Champagne Piper Heidsieck "Cuvee Rare" Brut 2008 - 1.5 Liter Magnum -
(Champagne, France) - [JS 99] [WS 97] [WE 96] [DM 96] [JD 96] [WA 93+]

About the Winery:
Piper-Heidsieck was founded in 1785 by F. L. Heidsieck, a German who fell in love with a girl from Champagne - and the wine as well. Following his death in 1828, his nephew took over with help from cousin H. G. Piper; the Piper name was added in 1838.

Their tete de cuvée, top of the line bubbly, is the Cuvée Rare. This wine is only made only made in years when weather conditions are considered perfect for what cellarmaster Regis Camus calls 'an extraordinary cuvée', when the grapes receive enough heat to become truly lush. The first Rare vintage was made in 1976 after an incredibly intense heatwave.

About this Wine:

The Rare Millésime 2008 has been crowned the "Best Champagne of the World" by the BEST WINE OF THE WORLD COMPETITION 2021.  It has also received 97 Points from WINE SPECTATOR and was a trophy winner at the INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE.  Enjoy now or can age until 2050 and beyond.

Ratings & Reviews

99 Points - James Suckling:
"A restrained Champagne that displays the producer’s style quite clearly. On the nose it shows coconut, white chocolate, chalk, lemon zest, green apples and iodine. Amazing white chocolate flavors on the palate. It’s full-bodied and zesty with tingling bubbles and a silky texture in the finish. Great tension and complexity, with a lemony finish. Disgorged in 2023. Drink or hold." (Oct 2025)

97 Points - 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." - Alison Napjus (Dec 2020)

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"The new release of this producer's prestige cuvée comes in its usual beautifully sculpted bottle. The Champagne, from a great vintage in the region, is just approaching maturity still showing minerality from the high amount of Chardonnay in the blend. Nutty flavors are creeping in, keeping the great texture adding complexity. Drink this very fine wine now although it will also age further." - Roger Voss (Dec 2020)

96 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Rare Champagne boasts an illustrious past, with its first vintage having been presented to Marie Antoinette in 1785. The wine is produced in very limited quantities and is restricted to exceptional years, with only 11 vintages being declared over the past four decades of production. 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir from selected grand cru vineyards. Simon Field MW: Gentle bead, lovely evolved notes of hazelnut, even a hint of praline, enrobed and ennobled by firm acidity and a persuasive finish. Alan Bednarski: Great, pure wine with still-fresh zesty flavours, delicate palate and sweet yeast notes, with a long flavourful finish of ripe melon. Tim Hall: A challenging, pressing start, wanting to overwhelm with shimmering and sharp attack, but shows intensity on the palate to match. Lovely lemon-apple notes and tempered texture." - Simon Field MW (Sep 2021)

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2008 Champagne Rare is luxurious with aromas of graham cracker, honeysuckle, quince, and orange zest. It is round and opulent, with a fine and pillowy mousse, and retains freshness throughout, with apricot and yellow flowers. It is impressive and long, and fully luxurious. Drinking well now, it is sure to hold its own for years to come. Drink 2022-2044." (Nov 2022)

93+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"Disgorged in June 2022 with a dosage of nine grams per liter, the 2008 Rare Millésime—tasted from bottle three years post-disgorgement—is stepping into its true enjoyment window. It opens with aromas of lemon oil, burnt buttered toast and roasted pineapple with a deft touch of smoky reduction. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, taut and comparatively lean relative to the 2012 and 2006 renditions, driven by an incisive spine of acidity and pillowy mousse but offering less in the way of texture. Stylistically akin to the 2013 but with cloudier skies and cooler nights contributing to an even more chiseled profile, yet simultaneously to a lower maturity." - Kristaps Karklins (Oct 2025)