 at the Faculté d’Oenologie in Reims. After obtaining his Oenological Diploma - his first winemaking experience was in 1976 as an intern under Tutor Jacques Peters, who also helped Regis find his first job in champagne. Camus joined Piper-Heidsieck in the 1990s as assistant to Daniel Thibault, after Daniel died in 2002 Regis was promoted to manage all the winemaking team for all three brands; Piper, Rare and Charles. From 2013 Regis focussed his time on Champagne Piper-Heidsieck and Rare and since 2018 has been solely responsible for the prestige cuvée Rare and handing over to his sucessor Emilien. His meticulous winemaking has made him Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the IWC eight times and in 2019 the CSWWC rewarded him of a Life Achievement award. Regis retired in March 2022.
Daniel Thibault - 1990-2002
Daniel came to Charles Heidseick when Joseph Henriot of Champagne Henriot purchased it in 1976. He was chef de cave at Henriot until Joseph brought him across to Charles Heidsieck shortly after buying the Maison. In 1985 Charles-Heidsieck was acquired by Rémy Cointreau from Joseph Henriot and in 1988 Rémy Cointreau also acquired Piper-Heidsieck. When Claude Demiere retired as cellar master of Piper-Heidsieck in 1990 Daniel Thibault took over managing winemaking at both Charles & Piper and at this time he hired Regis Camus as his assistant. Daniel passed away from cancer in 2002.
Claude Demiere - 1970-1990
He spent most of his career in the Piper-Heidsieck cellars, first as a worker in the 1960’s progressing through foreman and appointed chef de cave in 1970 continuing until his retirement in 1990. During his time Claude saw ownership change to Rémy Cointreau in 1985 and during the last five years of his time as cellar master he was required not to make many vintages of Champagne Rare as during this time the parent company also owned Champagne Krug. In 1990 Claude made this year and then no Rare was made until a small amount of 1997 was made, but not declared and it wasn't until 1998 that a full vintage was again made.
Expert Reviews
93+/100
Kristaps Karklins
“2015 | The latest 2015 Rare Millésime, disgorged in February 2025 with a dosage of 10 grams per liter, derives from 11 villages and comprises the customary blend of 70% Chardonnay (predominantly from the Montagne de Reims and notably Villers-Marmery) and 30% Pinot Noir. In the glass, the 2015 unfurls with aromas of passion fruit, freshly baked bread and honeysuckle, mingling with nuances of lime leaf and kiwi. On the palate, it is full-bodied and ample yet simultaneously tightly coiled at the core, enlivened by a pillowy mousse and concluding with a lingering finish. Originating from a hot and dry growing season—one in which some wines display an herbal aromatic signature indicative of incomplete ripening caused by hydric stress—this 2015 has largely, but not entirely, avoided such traits. It remains several years away from showing all its cards.”
94/100
Kristaps Karklins
“1985 | Disgorged in February 2025 with a dosage of nine grams per liter, the 1985 Rare Millésime shows striking youthfulness, owing both to its recent disgorgement and its production without malolactic fermentation. It opens with aromas of freshly baked bread, lychee and lemon rind with a hint of smoky reduction. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, with a pillowy mousse, crisp core of fruit, brisk acidity and a long, citrus-tinged finish. More tightly knit and less marked by the toasty, empyreumatic nuances compared to the original release, this late-disgorged edition will be reissued alongside the 2015 vintage, offering a fascinating dialogue across three decades of evolution.”
