Highlights: Rare Champagne 2012
Rare used to be a prestige cuvée of Piper-Heidsieck, but since 2018 has been a stand-alone brand. Since 2011 both Charles Heidsieck and Piper-Heidsieck have been under the same ownership (EPI Group, who also own Biondi Santi and Isole e Olena), and boss Christopher Descours has invested quite a bit in the two brands. The wines are made in the same modern facility near Reims. This is a really good Champagne – Rare is a bit like Dom Pérignon in that it is made in a crowd-pleasing style with quite a lot of toasty flavours and a decent dosage, but it’s also quite serious.
Rare Champagne 2012 France
79% Grand Cru, 21% Premier Cru. 70% Chardonnay from Villers Marmery, Vertus, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Chouilly, Avize, and 30% Pinot Noir from Verzy, Ay, Verzenay, Ambonnay, Villedommange. 10 years on lees, disgorged August 2023 with a dosage of 8 g/litre. This prestige cuvée from Piper is showing beautifully now. Direct, lively and toasty with nice fruit. Pure citrus with a hint of mandarin and apricot, and good acidity keeping things focused. Very lively with some fine toasty depth. This is really accessible without being too obvious, with a nice salty twist on the finish. 95/100