1999 Piper-Heidsieck Rare
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Tasting notes
A complex wine with aromas of earth, chalk, restrained citrus, apples, lanolin and a hint of cured meat. Full-bodied with fine bubbles, savory zabaglione flavors, a tight-knit structure and a phenolic grip. Quince in the slightly bitter finish. A bit funky compared to the pristine style of the producer, yet detailed and substantive. Tasted from magnum. Drink or hold.
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James Suckling
James Suckling
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The 1999 Rare is a medium-bodied, focused offering redolent of flowers, pears and green apples. Here too, the wine is well- made and offers good definition but not the detail or complexity of its peers at this price point. Piper-Heidsieck's Rare is Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This bottle was disgorged in December 2007.
(75% chardonnay and 25% pinot noir) Pale yellow with a very fine bead. Seductively perfumed nose displays orange, lime, mineral, thyme and honeysuckle scents; the chardonnay is very strong today. Energetic and pure, with dusty minerality adding lift and cut to the fresh citrus and orchard fruit flavors. The long, juicy finish leaves behind a trail of minerals and peppery spices.