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piper heidsieck, 2012 Champagne and Sparkling

Rare Champagne Millesime in Gift Box
Decanter World Wine Awards Best In Show

Bottle size: 75cl

ABV: 12%

Price:

£195.00

3 In Stock

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    • Description

    Piper-Heidsieck Rare Champagne Millésimé 2012

    Vintage & Background
    The 2012 vintage in Champagne is already hailed as one of the greats of the modern era. A challenging growing season was rescued by perfect late summer conditions, producing grapes of outstanding ripeness and concentration. Piper-Heidsieck’s prestige cuvée, Rare, is made only in exceptional years, and the 2012 release continues the tradition of precision, elegance, and longevity.

    Appearance & Nose
    In the glass, the wine shimmers pale gold with fine, persistent bubbles. The bouquet is expressive and layered, revealing notes of ripe pear, white peach, and citrus zest, followed by floral hints of acacia and honeysuckle. Subtle pastry, almond, and mineral tones provide depth, alongside a whisper of spice.

    Palate & Texture
    The palate is both powerful and refined, with vibrant orchard fruits balanced by crisp acidity and chalky minerality. Flavours of peach, apricot, and candied citrus mingle with brioche, roasted hazelnut, and vanilla. The mousse is fine and silky, carrying the wine through to a long, elegant finish marked by freshness and precision.

    Maturity & Drinking Window
    While already remarkably expressive, the 2012 Rare has the structure and concentration to age gracefully for decades. Enjoy now for its energy and fruit purity, or cellar to allow further complexity and tertiary nuances to emerge.

    Serving & Pairing Suggestions
    Serve chilled at 10–12 °C in a tulip glass to capture both aromatics and texture. It pairs beautifully with lobster, scallops, turbot, or refined poultry dishes. For a simpler but equally elegant match, enjoy with aged Parmesan or fine caviar.

    Overall Verdict
    Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2012 is a majestic Champagne from a legendary vintage. Combining fruit intensity with chalky finesse and remarkable length, it represents the very best of the house’s craftsmanship. A collector’s bottle with outstanding ageing potential, and a superb choice for special occasions.

    Condition

    excellent

    Reviews

    Decanter World Wine Awards 2025 - Best in Show - 97pts

    "We haven’t featured three Champagnes for our Top 50 Best In Show in recent years (though this was the case in both our 2019 and 2020 DWWA competitions), but this blend of 70 per cent Chardonnay and 30 per cent Pinot Noir proved as hard to ignore as its two peers. The 2012 vintage pattern differed from those of 2008 or 2014 – but still demanded both patience and fortitude. April frosts were cruel this year, and for those whose vineyards jumped that hurdle, the cold spring weather that followed was unencouraging. Late summer, though was very dry, and just warm enough to create the nervy ripeness blenders love. You can almost smell that tension in the aromatic restraint of this Champagne, but keep looking and you’ll find much to relish, too, including flowers from the Chardonnay and root spice from the Pinot. Age mingles the two seamlessly. Once in the mouth, this is a Champagne of structure and proportion, and it’s here, too, that you can see the skill and restraint with which all the elements have been chamfered and jointed into place."

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