FRENCH WINE

BURGHOUND 93 POINTS "OUTSTANDING": "Classic ruby with no bricking. A maturing and highly complex and nuanced nose of red and black cherry fruit aromas nuanced by spice, damp earth and game notes leads to medium weight, sappy, refined and intense flavors that display outstanding precision and superb length. This is ripe and pure and finishes with a very appealing stony quality to complement the outstanding persistence. For my taste, this has reached a stage where it could be drunk now with pleasure or held for another 3-ish plus years first. A really lovely and harmonious effort."(4/2015)

WINE ADVOCATE 94 POINTS - "I completely under-estimated this upon release. Here the RSV has a refined, well-defined bouquet with light strawberry, rosemary, boysenberry and rose petals. The palate is medium-bodied and very finely balanced with red cherry, mandarin, crushed stone, fanning out wonderfully towards the under-stated finish that is so sensual. Lovely."

WINE ENTHUSIAST 92 POINTS - "A rich wine, with delicious cream and apple flavors, lifted by fine acidity. It is opulent, packed with apricot and light honey character encased in a dry, mineral framework."

JOHN GILMAN 95 POINTS-"I reported on the 2002 Piper-Heidsieck Rare a year ago [2015] and time does not seem to have touched it at all over the last twelve months, for if anything, this particular bottle seemed even younger than last year’s! The wine beautifully synthesizes the ripe fruit of ’02 with great structural integrity and seems likely to drink at its peak for at least another twenty years. The bouquet is a pure, complex blend of apple, white peach, a touch of leesiness, a great base of soil, fresh-baked bread, a touch of citrus peel and an overtly smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and superbly detailed, with a fine core of fruit, elegant mousse, bright acids and excellent backend mineral drive on the long, vibrant and very classy finish. 2016- 2035+.

WINE SPECTATOR 97 POINTS - "A powerhouse, with verve to the finely cut, racy acidity, showing a sense of finesse and seamless integration of the firm frame. The silky texture carries layer upon layer of toasted brioche, currant and pear pâte de fruit flavors, with notes of grated ginger and coconut, cappuccino foam and spun honey. Mineral accents of smoke, ground spice and fleur de sel build on the long, echoing finish. Drink now through 2032."

For the seventh consecutive year Chef de Cave Regis Camus of Piper-Heidsieck has walked away with the prestigious International Wine Challenge’s Sparkling Winemaker of the Year Award. It seems only fitting that Champagne’s most awarded Winemaker would be the mind behind this year’s top Champagne release. Since joining Piper-Heidsieck in 1994, Camus has shepherded the house to great acclaim thanks to his expert blending skills, attention to detail and passion for quality. Over the years we have developed an acute suspicion of ornately packaged wines (and boy is this tête de cuvée ever dressed to the nines); however, this is definitely one of those rare instances where the Champagne is as lustrous as its gilded label. As the notes below attest, this Piper Rare ranks with the best of the best from the great Champagne class of 2002. It goes without saying that this handsomely adorned treasure would make a most impressive executive gift.