2008 | Piper Heidsieck | Cuvee Rare

Lemon zest frames the creamy richness on the nose that has hints of chalk and coconut macaroon but also reveals a beautiful depth that evokes summer rain on limestone soils. The palate comes with all the precision and exquisite freshness of 2008 but encapsulates a truffle- like complexity at its concentrated core: there is a floral hit of peony, something rich reminiscent of milk chocolate ganache and more of that virile and pervasive lemon freshness. This is glorious and somehow manages to convey great richness within that elegant and characteristic framework set by the amazing 2008 vintage

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: The newly released 2008 Brut Cuvée Rare is very promising, unwinding in the glass with a youthfully reserved nose of citrus oil, crisp green apple, freshly baked bread, iodine and oyster shell, as well as some rather herbaceous characteristics that depress my score a little, even if I suspect that they will resolve with a bit more bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, incisive and tightly wound, if the 2006 vintage was gourmand and demonstrative, the 2008 is slower to show all its cards. Built around racy acids and complemented by a pillowy mousse, this rendition of Cuvée Rare will reward a few years more on cork.

• Wine Spectator: Like a stallion out of the gate, this shows an initial explosion of power, in the form of mouthwatering flavors and fine texture, before quickly settling into an elegant gait. The racy acidity is seamlessly knit, buoying the lacy mousse and flavors of cassis, toasted brioche and tangerine, with accents of candied ginger, hazelnut and fleur de sel lingering on the long, creamy finish.

Producer Information

Piper-Heidsieck is one of the most famous houses in Champagne. It is known for its structured, fruit-driven house style made predominantly from Pinot Noir, with smaller portions of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.Piper-Heidsieck's top wine is the Rare Millésime, made from a Chardonnay – Pinot Noir blend with the former dominating. The wine is full-bodied and well-structured, and is aged for seven years in the cellars before release. Rare is only made in the very best years – fewer than 10 vintages have been released in the past 30 years.The winery is home to temperature-controlled cellars and a host of reserve wines which are used to keep the house style consistent from year to year. Grapes are vinified by grape variety and by individual plot to allow for more control in the blending process.Grapes for the Piper-Heidsieck Brut, Demi Sec Sublime and Rosé Sauvage come from around a hundred cru vineyards in Champagne. The Piper-Heidsieck Vintage Brut is produced from between 15-20 grand and premier cru plots, and is usually a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, without any Pinot Meunier.

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