1998 Piper-Heidsieck 'Rare' Brut Champagne Magnum

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.

97 Points, 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! 

18/20 Points, Jancis Robinson
Magnum. Current release. Régis Camus, Chef de Cave, adores this vintage. Greenish pale gold. Intense and nourishing on the nose. Very pretty and zesty, complete and well balanced. Great for current drinking. Lovely! 18/20 points