It was back in 2018 that Rare Champagne became its own brand, formerly being the top wine of Piper-Hedseick. The house is owned by the EPI group. Rare Champagne is made in select vintages, and this is the latest edition from 2013 with the last Rare Champagne being produced with the epic 2008 vintage. Wines are aged at least ten years on the lees before disgorgement. Cuvée Rare was first created by Piper-Heidsieck back in 1976. Rare Champagne has only declared 14 vintages, which is one of the most demanding producers in Champagne. Rare is always a Chardonnay dominant prestige champagne, and utilizes grapes from Trépail and Villers-Marmery in the Montagne de Reims to play first fiddle in the blend instead of classic Côte des Blancs grands crus origins. The new wine was extraordinarily good and has a long life ahead of it.
Chef de caves Emilien Boutillat has crafted a world-class 2013 Rare (OB, 96) which is amongst the finest wines made in the vintage. The year itself was a challenging vintage that had a cold and wet winter and spring which delayed fruit set. This champagne is a monumental achievement of the vintage. Learn more about this incredible wine at https://www.foliowine.com/wine/rare-millesime-brut/ and here is my review of the 2013 Rare Champagne.
2013 Rare Champagne- The 2013 Rare Champagne is the first release of this wine since the outstanding ’08 edition. Composed of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, sourced from 11 cru villages throughout the region. Toasty brioche and banana mark the nose alongside honeydew melon and salted Macadamia nut. The palate is big and burly considering the vintage. Lemon oil and dense melon flavors combine with Japanese pear, star jasmine water and shades of shortbread. Delightful now, this has the stuffing and finesse to cellar well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2052- 96