Piper Heidsieck Rare 1998 (1.5L)

98 Points, Wine Spectator: "A beautifully bright and expressive Champagne, with precision and vivid acidity throughout; roasted coffee bean and graphite notes lead to a rich palate of toasted brioche, crystallized honey, bergamot and crème de cassis. Exotic ground spice details of cardamom, ginger and anise show on the finish. Tasted from magnum. Drink now through 2030. 15 cases imported."

97 Points, Simon Field, Decanter: "The 1998 Rare was only made in magnum. Although the key word is ‘radiant’, when cellar master Régis Camus describes it as a perfectly mannered English gentleman he is maybe closer to the mark, notwithstanding the wine’s undoubted radiance. There is something inordinately refined and civilised here: spice and blossom, apricot and smoke, an encyclopedic gamut of flavour beyond the apparently youthful, nacreous colour. The tropical fruit leitmotif is present, of course, but there is so much more besides and so much more to come. A truly wonderful wine - English gentlemen really do have a lot to live up to!" 10/19