Now in Stock: A Legendary Champagne from Piper-Heidsieck 

2013 Rare (Piper-Heidsieck) Brut Champagne ($199.99)

98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Originally a part of the legendary Piper-Heidsieck Champagne house, Rare is moving their Champagne Millésime to a new brand and want it to stand alone. (Think Delamotte and Salon.) The 13th vintage for this cuvée, the 2013 Champagne Millésime is a blend is 70% Chardonnay with the rest Pinot Noir, with the majority of the blend coming from the Montagne de Reims Grand Cru and Premier Cru. A bright yellow hue, its aromatics are exquisite and well-balanced, with fresh notes of key lime, candied apple, fresh croissant dough, fresh pineapple, and honeysuckle. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with a rounded and supple texture and a pillowy mousse. Its long on the palate and has a silky personality as well as a long, pristine finish. It has fantastic balance of decadence and freshness, and I could drink this all day. Its going to have a long drinking window. (AF)" (11/2023)

96 points James Suckling: "Such a pleasingly elegant and multifaceted Champagne with salty, creamy and toasty elements all wound together. Plenty of apricot pastries, pears, brown butter, fennel and salted almonds, with some iodine. Its silky on the palate, with soft and supple bubbles, while remaining fresh and on edge. 70% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir, from 11 cru villages mostly in Montagne de Reims with Cotes de Blancs. Disgorged December 2022. 9 g/L dosage." (07/2023)

96 points Decanter: "The nose opens with an initial whiff of creaminess, followed by hints of creamy polenta and tart yet aromatic citrus and chalk. The palate is immediately striking with saltiness and savouriness. The foam is rich and tiny bubbles burst, releasing the citric charm of lemon and white grapefruit. There is something driven, vertical and precise on the taut body, softened by that creamy generosity and subtle oyster shell appeal of the mousse. The finish holds a delicious frisson of white pepper and grapefruit zest spice. A very straight-laced wine for now that will unfold in its long future. (AK)" (06/2023)

95 points Wine Enthusiast: "The Champagne's name is just right. It has a rare finesse that gives it a wonderful tense character. Poised between dryness, great maturity and dense fruit, the wine is ready to drink. *Cellar Selection* (RV)" (12/2023)

95 points Wine Spectator: "An elegant, finessed Champagne, with the creamy mousse carrying a finely meshed yet concentrated range of blackberry puree and poached apricot flavors, plus blood orange peel, salted pistachio and aromatic accents of verbena, chalk and oyster shell. Shows mouthwatering acidity that carries the complex profile on the long finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2038. (AN)" (11/2023)

Jancis Robinson: "Deep straw gold. Excellent combination of tension and richness and a fine texture of mousse. Quite long. Obviously still quite youthful but it should age very well. Obviously superior. (JR)" (10/2023)

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 11, 2025

The incredibly rich, brioche filled style of the Rare is complemented perfectly by the zippier character of the 2013 vintage in Champagne. I find this to be one of the great secrets of the tete de cuvées, with fantastic complexity and truly "rare" elegance. If you like a champagne that has plenty of toast and stuffing, yet still refreshes, this is a great choice. It has the butter, the limy drive, the perfect tiny bubbles and a super long finish!