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Piper-Heidsieck Champagne

By Darryl Beeson

This is sort-of a Heid and Sieck story, but you must pay the Piper. Competing with the best of Champagne Houses (i.e. Moet, Veuve, Pommery, Mumm, Feuillate and many more), realize that the standards are extremely high.

Piper-Heidsieck delivers top greatness with a top value. This is what it takes to be considered by www.wineontheweb.com  as Winery of the Year for 2007.

Now the history. Florens-Louis Heidsieck, the son of a Lutheran minister from Westphalia, worked in Reims, France, as a cloth merchant. Heidsieck developed a passion for winemaking and began making his own Champagne. Although he was neither a viticulturist, nor a Reims' native, this fellow had a knack.

On July 16, 1785, Florens-Louis Heidsieck stepped forward to establish his own Champagne House. Establishing rigorous standards and making sure that only the best grapes were used in his blends, these attentions-to-details enabled him to create an outstanding Champagne that was highly respected. Heidsieck wisely dedicated one of his Champagnes to Queen Marie-Antoinette and was granted the honor of presenting her with a symbolic bottle. "Let them eat cake," she might have said, "while I will drink fabulous Champagne." Maybe not.

In October 1838, the two destined names came closer together when Henri Piper married Christian Heidsieck's widow. From this point, two great Champagne producers were connected at the "sip."

Continuing to move forward, on January, 1st 1851, Henri Piper teamed up with his cousin J.C. Kunkelmann, founding things in Reims in 1851.

Champagne Charles Heidsieck has become renowned as one of the most prestigious houses in Champagne. They continue to be recognized for their elegant, rich style. For the House's centenary in 1885, they commissioned Fabergé, the celebrated jeweller to the Russian imperial court, to make a gold, lapus lazuli and diamond ornament to adorn the special champagne created for the occasion.

Family members continue to rule. When J.C. Kunkelmann died, his son succeeded him. Then his daughter and son-in-law took over the business, and the House remained in the family. In 1985, Piper-Heidsieck staged a two hundredth anniversary celebration at the Château de Versailles. In 1997, Piper-Heidsieck took the decision to use the color red to highlight its bold and innovative personality. The whole history is at www.piper-heidsieck.com.

To better appreciate the house's quality,realize that a relationship developed between the Piper-Heidsieck partnership and the grapegrowers from around 180 villages, some of whom have supplied grapes to this renowned Champagne House for several generations. Piper-Heidsieck has one of the largest selection of crus, which represents all the essential nuances of the Champagne terroir and includes both Grands Crus and Premiers Crus.

Charles Heidsieck “Blanc des Millénaires” Brut Vintage 1995
Price $95                    
Rating 95
The complex nose offers stewed fruit with exotic spice,the flavors of marzipan and roasted almond.
This  Blanc de Blancs is one of the most celebrated champagnes in the world.  Made with five of the best growths from the Côte des Blancs -- Oger, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Vertus, Cramant and Avize. This exquisite wine is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, only produced in small quantities in years of exceptional quality.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV
Price $40                    
Rating 94
The grapes used to make Brut Réserve are selected from the top crus in the Champagne region. Each bottle of Brut Réserve contains an extraordinary 40% of reserve wines. Pinot Noir 34%, Chardonnay 33%, Pinot Meunier 33%

Notes of fully ripe fruit, such as nectarines and cherry plums are apparent initially. The finish reveals hints of nougat, honey and cereal grains. This wine is remarkably smooth and generous on the palate. Three years of maturation have given it body and substance. As the wine opens up, it is full and intense with notes of warm bread blending harmoniously with discreet notes of ginger and coriander.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Rosé Vintage 1999
Price $80                    
Rating 94
Fresh notes of strawberries, building intensity with hints of soft pepper, fresh vanilla, exotic sandalwood, along with vast floral. Red fruit, strawberries, tart raspberries and red-currants, then concentrated floral notes. Pomegranate or hibiscus syrup are in the seamless finale.

The blend Pinot Noir 65%, Chardonnay 30%, Bouzy 5%. This wine is a perfect reminder of what an exceptional year 1999 was, probably one of the most impressive in the history of champagne, both for the sheer size and exceptional quality of the harvest. Higher than average temperatures brought out the grapes full potential. The wines of 1999, are crisp and concentrated.

Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV
Price $35                    
Rating 93
The first impressions are of bright freshness, reminiscent of spring blossoms such as hawthorn, leading into more fruity notes, apple, pear, then citrus, with hints of toasted wholewheat bread. Bright citrus notes throughout the long length, the finish resonates with classic champagne toasted multi-grain bread.

Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut is always a well balanced champagne with delicate aromas of citrus fruits and floral. Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut combines 50 rigorously selected crus. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes give Cuvée Brut structure and elegance. Reserve wines are used to create a more rounded blend and ensure the originality of the Piper-Heidsieck style. The wine’s harmony develops over the course of slow aging in Piper-Heidsieck chalk cellars. Minimum aging of 24 months and the blend is 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, 15% Chardonnay.

Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Sublime, NV
Price $37                    
Rating 94
Aromas of violet open things up, along with marmalade, notes of dried fruit, caramelized pear, licorice, cinnamon and vanilla follow. A complex finish offers hints of crunchy praline, nougatien and lusty rum pastry.  There are notes of caramelized flambéed pineapple and a wide array of pastries. The finish presents mild spices, vanilla and cinnamon, for a cuvée that offers a complex balance in the long length.

This sweeter, demi-sec Champagne is crafted from the finest Champagne grapes hand-selected by their chef de caves. The blend is 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, 15% Chardonnay.

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Darryl Beeson travels the world looking for great wine finds. Says writer Roy Blount, Jr., “Wine is tough, but I know Darryl can do it.” He is the American Editor for www.wineontheweb.com  and teaches professionally for www.internationalsommelier.com.

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