2008 rare, champagne

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Why We're Buying

Champagne doesn't get much better than this. Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Millésime is a traditionally styled sparkling wine with notes of honeycomb, brioche, blackberries, and lemon compote. The vibrant personality and effortless balance lead into a lingering finish that refuses to leave the taste buds. 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.

Critics Scores

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. Drink now through 2035. 2,000 cases imported. — AN

Decanter

A lively first nose of candied lemon, guava, also a hint of lime. With aeration, notes of almonds and almond flowers come to the fore. On the palate, there is a nervy tension that energises its fine, crystalline texture. This is an upright and elegant Champagne whose long, airy finish is mouthwatering. After some time in the glass, it evolves towards notes of smoke, flint and vanilla. A sumptuous Champagne. Disgorged: November 2019. Dosage: 9g/L. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040 YC

Robert Parker's 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.- WK