97 points, “Deep golden and bright. The nose has white pepper and duxelles of field mushroom pervaded by lemon zest and candied lemon peel. The citrus element is taking over on the palate with candied orange and tangerine peel, the body has inherent gentleness and smoothest mousse. The lemon freshness streams from a profound core of rich, citric chalkiness with that candied peel radiating its aromatic richness that combines Demerara sugar and sea salt. That gorgeous fresh field mushroom earthiness with its peppery verve remains a firm feature and shows the racy and sleek side of this gorgeous treasure. Endless length.” – Anne Krebiehl MW, Falstaff 95 points, “The bouquet is surprisingly fresh, with notes of quince, undergrowth, mushrooms, fruit paste, apple and spices. With aeration, elegant notes come to the fore, with aromas of white fruit and spices. The palate is beautifully balanced and tension-filled; this is a bright and energetic Champagne. The dosage is not felt at all, and the finish is persistent, long and airy, indicating a historical yet very impressive cool vintage.” – Decanter When was the last time you were able to open a Champagne made in the 1970s? Hors-Série is a new range of ultra-limited editions from Piper-Heidsieck. The Head Winemaker, Émilien Boutillat, has been given carte blanche to create completely unique cuvées, the likes of which few have ever tasted. The inaugural release is a fifty-year-old blend disgorged in 2021, called Hors-Série Vintage Champagne 1971. Interestingly, the winemaker wasn’t even born when the 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir for this wine were picked from 12 Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites. Only 2021 bottles were made (each one tasted and tested for quality), of which only 300 made their way to the UK, so this represents an extremely rare opportunity. 1971 was an unusual year, starting very cold, warming up and then surprising everyone with summer hail. But the end of the season was excellent, resulting in immense quality. Finished with a dosage of 10g/l, produced using a 2019 Chardonnay, Piper-Heidsieck’s Hors-Série Vintage Champagne 1971 is remarkable. Few will ever get to taste a Champagne that has been matured on its lees for half a century and each bottle is completely unique. It comes packaged in a collectable gift box made from solid oak and finished with a graphic monogram that’s clearly an ode to the fashion of the 1970s. Piper-Heidsieck’s history is a tale of passion, intrigue and stardom. Founder Florens-Louis Heidsieck was a lowly draper in Reims who fell madly in love with a young lady from Champagne. Running away to the famous winemaking region, he ditched cloth for bubbles. When he passed away, his nephew, Christian Heidsieck, took over the business with a little help from his cousin Henri-Guillaume Piper. When Christian also died, Henri-Guillaume married his widow, thus creating Piper-Heidsieck and probably more than a little gossip in the process. The house’s Champagne, which is now the official Champagne of the Oscars, has been loved by everyone from Marie Antoinette to Marilyn Monroe, not to mention Hapsburg princes, Chinese emperors and fashion designers. So, while Dom Pérignon may bandy around the quote “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars,” Piper-Heidsieck allows you to actually drink like the stars. Piper-Heidsieck is now B Corp certified, which means that they’re part of a global movement of companies that put people and the planet before profit. That makes this a delicious and ethical choice.
£53.33 per 100.00ml