x
  • Country ranking ?

    946
  • Producer ranking ?

    14
  • Decanting time

    15min
  • When to drink

    now to 2030
  • Food Pairing

    Sushi

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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MEDALS & RANKINGS: 

98/100 – Wine Spectator 2015 

Sparkling of the Year Trophy – International Wine Challenge 2013 – “Excellent balance and length. Complex persistence.” 

Vintage Champagne Trophy – International Wine Challenge 2013 

Gold – International Wine Challenge 2015 

Champion of Champions (Rare 1998 Magnum) – International Wine Challenge 2015

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The Story

The noble origin of Rare Champagne dates back to a tribute to Marie-Antoinette and expresses its revolutionary spirit fight against the trivialisation of vintages.

Over the last forty years, Rare Champagne has only declared eleven vintages, the most demanding in Champagne, all in limited production.

Since 1976, the House has only released 8 vintages of Rare: 1976, 1979,1985, 1988, 1990, 1998 en Magnum, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2008 and now 2013,” says Régis Camus, chef de caves and chief winemaker at Maison Piper-Heidsieck. “Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002 was my first Rare vintage so I am particularly honoured to hear that it has been selected as the number one champagne in the world by FINE Champagne Magazine.”

Each Rare Millésime is born from the struggle with nature. For instance, Rare Millésime 1976 was created after an exceptional drought, Rare Millésime 1985 following a terrible black frost.

As the guardian of the Rare Champagne style, Régis Camus the most awarded Cellar Master of the century*, selects the vineyards according to their expression rather than their rank in the scale of Premiers and Grand Crus. This uncommon blending approach contributes to the complex, distinguished, and yet pure style of Rare Champagne.

In honour of the occasion, Pierre-Karl Fabergé, jeweller to the Czar Alexander III, designed a spectacular enamelled bottle. Unfortunately, it was impossible to reproduce this decor with the techniques of the time. A label with a faithful reproduction of the design was therefore placed on the bottles of this exclusive edition.

In the 18th century, Florens-Louis Heidsieck presented his very first prestige Cuvée, ‘worthy of a Queen’, to Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, in a characteristically aristocratic bottle: the Pinte Majeure. In those days, glass blowers made by hand the most precious bottles of Champagne, intended for the aristocracy. Thus, the asymmetrical shoulders of the bottle emphasize its singular personality. Rare Champagne modernized the original shape and added a golden lacy crown that asserts the radiance of the wine. Black and gold, it truly contains a charismatic gem. Black symbolizes the dominant Pinot Noir grapes while gold represents the luminous shine of Chardonnay. Thanks to its long elegant neck, a unique whisper rises while serving. Today, the soft curves of the design pay tribute to Marie-Antoinette, the first modern icon, famous for her ability to set new standards.

 

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Wine Information

On the eye
Sparkling highlights set against a green-gold background with refined, delicate, little bubbles.

On the nose
An initial and extremely elegant touch of sandalwood and cedar gives way to a more generous and hearty bouquet of gingerbread, orange blossom and dried apricot. The lasting aromas are those of meringue, cocoa and liquorice, finishing with a more subtle and complex combination of the underwood, camphor and bergamot orange.

On the palate
The structure of this wine is delightfully gentle and varied, constantly alternating between firmness and warmth, with creamy notes and the deliciouos aromas of cocoa, greengage plums and mango. The overall impression is that of a timeless wine which marvelously expresses all its richness and complexity.

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Vintage 1998

This year's harvest is the largest the region has ever seen. Every corner of the appellation has managed to achieve the maximum authorized harvest yield of 10,400 kilos of grapes per hectare. Producers were also allowed to harvest an additional 2,600 kg which was allocated to the Champagne reserve, called blocking. This led to 330 million bottles of champagne being made in total. The lock-in system (which allows more production than necessary to meet demand) was the main tool for maintaining a stable price level in the 1990s.

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Tasting note

color

Medium, Yellow and Bright

ending

Long, Pure and Flavorful

flavors

Toasty, Floral, Citrus and White fruits

nose

Intense, Complex, Fresh and Refined

taste

High in Acidity, Perfectly balanced, Concentrated, Youthful, Light, Harmonious, Focused, Elegant and Dry

Verdict

Sophisticated and Impressive

Written Notes

A beautiful rarity in magnum. Stylish and restrained with super elegance and slowly evolving roasting along with the exquisite scent of clean sheets.
  • 90p

A rich version, with beautiful integration and mouthwatering acidity that seems to amplify the flavors of toasted raisin bread, black currant, candied orange zest and salted almond. Fresh and focused, showing hints of oyster shell and spice on the lasting finish.

  • 94p

Magnum. Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, some brioche, pears, fresh nose. Fresh acidity, elegant mousse, fresh, fruity, minerals, elegant, lively and nuanced, long. Bit tight. 91

  • 91p

Bright yellow colour with straw yellow hue. Aromatic nose with fine brioche and roasting aroma, pure fruit, discreet minerality and hints of ripe hazelnuts in the background. On the palate well structured with excellent length, fine

  • 96p
Good looking magnum size bottle. Colour is yellow, and looking bright and medium. On the nose it is open, intense, complex, refined, fresh, rich and charming. The taste is fresh, focused, elegant, fragrant, vivid, refined, harmonious, and dry, and high in acidity, light, with perfectly balanced, concentrated structure and youthful. On the palate it is layered and has floral, citrus, toasty and white fruits flavours. The finish is long, lingering, flavorful, pure and vibrant. This wine is sophisticated, excellent and impressive. Perfectly stored bottles are still very worthy and will last well for another 1-5 years.
- (Tasting note created by Tb's AI)
  • 97p
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Information

Origin

Reims, Champagne

Vintage Quality

Above Average

Value For Money

Best buy

Investment potential

Below Average

Fake factory

None

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Vintage

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