2012 Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne Blend

2012 Piper-Heidsieck Brut

97 DEC

Chef de cave Emilien Boutillat supervised the sourcing of grapes for the 2012 from 12 different plots, two-thirds of which are designated as either premier cru or grand cru. In this vintage, the blend is made up of slightly more than half Pinot Noir with Chardonnay and 8g/L dosage. Simon Field MW: An accomplished, rigorous blend; persistent, complete and impressive length – nougat, lemongrass, finely etched finish. Alan Bednarski: Candied lemons and blueberry pie with some sweet citrus candies, the dosage leaving a touch of sweetness on the finish. Tim Hall: A creamy overlay to the citrus start. A cool continuation of fern and green forest and a good pure texture, too. (Drink between 2021-2028)

Decanter | 95 DEC

Based on 52% Pinot Noir and 48% Chardonnay, with 10 grams of dosage, the 2012 Champagne offers a beautifully layered, rich style with loads of brioche and orchard fruits, medium-bodied richness and depth, good acidity, and a clean finish. It’s a layered, pure, classic Champagne that’s well worth seeking out. It’s a solid step up over the Cuvée Brut.

Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JD

Unfurling in the glass with incipiently complex aromas of citrus oil, wheat toast, fresh peach and crisp orchard fruit, the newly released 2012 Vintage Brut is full-bodied, deep and tightly wound, with excellent concentration, racy acids and a fine mousse, concluding with a long and penetrating finish. Even though it’s still a little reserved after its recent disgorgement,

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93+ RP

A crowd-pleasing example, showing overall balance and integration, with lightly mouthwatering acidity and a creamy texture married to an appealing mix of white cherry, almond biscotti, lemon curd and anise flavors. A lovely streak of spicy minerality drives the long finish. Drink now through 2027. 8,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

A vintage wine, this hints of maturity while preserving a fresh core of balanced fruit and texture. Almost equally balanced between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the wine brings together structure and minerality to sustain the fruit. Drink this Champagne from 2021.

Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

Type of Wine	Champagne : Nothing like a refreshing, vivacious glass of fine Champagne during a hot summer afternoon. Typically combining Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, each Champagne house has a distinct style. Whether you want to sample a single varietal (such as the 100% Chardonnay blanc de blancs) or a tasteful blend, no region can compete with Champagne.
Varietal	Champagne Blend : The Champagne blend is one of the most distinctive styles of winemaking in the world. This illustrious blend of grape varietals hails from northeastern France, in the winegrowing region of Champagne. The magical combination of varietals perfectly marry to the terroir, climate and topography of the region, creating a sexy, seductive and fascinating sparkling wine that is synonymous with success and celebration. The primary grape varietals cultivated in Champagne and most used for blending are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. In fact, there are seven permitted grape varieties in the Champagne AOC (controlled designation of origin) though the other four are so rarely used they are often forgotten (Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc Petit Meslier and Arbane). The three grape varietals of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier account for about 99% of the region’s plantings. Chardonnay is planted to 10,117 hectares, Pinot Meunier is planted to 10,521 hectares while the most widely planted, Pinot Noir, covers around 12,950 hectares. Chardonnay brings crisp and refreshing nuances to the effervescent wine blend. When used as a single-variety offering, the wines are named Blanc de Blancs, and account for only around 3% of all Champagne bottlings. Pinot Noir is the staple in Champagne blends and interestingly, is planted in more hectares in Champagne than its ancestral home of Burgundy. It is one of just two allowable red grapes in the region. Pinot Noir brings body and mouth-filling structural texture to the blend. When used as a single-variety its creation is called Blanc de Noirs (white wine made from black-skinned grapes). Pinot Meunier, the other red grape permitted in Champagne brings red berry flavors and balances the overall blend. Though historically a blending grape, 100% Pinot Meunier Champagne wines are becoming increasingly popular. Champagne has privileged environmental influences that give the wines produced here specific, unique characteristics that are often imitated but never duplicated. Its northern location, rugged climate, distinctive soil type and hillside vineyards makes Champagne terroir the only one of its kind. The first distinguishing factor is that Champagne enjoys a dual climate influenced by oceanic currents and continental winds. The oceanic currents help to keep the temperatures cooler, while the continental influence brings precipitation which are both essential for quality grape production. Terroir is the second major component to the success of the grapes of Champagne to grow and prosper. It is composed mostly limestone (75%) chalk and marl with a limestone subsoil. The fissured medium provides good drainage, promoting the health and development of the vines. Each soil type is important to the stages of development. The chalk in Champagne consists of granules of calcite formed from fragile marine shells and micro-organisms. This highly porous compound assists in water movement into the root system. The limestone, being less porous allows the right amount of water to be collected while restricting erosion. Marl is just as important and contains highly rich minerals which allows the growth of berries with intense flavors. The third distinguishing factor is the gift of Champagne’s natural landscape where the rugged and hilly terrain greatly assists in water drainage and root growth. The average gradient is around 12% with some of the slopes reaching grades as steep as 59%. The higher elevations receive greater sunlight than lower elevations at the same latitude. This feature alone creates diverse micro-climates within the region allowing grapes grown in different locations and at different Champagne houses to have unique characteristics. The varietals of Champagne, the terroir of the region along with the oceanic and continental climatic influences come together to create one of earth’s most breathtaking wine styles. From the many styles and offerings, Brut (dry, raw or unrefined) to rose, vintage to non-vintage, Champagne blends offer to the world a euphoric, effervescent experience that cannot be matched.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Region	Champagne : The sharp, biting acidity, cutting through the richness; the explosive force that shatters the bubbles as they rise to the surface; the intense flavor and compelling, lively mouthfeel; these are all hallmarks of a good Champagne. Most wines are made from a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, but there are pure-Chardonnay variants and ones that blend only Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. As a result, most wines come with a feeling of familiarity, if not nostalgia. Each Champagne house has its own unique style, so different bottles of Champagne may not resemble each other outside of the core varietal strengths. The soil composition of the subregion is characterized by belemnite and chalk, which lets it absorb heat during the daytime and release it at night. This terroir helps create the feeling of airy, playful lightness of fine sparkling wine. These wines were originally marketed towards royalty, and you can feel a hint of that elusive blue-blood elegance and confidence while drinking one. A good Champagne carries you away like a hurricane carries small debris, and you can feel the powerful life force in each bubble even. The characteristic Champagne "pop" has become a staple at parties and celebrations around the globe - when you hear it, good times are right around the corner.

Producer	Piper-Heidsieck : Since its inception, Champagne has electrified the market, thrilling consumers around the world with its alluring effervescence. It has long been glorified as the ultimate drink of choice for the royal and affluent alike, even King Louis XIV declaring it, “The wine of kings and the king of wines.” One of the older houses in the region, Piper-Heidsieck, has a long and glorious history, closely interwoven to that of France, playing an integral part in the development and popularization of Champagne. With influential ambassadors, such as Marie Antoinette and Marilyn Monroe, Piper-Heidsieck has become a symbol of high standing, luxury and merriment. Heidsieck &Cie (its first official name) was founded in 1785 by German emigrant and cloth merchant, Florens-Louis Heidsieck. Driven by a taste for adventure and a particular dream of bedazzling Marie Antoinette, he vowed to make a “wine that smiles” and a “cuvee worthy of a queen.” This came to fruition when his first cuvee was presented to the Queen, to which was love at first sip and she would become the first ambassador of the luxury Champagne, solidifying its reputation among the elite houses in the region. Florens-Louis’ nephew Christian Heidsieck joined the house in 1800, followed by Christian’s cousin, Henri-Guillaume Piper, in 1815. Upon the death of Florens-Louis in 1828, Christian assumed control of the house while Henri-Guillaume traveled the world to promote and sell the wines. The house became the official purveyor to 14 Royal and Imperial Courts, from Great Britain to China. Sadly, Christian died suddenly in 1835. After a suitably respectful period of mourning, his widow remarried to none other than Henri-Guillaume and the house was renamed Piper-Heidsieck. Its success continued inevitably throughout the 20th century when it became Hollywood’s favorite. In 1933, Laurel and Hardy film Sons of the Desert marked the very first appearance of champagne in movies with a bottle of Piper-Heidsieck, and it is said that in the 1950s Marilyn Monroe woke each morning with a glass of Piper-Heidsieck. From the Cannes Film Festival to the Oscars, professional wine critics and everyday consumers, its fame and popularity has swelled and today, is among the most well-known Champagne brands in the world and is the most awarded Champagne house of this century. The house, located in Reims (the unofficial capital of Champagne) owns 80 hectares throughout Champagne cultivating Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and its star grape, Pinot Noir. It also sources grapes from 100 crus from around the region for their blends. Piper-Heidsieck produces around 5 million bottles a year and are recognized for their distinctive gold and red/black label. Its enormous and state of the art winery allows it to maintain the individuality of the crus and their expressions in the blends that are dominated by pinot noir. The Piper-Heidsieck range includes Cuvee Brut, Cuvee Sublime (demi-sec), Rose Sauvage (brut), Essentiel (extra brut), Essentiel Blanc de Blanc (extra brut) and Piper-Heidsieck Vintage Champagne (brut). Renowned for their structured fruity style, based on the intense use of Pinot Noir, the beautiful wines satisfy both sophisticated and unpretentious drinkers. As winemaker, Emilien Boutillat describes, “complexity without being complicated.” With over 235 years of history, excellence and the perpetuation of traditional Champagne winemaking, the legendary house has become tantamount to celebratory and momentous occasions and a mythical love affair between man and wine.