Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Extra Brut Champagne NV
(Champagne, France) - [DM 94] [JD 92+] [JS 92] [WE 92] [WS 92] [VM 91]

Notes from the Winemaker: 
The Essentiel collection comprises champagnes whose complexity and profile meet the strict demands of fine cuisine and the most exacting of wine enthusiasts to extend the ageing period and use Extra Brut dosage are the intended consequences. Essentiel Extra Brut is a multi-vintage cuvée featuring a blend of 3 varieties. Its magnificent structure, balance and freshness ensure that this Extra Brut represents the iconic style of the House.

Dry farming Harvest: Hand-harvested at full maturity

House Vineyards
Terroir: More than 50 crus
Certifications: Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne & High Environmental Value level 3
Soil maintenance: Mechanically weeded under rows with natural grass between vineyard rows Zero herbicide
Biodiversity: Hedges of native species, beehives close to the vineyards, flowered fallow fields

Partners Winegrowers
Long-standing partnerships with winegrowers throughout Champagne (more than 240 partners)

Grape Varieties: 45% Pinot Noir, 36% Meunier, 19% Chardonnay
Dosage: Extra-Brut (5g/L)
Alcohol content: 12% vol

Tasting Notes: 

Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel boasts a precise, accomplished and balanced profile. The nose delivers initial notes of plum, brioche, grapefruit and stewed quince, developing towards aromas of acacia honey and grilled nuts.

"Essentiel reveals a complex, rich aromatic nose. Its precision and excellent balance make for perfect pairing with fine cuisine."
- Emilien Boutillat, Chief Winemaker

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Piper-Heidsieck's premium non-vintage cuvée receives a stunning boost in a longer-aged magnum release, making it a terrific value cuvée that can give a few prestige cuvées a run for their money. Based on the 2013 vintage, it's full of the year's bright intensity in charry roasted limes and grapefruit marmalade, generous with fragrant raspberry and toasted nuts and fleshed out beautifully by almost four years of ageing post-disgorgement. Smooth, long and polished, there's not a hair out of place here." - TH (Oct 2024)

92+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"A brilliant pale yellow hue, the NV Champagne Essentiel Extra Brut is fresh and inviting, with a rounded and floral profile, offering pure notes of orange blossoms, fresh brioche, and fresh peach, It reveals a pure, ripe character on the palate, with a rounded mouthfeel, a pillowy mousse, balanced notes of grapefruit citrus, and a touch of warmth from the vintage. A very attractive wine, it will certainly have the potential to age over the coming 10 years." (Nov 2023)

92 Points - James Suckling:
"Very nutty and buttery, this focuses more on spices than fruit, showing tarte tatin aromas, cotton candy, roasted nuts and candied lemons. Light-bodied with fine bubbles, it has a slightly phenolic yet fresh palate, if not zesty and balanced. Drink now." (Jul 2025)

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
“Blending the three principal Champagne varieties, this Champagne has a fine touch of 
cashew-nut maturity. The aroma brings out that nuttiness, while to taste the wine has rounded the corner and revealed maturity.” - RV (Dec 2024)

92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"There’s a broad-shouldered, structured feel, yet this refreshing Champagne is sleek and well-meshed overall, integrating a firm spin of citrusy acidity with flavors of black currant and cherry fruit, lemon curd and brioche. Lightly spiced and creamy through the lingering finish. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Disgorged January 2023. Drink now through 2030." - AN (Dec 2025)

91 Points - Vinous Media:
"The NV Extra Brut Essentiel, a blend of 44% Pinot Noir, 34% Pinot Meunier and 22% Chardonnay with 27% reserve wines, opens with smoky melted butter. This reductive smokiness continues on the palate, where licorice overtones add aromatic highlights. The fine smooth mousse is exemplary, providing a smooth texture to this balanced wine, which is quite a step up from the Cuvée. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. (Lot L2306893072)" - Anne Krebiehl MW (Mar 2024)