x
  • Country ranking ?

    561
  • Producer ranking ?

    5
  • 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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100 Best Champagnes for 2011 -
FINE Champagne Magazine Selects the World’s Best Champagne – A Rare Winner


FINE Champagne Magazine, the only international publication devoted to champagne and a renowned industry authority, announces its list of the “100 Best Champagnes for 2011”.

During the year 2010 The magazine’s editorial team assessed over 1000 champagnes that are now available on the markets. After the semifinal, three-day blind-tas...

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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 201...

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Wine Information

A prestigious, classical prestige cuvee from 2002 vintage – structured, full-bodied and bursting with fruit. Elaborated with a majority of Chardonnays from the Montagne de Reims region (70%) and complemented with Pinot Noir (30%) from the same region, this wine is a blend of 17 crus which matured for over seven years in the House’s cellars. A 2002 vintage synonymous with richness and generosity.

On the eye
Dazzling, crystal-clear, citrine ...

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Vintage 2002

A cold winter and a mild late spring cued for a perfect June allowing early and fast flowering. Outstanding weather conditions prevailed and the season went on without dramatic turns. Rains in August raised concerns regarding gray rot, but finally sunshine and dry conditions throughout September resulted in an abundant crop of largely healthy fruit (11,930 kg/ha). Dehydration due to wind further aided in achieving perfect ripeness and addition...

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Tasting note

color

Medium, Gold and Clear

ending

Long, Round and Lingering

flavors

Toasty, Coffee, Citrus and Nutty

nose

Intense, Refined, Fresh and Pure

recommend

Yes

taste

High in Acidity, Low alcohol content, Low tannin, Complex, Well-structured, Balanced, Developing, Full-bodied, Elegant, Fresh, Harmonious and Dry

Verdict

Sophisticated and Excellent

Written Notes

A fabulous champagne in glorious form. Hazelnut, stonefruit with a creamy supple texture. Ripe notes, but this is finely balanced and exhibits great length. A hedonistic style that lingers with intent. Drinking superbly now, but there is no rush. 98.

  • 98p
Medium-deep lemon Soft and sweet vanilla-laden, boosted toast and coffee nose with a gunpowder and fireworks edge Zesty yet velvety palate turning towards oily, mature richness Seductively sweet and exuberantly fruity Ready to impress 2015-2022 Pure breed
  • 94p

Pale lemon yellow. Minerals, nuts, detailed, apples, some smoky notes, layered nose. Fresh acidity, apples, lemons, minerals, detailed, elegant and nuanced, long and lovely finesse. 96

  • 96p

A gorgeous wine that's a legend in the making, the 2002 Rare Brut is a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, with just under 10 grams of dosage. Offering incredible notes of stone fruits, brioche, white flowers, and hints of toasted nuts, this flat out awesome wine is concentrated and opulent, yet still dances on the palate with vibrant acidity and great, great finish. It's going to drink beautifully for another two to three decades. Bravo! This cuvee has only been made in 1976, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2002, and in 2007.

  • 97p

This vintage is traveling well and is still extremely composed on the nose and palate. Pleasantly complex, there's plenty to like here. Lemon curd, peach and light toffee aromas and flavors are locked in with bright, focused acid structure. Drink now.

  • 93p

Evolving lemony colour. The superby rich coffee and tropical fruit nose comes with impeccable toasty generosity and dried fruit complexity. Lovely plushness and fleshy, chewy fruitiness. Long and concentrated finish full of age-mellowed fruit.

  • 95p

Intense yellow colour. Rich, toasty complex nose with roasted coffee. Dry, fresh and rich palate with lovely complexity and layers of flavours – toastiness, creaminess, buttery nuances. Great concentration with long-lasting and elegant finish. JL 94p (4/2018)

  • 94p
Mild aromas of brioche with a hint of lemon. Abundant but refined mousse. Supple, medium weight. Excellent apple- pear fruit with a long and lovely finish. Framed with brioche and some spice notes. Very well balanced with acidity but no sense of astringence. Elegant throughout. Excellent! 97 points
  • 97p
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Information

Origin

Reims, Champagne

Vintage Quality

Outstanding

Value For Money

Best buy

Investment potential

Below Average

Fake factory

None

Glass time

1h

Drinking temperature

6

Other wines from this producer

Brut Florens Louis

Brut Rosé

Cuvée Brut

Cuvée Florens-Louis

Cuvée Sublime

Essentiel Blanc de Blancs Brut

Essentiel Blanc de Blancs extra brut

Essentiel Cuvée Brut

Essentiel Cuvée Réservée Brut

Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top Brut

Hors-Série

Piper-Heidsieck Brut Sauvage

Rare Rose

Rosé Sauvage

Vintage

Inside Information

When we tasted this wine two years ago, I gave it a similar score (95 points), noting its seductive and complex flavors. For a 2002, the wine was already harmonious and accessible, ready to drink and structured to hold for several years. The powerful drive of the 2002 vintage seems bolder today; more about creaminess and brioche-like autolysis than fruit, it still leaves my mouth tingling with gingery freshness and brightness of acidity. If you haven’t tried Piper Rare in some time, this is worth checking out—a blend from 17 crus in the Montagne de Reims, 70 percent chardonnay, 30 percent pinot noir, built for lobster or other rich shellfish.

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