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 & 2013In 2018 a new rose cuvee was released with 2007, now followed with 2008, 2012 and 2014.
98-100/100 Essi Avellan
“With over two thirds of Chardonnay from Avize and Oger in the Côte des Blancs and Villers-Marmery on the Montagne de Reims, this always comes with freshness, elegance and sweet, exuberant toasty notes. In the cool 2008 vintage, Verzy Pinot Noir further amplifies the notions of linearity and tension, making this a hugely slowly ageing Rare. Shiny lemon colour. The nose is instantly impressive: deliciously toasty, with ginger and coffee playing with pineapple, blood orange and yellow peach. With time in glass, it opens up gloriously. It is still holding back a lot on the nose, but it appears utterly sophisticated already. There is such silkiness to the linear, driven, super-saline palate. Really youthful still, this is a magnificent Rare. Dosage 10g/l”
