Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002 Rated #1 Champagne by FINE Champagne Magazine's "100 Best Champagnes for 2011"

Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002 Rated #1 Champagne by FINE Champagne Magazine's "100 Best Champagnes for 2011"


FINE Champagne Magazine, the only international publication devoted to champagne and a renowned industry authority, announces its list of the “100 Best Champagnes for 2011."

During the year 2010, the magazine’s editorial team assessed over 1000 champagnes that are now available on the markets. After the semifinal, three-day blind-tasting of the top 200 champagnes, the panel selected 30 champagnes that were blind-tasted again in the finals in Reims, Champagne. In the tasting, the most important criteria were the quality of the wine and the champagne’s accessibility today. When the results were tabulated, the top ten included many familiar names but the unanimous first place winner was Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002.

“Rare was convincingly the winner of both our semi-final and finals. We have been impressed with the development in the quality of Piper-Heidsieck wines over the recent years and Rare’s performance was in line with that. Rare from the superb 2002 vintage is a phenomenal champagne; firm, vibrant, pure yet charming and layered. A prestige cuvée that would deserve to be much better known.” FINE Champagne Magazine editor Essi Avellan MW comments.

“Since 1976, the House has only released 8 vintages of Rare: 1976, 1979,1985, 1988, 1990, 1998 en Magnum, 1999 and 2002,” says Régis Camus, chef de caves and chief winemaker at Maison Piper-Heidsieck. “Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002 is a glorious wine and I am honoured that it has been selected as the number one champagne in the world by FINE Champagne Magazine.”

This has been an extraordinary year for Piper-Heidsieck indeed. In September, London’s International Wine Challenge named Régis Camus “Sparkling Winemaker of the Year” for the fifth time. After joining the House in 1994, Camus became chef de caves in 2002. Only two years later, he was awarded this prestigious title for the first time in 2004 but went on to win again in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Under his direction, the champagnes of Maison Piper-Heidsieck have risen to a new level of excellence.

Régis Camus' Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 1995 and Charles Heidsieck Brut Vintage 2000 were also praised, earning the #3 and #4 spots respectively on FINE Champagne Magazine's prestigious list.

The full 100 Best Champagnes ranking can be read in the FINE Champagne Magazine coming out on November 26th. From January onwards the 100 Best Champagnes for 2011 will be available as an iPhone application.

TOP 10 Champagnes for 2011


1. Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002
2. Dom Pérignon Rosé 2000
3. Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 1995
4. Charles Heidsieck Vintage 2000
5. Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé 2002
6. Ruinart Dom Ruinart Rosé 1996
7. Dom Pérignon 2002
8. De Saint Gall Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs NV
9. Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2002
10. Chartogne-Taillet Fiacre NV

More information:

Click here and read the full article of The Best 100-Champagnes 2011.

Essi Avellan MW, editor, FINE Champagne Magazine
Tel: +358 (0)40 7197197
E-mail: essi.avellan@fine-magazines.com

Pekka Nuikki, editor-in-chief, FINE Champagne Magazine
Tel: +358 (0)400 503 784
E-mail: pekka.nuikki@fine-magazines.com

www.fine-magazines.com.