Rare Champagne Vintage 2006

This delicious vintage champagne from 2006 comes from the reputable champagne house Piper-Heidsieck and is made from 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. It is complex and both exotic and fresh, ripe and warm because of its age, but it still has delicate and dynamic bubbles.

In 2006 the winter was cold with large amounts of snow, followed by thunderstorms in the spring and a very hot summer in August. Then the temperature dropped and large amounts of rain threatened the ripeness of the grapes. Fortunately, the heat returned in September, and the harvest was saved.

As a testament to a sunny year, the champagne shines with a changing color of yellow-green and gold. It first offers a generous honeyed and exotic aroma with crisp mango, cocoa, coffee, and tropical fruits, which give the vintage a sophisticated vitality. Aromas of jasmine pave the way for a gradually growing minerality. Aromas of dried apricot and pink peony announce a light vegetative structure, where vanilla, yellow kiwi, and exotic spices flourish.

In the unusually long finish, mocha and cocoa confirm the fine minerality. Dried apricots, sweet spices, citrus fruits, crispy honey pastry, and Espelette pepper (Piment d'Espelette) cover the mouth with an exotic and smoky heat.

Enjoy it with, for example, oysters, lobster, aperitif or meals with white meat. 

About Rare Champagne:

In 1885, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne marked the 100th year of the first Cuvée, which was served to Queen Marie-Antoinette in 1785, by producing a prestige cuvée, Rare Champagne.

Today, Rare Champagne is one of the most prestigious luxury brands, and it is only produced when the year's harvest in Champagne is extraordinarily successful. Thus, Rare Champagne has only been released in 9 vintages since 1976 and is thus one of the vintage Champagnes that is released the rarest.

Rare Champagne Vintage 2008 offers a generous aroma of honey and tropical fruit. Crisp and minerally clean in taste, where apricot, citrus, sweet oriental spices and a little pepper complement each other in perfect balance and harmony. A historic and incredibly elegant wine that, then as now, is worthy of a queen.

Comments from a tasting:

"Piper-Heidsieck's luxury cuvée with its beautifully decorated bottle is a well-matured blend of mainly Chardonnay with some Pinot Noir. Great drive and energy comes from the ripe fruit with its hints of almonds and toast. Drink this wine now."

95/100

Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

Product information

Size: 0,75 L 
Grapes: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir
Dosage: Brut
Notes: crisp mango, cocoa, coffee, tropical fruits, apricot
ABV: 12.5% Vol.
Made in: France, Champagne
Produced by: Piper-Heidsieck, France
Including: champagne 
Condition: Brand new, (may have minor imperfections from shipping)
Other information: contains sulfites