Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne NV
(Champagne, France) - [JD 93+] [DM 92] [WS 92] [VM 91] [WA 91] [WE 91] [JS 90]

Notes from the Winemaker: 
Essentiel 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.

Terroir: More than 50 crus
Reserve wines: 23%

Blend: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier

Cellaring: 2019
Ageing on lees: Minimum of 36 months
Disgorgement date: Indicated on the back label
Ageing after disgorgement: Minimum of 6 months
Dosage: Extra Brut (6g/L)
Alcohol content: 12% vol.

Cellaring Potential: 10 years or more

Tasting Notes: Plum, brioche, grapefruit, stewed quince, acacia honey, grilled nuts

Ratings & Reviews

93+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The first launch for this wine, the NV Champagne Essentiel Blanc De Noirs Extra Brut is 80% Pinot Noir with the rest Meunier and comes from sustainable grapes. It doesn’t include any reserve wine, so it’s entirely from the 2019 vintage, and moving forward, Boutillat will begin to introduce a new solera to go into this cuvée, coming from 10 different villages across the region. A bright straw hue, the wine opens to a delicate smoky lift with fresh notes of orange citrus, blackberry, and flowers. The palate is pure and fantastic, with distilled black fruit, a fresh, chalky texture, and an elegant, fluffy mouse as well as a well-rounded purity of fruit through the mid-palate. A great first vintage for this wine, it has a lot of charm now and will age gracefully over the coming 10-12 years. It’s a wonderful gateway into Blanc de Noir, a category that should be more prized." (Nov 2023)

92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Such a vivid style here, a world away from heavy, red-fruited Blanc de Noirs toward blueberry, clementine and white peach fruit, crisply framed with citrusy energy and a refined clarity of texture. It almost feels as if there's Chardonnay at play. 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier, based on the 2019 vintage. Piper-Hedisieck's first cuvée from 100% sustainably certified viticulture." - TH (Oct 2023)

92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A well-knit version, with a fine, plush texture and lemony acidity layered with flavors of crushed black currant, chopped almond, preserved lemon and toast point. Long and elegant on the fresh finish. Pinot Noir and Meunier. Disgorged March 2023. Drink now through 2028. 1,347 cases imported.” - AN (Dec 2023)

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)

91 Points - Wine Advocate:
"Issuing entirely from the 2019 vintage, Piper-Heidsieck’s new NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Noirs Essentiel, disgorged in March 2023 with a dosage of five grams per liter, has turned out very well. Drawn from vineyards across the Montagne de Reims, the Marne Valley and the Côte des Bar—an assemblage of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier—it opens with captivating aromas of orange zest, cherry and nashi pear, mingling with quince and a subtle touch of smoky reduction. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, balancing the vintage’s ripeness with invigorating tension. Enlivened by a pillowy mousse, it is laden with succulent but vibrant acids that carry the wine to a lingering, mouthwatering finish. This cuvée reflects a step forward in viticulture; though not certified organic, the fruit is sourced from largely thoughtfully farmed vineyards." - Kristaps Kaarklins (Oct 2025)

91 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"A blend of Pinot Noir and Meunier, this Champagne has an enticing white fruit aroma and lightly spicy flavor. It is a tangy wine, textured with layers of acidity and citrus flavors. Drink now." - Roger Voss (Dec 2024)

90 Points- James Suckling:
"A bold, toasted style with cotton-candy and roasted-walnut aromas, baked apples and tarte tatin with a whiff of butter. Frothy bubbles at first, becoming creamier. Medium-bodied, showing refreshing acidity and stone-fruit flavors. Drink now." (Jul 2025)