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PIPER-HEIDSIECK Champagne – Recently, at an event in the newly opened LaxBar, I had the opportunity to taste Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, from the Piper-Heidsieck house founded in 1785, and to learn more about its origins, history, and diversity. Not only delicious, but also very interesting.
Piper-Heidsieck Champagne: From then until now – the story
„"Every great story begins with an encounter"—and so the Piper-Heidsieck story began with just such an encounter. In 1777, the fateful meeting between Florenz-Ludwig Heidsieck and Agathe Perthois was the reason and inspiration for creating this very special wine. It was meant to bring a smile to his beloved's face and practically enchant her. For the young man, originally from Germany, this was a considerable undertaking, as both Champagne and its wines represented his first encounter with the world of wine and Champagne. But as is often the case with infatuation and love, nothing deterred Florenz-Ludwig Heidsieck from realizing his plan to enchant his beloved with the finest sparkling wine he had produced himself.
Piper-Heidsieck: Champagne house since
In 1785, his ambition shone through. He founded the company "Heidsieck & Cie" and forged ahead with equally grand dreams and goals in champagne production. His aim: to create a cuvée so exquisite that even Queen Marie Antoinette would be captivated by its quality and uniqueness. And so it was done. The young Heidsieck succeeded in convincing the queen and inspiring her with his champagne, and thus – over 230 years ago – she became the first ambassador of "Heidsieck & Cie." But his good fortune didn't end there; his love, Agathe Perthois, whom he had first met in 1777, also became Heidsieck's wife. Then, in 1815, came the next milestone. Christian Heidsieck (Florence Louis XIV's nephew) and Henri-Guillaume Piper, who joined the company in Reims in 1795, quickly became the face of the house, and the outstanding quality and reputation of the champagne preceded it thanks to these two men. They soon became inseparable and the public face and "brand ambassadors" of the wines – far beyond the borders of France.
In 1838, the original founder, Florenz-Ludwig, passed away after a long and successful history, and the two aforementioned partners continued the business – no wonder, since by that time people worldwide were already enjoying "Heidsieck wine," developed by Piper. Ten years later, in 1828, Christian Heidsieck unexpectedly and suddenly followed his uncle to the grave, and the partnership between Messrs. Piper and Heidsieck came to an end. After a long period of mourning, fate brought together his widow and her late husband's former business partner, Henri-Guillaum Piper. The former connection between the Heidsieck and Piper families continued through new and previously unimagined avenues. Without this fateful union, the now world-renowned champagne brand Piper-Heidsieck would never have come into being under its original name, nor would it have continued to this day.
My personal favorite
What makes Piper-Heidsieck champagne special
Looking to the present, we see one of the most successful Champagne houses of the last 200 years. Piper-Heidsieck's long-time cellar master, Régis Camus, describes his guiding principle for producing the high-quality Piper-Heidsieck Champagne as follows: "If a wine convinces me, then I enjoy it! If it tastes good, it doesn't matter to me whether it's a Grand Cru, a Premier Cru, or from a completely unclassified appellation." And so, the secret of Piper-Heidsieck wines lies quite clearly in their overall appeal. Régis Camus skillfully selects the wines for his blend and carefully unites them. From a combination of robust Pinot Noir, fruit-forward Pinot Meunier, and the elegance of the Chardonnay grape, the Champagnes of Piper-Heidsieck are created after being blended with mature reserve wines. Once in the glass, Piper-Heidsieck Brut impresses with its golden shimmer, elegant bubbles, delicate aromas of pear, apple, and refreshing citrus notes, as well as its velvety finish on the palate. This quality, along with the other qualities of Piper-Heidsieck, has made the Champagne house the most awarded Champagne house of the century.
The LaxBar team with Piper-Heidsieck
Upon closer examination, one learns that in early 1999, Régis Camus began reserving a significant portion of the base wines to use as mature reserve wines for intensifying Piper-Heidsieck's cuvées. Each year, these wines are consciously and deliberately selected for their high aging potential and exceptional quality. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Champagne house decided to incorporate a larger quantity of reserve wines into its blends to introduce more spicy, smoky, and toasty notes, as well as an elegant aroma of candied fruit. At the same time, a consistent flavor profile is ensured, regardless of the individual harvest years. Thus, a non-vintage Piper-Heidsieck Champagne can be composed of wines from more than ten different harvests.
A visit to the Piper-Heidsieck winery is impressive, both architecturally and in its approach. Since its modernization over 20 years ago, the winery has not only provided ample space for countless bottles of "liquid gold," but also boasts a compelling concept. Rugged metal staircases, organic forms, and a variety of temperature-controlled wine barrels of different sizes complete the picture. The wine cellar's centerpiece: the two towering production tanks. At Piper-Heidsieck, each cru and each wine variety has its own dedicated barrel, ensuring a slow and meticulous winemaking process. As a small taste of what's to come: one hundred crus (vineyard sites) are required to produce Piper-Heidsieck's Cuvée Brut. For Piper-Heidsieck, creating a new wine, a new flavor profile, or even implementing a new cellar technique always involves a combination of vision, courage, and the necessary drive to propel the story forward. In this way, the heritage of the house is kept modern and vibrant – and you can taste it.
The different qualities
The champagne
The flagship of the house is undoubtedly the harmonious and lively one. Cuvée Brut no year („Non-Vintage“) (for €31.99). This blend of nearly 100 crus represents the multifaceted aromatic diversity of Champagne. With its fine blend of Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, it is not only a truly wonderful Champagne – I had the pleasure of tasting it – but also a testament to the perfected craftsmanship within the Piper-Heidsieck house. The aroma is reminiscent of almonds and fresh hazelnuts, and it impresses as an exceptionally lively and light Champagne with subtle notes of ripe pears and apples, as well as a hint of citrus fruits and a velvety texture. The high proportion of Pinot Noir ensures a robust structure and pure harmony on the palate.
My favorite from the tasting: The Rosé Sauvage Champagne (for €38.99). First created in 2001, this rosé has an unusually high proportion of red wine, which not only gives it a distinctive character but also makes it a particularly structured cuvée. Easy to drink and perfectly matching its color, the aromas are reminiscent of ripe blackberries, blackcurrants, and strawberries. The taste experience is framed by notes of mandarin oranges and a hint of saffron. Along with the Cuvée Brut Non Vintage, this is my recommendation for you to try. Alternatively, there are also... Cuvée Sublime and the Vintage A different version is available. More information about this and about Piper-Heidsieck can be found on the website linked below. The champagne is often very reasonably priced, sometimes in the case I recently tested. Online shop „Club of Wine“. Here are the links to the two champagnes: Ludwig von Kapff – Rosé Sauvage Champagne and Ludwig von Kapff – Cuvée Brut.
+++ This article was created in cooperation with Piper-Heidsieck. Thank you! +++
Piper-Heidsieck Champagne
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Alcohol consumption is only permitted for those 18 years and older! | Enjoy responsibly.
Pictures:
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- The LaxBar team with Piper-Heidsieck
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- Piper-Heidsieck: Champagne house since
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- My personal favorite
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- The different qualities
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