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Rare Champagne

Founded in 1976 under the auspices of Piper-Heidsieck — a house founded in 1785 by Florens-Louis Heidsieck during the reign of Marie-Antoinette —, the Rare brand embodies a radical philosophy within the world of prestige champagne: to be released only in truly exceptional vintages. Under the guidanceof Émilien Boutillat, cellar master, the signature blend combines 70 per cent Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs and — an extremely rare occurrence — from the Montagne de Reims, a region usually reserved for Pinot Noir, bringing a precise and distinctive minerality that competitors cannot replicate, with 30 per cent Pinot Noir from the great terroirs of Verzy and Aÿ. Each cuvée is aged for at least eight to nine years in the cellars before being released — with a deliberately unconventional character that celebrates the unique, sometimes rebellious, personality of an extraordinary vintage. Rated up to 98/100 by Bettane & Desseauve and 97/100 by Decanter, Rare ranks among the most closely scrutinised prestige cuvées by international critics.

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Rare Champagne — 2012 vintage

The Rare ranges — Iconic vintages and prestigious rosés

The Rare range has comprised only around ten vintages since its inception, each bearing a unique designation. The Rare Millésime 2002 — an ‘iconic benchmark cuvée’ — embodies exemplary purity and character. The Rare Millésime 2012 ‘Lumineux’, a highly structured wine with spicy and tropical notes, shows ageing potential until 2044. The Rare Rosé Millésime 2012 ‘Virtuose’ combines floral notes, fruit and spice with perfect balance. When pairing with food, the vintage bruts come into their own with roast lobster, turbot in beurre blanc or scallops; the rosés are best enjoyed with foie gras terrine, poultry in cream sauce or delicate red-berry desserts.

Rare vintages are best served between 8 and 10 °C in a wide-bowled tulip glass, allowing their full aromatic complexity to unfold. Their ageing potential is exceptional: the Rare 2012 is expected to keep until 2044. More recent vintages still deserve a few more years of patience in a cool, dark cellar before they reveal their full potential.

Discover the Rare vintages available in the selection at Pépites en Champagne — a premium artisanal wine merchant offering sommelier advice, elegant packaging and express delivery throughout France and across Europe.

Rare — From Reims to Marie-Antoinette: rarity as a choice

In 1785, Florens-Louis Heidsieck founded the house in Reims that would give rise to Piper-Heidsieck, which very quickly became associated with the French royal court and Marie-Antoinette. Almost two centuries later, in 1976, Rare was launched: a limited-edition prestige cuvée, unveiled to the world in 1985 in an exclusive bottle co-designed with Van Cleef & Arpels, of which only three examples exist. The brand is now owned by the Descours family as part of the EPI Group.

The signature blend comprises 70 per cent Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims, complemented by 30 per cent Pinot Noir from the grands crus of Verzy and Aÿ. Under the guidance ofÉmilien Boutillat, each vintage is aged for at least eight to nine years in maturation cellars — a period that forges the complexity and bold character unique to Rare.

Domaine Rare in Champagne — cellars in the Marne region

Your questions about Rare champagnes

Is Rare champagne worth the price compared to Dom Pérignon or Krug?
Priced between €190 and €400 depending on the vintage, Rare is a direct rival to Dom Pérignon and Krug, with the added advantage of extreme rarity: only around ten vintages in fifty years. International critics confirm this standing — with scores of up to 98/100 from Bettane & Desseauve, 97/100 from Decanter and 97/100 from James Suckling.
What food and wine pairings go well with Rare champagne?
Rare vintage brut champagnes are the perfect accompaniment to roast lobster, turbot in beurre blanc, scallops or white truffles as a starter. Vintage rosés come into their own with foie gras terrine, Bresse poultry in a creamy sauce or red berry desserts. Rare Le Secret, a non-dosé champagne, is the perfect accompaniment to fine oysters or delicate fish tartare.
How should Rare champagne be stored and served?
Store Rare horizontally, at between 10 and 12 °C, away from light and vibrations. Serve at between 8 and 10 °C in a wide-rimmed tulip glass. Great vintages have exceptional ageing potential — the 2012 Rare is expected to keep until 2044. Allow a few minutes after opening for the aromas to fully develop.
Where can I buy Rare champagne online?
Discover the full Rare range at Pépites en Champagne — an artisanal selection, expert advice, and express delivery throughout France and Europe.
What makes the Rare champagne bottle truly unique?
The first Rare vintage — the 1976 cuvée, unveiled in 1985 — was presented in an exclusive bottle co-created with Van Cleef & Arpels, of which only three exist in the world. This fusion of fine jewellery and prestigious champagne is a hallmark of the brand, continued in ‘Rare Le Secret’, a Haute Joaillerie edition by Mellerio, inspired by Marie-Antoinette.
Which Rare vintage should I choose — open it now or wait?
The Rare Millésime 2006 ‘Solaire’ and the Rare 2008 ‘Infini’ offer a wonderful opportunity to enjoy them now. The Rare 2012 ‘Lumineux’ still warrants further ageing — its potential is predicted to last until 2044. For immediate enjoyment, the Rare Rosé 2012 ‘Virtuose’ already displays remarkable balance.

About

Champagne Rare — the essentials

Founded in
1976
Founder
Piper-Heidsieck (fondée par Florens-Louis Heidsieck en 1785)
House / owner
The Descours family (owners), the EPI Group (holding company since 2011)
Location
Reims, the Reims Mountains
Grape varieties
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Cellar master
Émilien Boutillat
Distinctions
Bettane & Desseauve 98/100 (2026, 2025), The Drinks Business Champagne Masters (2025), Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championship – Gold (2025), Decanter World Wine Awards 97/100 (2025), James Suckling 97/100 (2024), Wine Spectator 96/100 (2024), International Wine & Spirits Competition 95/100 (2025), Wine Enthusiast 95/100 (2024)
Cuvées
Rare Millésime 1976, Rare Millésime 1979, Rare Millésime 1985, Rare Millésime 1988, Rare Millésime 1990, Rare Millésime 1998

Further reading

Rolling landscape of the Petit Morin Valley, a dirt path winding between vine plots, groves and hedgerows towards a Champagne village
A. Bergère: Which Cuvée Should You Choose? The 139 Plots of the Petit Morin Valley
Fèrebrianges is not a name you often come across on a label. Yet it is here, in the Petit Morin Valley, that A. Bergère has been cultivating 45 hectares across 139 plots since 1848 — without fining, without filtration, on indigenous yeasts. Here are the six cuvées available and what they reveal about a lesser-known terroir.
Piper-Heidsieck, Rare Champagne and Charles Heidsieck have been awarded B Corp certification
Piper-Heidsieck, Charles Heidsieck and Rare Champagne, which form part of the family-owned EPI Group, have just announced that all three houses have achieved B Corp certification with a score of 91.9 points,
A stone-vaulted cellar in the Côte des Blancs where hundreds of oak barrels are lined up beneath groin vaults, on a floor of ancient stone slabs
Frerejean Frères: which cuvée should you choose? The blanc de blancs from Avize and the long agings
Founded in 2005 in Avize by three Frerejean-Taittinger brothers and a winegrower from the Côte des Blancs, the house relies on a rare asset: time. Six to twelve years on lees, dosages under 6 g/L, and plots exclusively classified premier and grand cru. Here are its available cuvées.
Open pit between two rows of vines showing the layer of white chalk beneath the brown soil, a hand holding a block of extracted chalk
Pascal Agrapart: Which Cuvée to Choose? The Parcel-Specific Chardonnays of Avize
Twelve hectares of grand cru vineyards in Avize, 90,000 bottles per year, each plot vinified separately, and dosages that never exceed 5 g/L: Pascal Agrapart has become one of the benchmark names of the Côte des Blancs without ever seeking the spotlight. Here are his five available cuvées, from the most accessible to the rarest.

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