Rare Champagne pays homage to the glory days of the royal court at Versailles when founder Florens-Louis Heidsieck presented his first ever ‘prestige cuvée’ to Marie Antoinette in 1785, declaring that he wanted to make a ‘cuvée worthy of a queen’. A century later a great tradition was founded when Russian Tsar Alexander III’s jeweller – a certain Pierre-Karl Fabergé – designed an opulent, bejewelled bottle for the house. The unique bottle shape is adorned with its distinctive gold casing, as a tribute to its glamorous beginnings.

The current vintage available is 2013. This Champagne is a crystal-clear, light gold in colour. The initial nose shines with the pure vivacity of this vintage, showing pronounced aromas of orange blossom, hyacinth and white flowers, with notes of just-ripe Williams pear, fresh coconut, almond, and tangerine. Saline and smoky hints balance the nose perfectly. The palate is crisp and precise, with citrus and tropical fruit lingering on the long, complex finish.

In over 40 years, Rare Champagne has only declared a vintage 14 times: 1976, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Originally crafted under the Piper-Heidsieck label, the remarkable singularity and unique style of Rare Champagne led to it becoming its own House in 2019.

Rare Champagne was conceived as an homage to the royal court at Versailles, where founder Florens-Louis Heidsieck presented his first ‘prestige cuvée’ to Marie Antoinette in 1785, declaring that he wanted to make a ‘cuvée worthy of a queen’. These glamorous beginnings are further referenced in Rare Champagne’s unique bottle shape and distinctive gold casing; a nod to the opulent, bejewelled bottle that Russian jeweller Pierre-Karl Fabergé designed for Piper-Heidsieck in the 1800’s.

Rare Champagne was also born from a struggle with nature. The 1976 vintage followed a period of exceptional drought, while a terrible frost preceded the 1985 vintage. Yet in both instances, they produced a champagne worthy of the name Rare. The vineyards used to create Rare Champagne are selected based on their unique characteristics, rather than a rank of Premier and Grand Cru. These exceptional sites blend to create wines which are complex and distinguished, offering a pure expression of their vintages.

Chardonnay (70%)

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes, thanks to its number of different styles. You’ll find everything from lean and chalky to rich, creamy and aged in oak, and even some of the world’s finest sparkling wine too.

Pinot Noir (30%)

Champagne