Piper-Heidsieck Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel NV 750ml

The first launch for this wine, the NV Champagne Essentiel Blanc De Noirs Extra Brut is 80% Pinot Noir with the rest Meunier and comes from sustainable grapes. It doesn’t include any reserve wine, so it’s entirely from the 2019 vintage, and moving forward, Boutillat will begin to introduce a new solera to go into this cuvée, coming from 10 different villages across the region. A bright straw hue, the wine opens to a delicate smoky lift with fresh notes of orange citrus, blackberry, and flowers. The palate is pure and fantastic, with distilled black fruit, a fresh, chalky texture, and an elegant, fluffy mouse as well as a well-rounded purity of fruit through the mid-palate. A great first vintage for this wine, it has a lot of charm now and will age gracefully over the coming 10–12 years. It’s a wonderful gateway into Blanc de Noir, a category that should be more prized.

This has aromas of apricots, white strawberries, peach pits, almonds and pastries. Creamy and balanced, medium-bodied, with silky bubbles and a nicely savory and dry finish. Based on 2018 vintage. 44% pinot noir, 34% meunier and 22% chardonnay. 4g/L dosage. Drink now.