2008 Rare, Champagne

The use of the word ‘rare’ in 2008 Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Millésime is an understatement. Over five decades, the estate only produced 11 vintages of this extraordinary wine. The 2008 growing season is widely considered one of the best on record, with transcendent wines coming from across Champagne. Unlike other Piper-Heidsieck Champagnes, this offering features more chardonnay than pinot noir – 70 of the former to 30 of the latter. The wine also spent ten years on the lees, increasing its biscuity and nutty characteristics. The heavy dose of chardonnay provides an ethereal texture and mouthfeel, contributing to a structured wine with energetic acidity and notes of citrus zest, hazelnut, and toasty bread. Chalky minerality and faint wisps of flower blossoms add to the overall complexity of this sparkling wine. Interestingly, the chardonnay for this wine comes from the Montagne de Reims, a region known for its pinot noir. Historically, Piper Heidsieck has selected fruits from more traditional locations, such as the Côte des Blancs. Perhaps it is this quirk that makes the Rare Millésime unique. The drinking window for the 2008 Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Millésime extends into the mid-2040s, though it’s highly drinkable in youth.