Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne Cuvée Rare 2012

97-99 points Essi Avellan, MW: "(70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir). Chardonnay leads on the beautifully complex nose, where coffee-laced toastiness meets soft char and refined pastry notes. Underneath, a rich, yeasty depth unfolds with seductive finesse. The palate is charmingly textured, super pure and precise, offering both generosity and elegance in perfect harmony. (Jun 2025)"

98 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(tasted in 2024 in France; 70% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir; 35% chardonnay from Villers Marmery as always, and here the only village of the Montagne, the balance from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Vertus, Chouilly and Avize; pinot noir from Verzy first, then Aÿ, Verzenay, Ambonnay and a touch of Ville-Dommange.) The ability of Rare to unite the depth of presence of chardonnay of the Montagne de Reims with powerful concentration and the juxtaposition of silky structure with glittering, saline chalk minerality is profound, and 2012 exemplifies this with incredible conviction. With an energy and radiant freshness that transcend its season at 12 years of age, there’s a wonderful, structural seamlessness of chalk minerality, silky texture of long lees age and just the right touch of grapefruit pith bite, the lingering memory of a warm summer. Age has drawn out subtle brioche, ginger nut and bergamot. It sets a stance of profound persistence and seamless line;, confirming one of the greats in the grand lineage of Rare. My visiting group and I were privileged to be the first public in the world to taste this incredible vintage, ahead of its pending global release in late 2024. (2024)"

98 points Bettane & Desseauve Guide (2022).

97 points Claire Nesbitt (JamesSuckling.com): "Complex notes of buttered toast, orange rind, licorice, fig and brioche on the nose, followed by honey and salted caramel on the palate. It’s layered, powerful and rich, yet so fresh and lively, with very fine bubbles that are well integrated. Long and intense. 70% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir. At least 10 years on the lees. 8g/L dosage. Drink or hold. (7/17/24)"

96 points Anne Krebiehl, MW (Vinous): "The 2012 Brut Millésime blends 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay mainly from Montagne de Reims and a small portion from Côte des Blancs, giving it a slightly unusual yet eternally sleek Chardonnay bent. It spent a decade on the lees. Its nose is a smoky wonder, combining ripe, almost tropical fruit with a gorgeous toasty sense of grilled almonds. An overtone of candied orange peel flashes up momentarily. The palate brings wonderfully golden plum fruit, ripe yet fresh, juicy and utterly aromatic, verging on apricot and always surrounded by a toasty, warming frisson of grilled nuts, pervaded by a streak of finest freshness. This is immensely youthful, captured with brilliantly pure fruit and lasting expression that rings long in a toasty umami echo. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. (Lot L2470283187) Drink: 2024-2045. (Dec 2024)"

96 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "Golden yellow-hued, the 2012 Champagne Millésime has notes of pineapple, brûléed citrus, honeyed ginger, and lemon curd. Round and full, it offers a pillowy mousse with a long finish. It has more ripeness than the 2013 but has fantastic underlying tension and acidity. It’s deceiving, as it is quite approachable now but also has the bones to age over the coming decades. Drink: 2024-2045. (12/20/24)"

96 points Natalie Earl (Decanter): "A Champagne of great intensity and concentration, pure citrus oil, candied lemon and toasty exotic fruit. It's exceptionally soft and satin-like, creamy and comforting, then a stony, saline intensity draws out the finish. For the first time in the history of Rare Champagne, the house has released a vintage that is older than its previous release. This 2012 comes after the 2013 was released in 2023. Cellar master Émilien Boutillat says this is because when tasting the 2012, he and the team found a connection between this and the iconic 2002, so it desereved a little bit of extra time in the cellars before release. Drinking Window: 2026-2045. (11/16/24)"

96 points Wine Spectator: "[$250 list] A graceful Champagne that waltzes across the palate, with a fine, plush mousse carrying a lovely range of ripe black cherry, pureed raspberry, candied ginger, Mandarin orange peel, grilled nut and pastry flavors enlivened by a vibrant spine of lemony acidity. To a certain extent, the precision and elegance belies the focus and breadth on display, so sip this slowly and enjoy as it opens in the glass and expands on the palate, echoing on the finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2040. (12/15/24)"