Sometimes wine writers get caught up in the “what’s new” syndrome. How boring to write about the tried and true – “of course readers know about that!” But sometimes that is that for a reason. My wife and I recently celebrated a stay at a fancy hotel, and to toast the night away I brought along a bottle of Piper-Heidsieck non-vintage Champagne. (No chance-taker am I when it comes to “seduction by bubble.”) This famous wine, for all its ubiquitous-ness, delivers Champagne directly to a woman’s heart – and mine raced rather nicely as well. Truth be told, the current edition of this wine is even better than I remember in past iterations.
Piper-Heidsieck Brut N.V. $42 srp
A gush of baked bread and its yeasty component flies into the room like a freshly prepared brioche. Further elements reveal an almost marzipan-rich melange of baked apple, subtle lemon zest and creamy underpinning. The mouth texture is medium/full in body with a finish that is clean but lingering, begging you to take another sip before the magic fades. Soft, subtle and sexy, sometimes the old dog does the finest tricks, and I can’t think of a better invitation to romance than this staple of Champagne savoir faire. From Caviar to Ferrero Rocher, this spells instant joy.
92/100 points
