Piper-Heidsieck Duo: Sauvage & Hors Serie 1982

98 Points - Angus Hughson, Wine Pilot

“Fantastic brushed gold colour to start before aromas come thick and fast – overripe peach, roasted mixed nuts and Manuka honey against an almost smoky and savoury backdrop. The standout feature is the sheer power, vibrancy and focus for a wine of this age. A strong palate follows, robust and creamy yet defined by punchy fruit and still searingly youthful acidity. More toasty, honey, gingerbread and aged nutty Comté before diving towards spice and cigar box. It’s quite a big wine showing the generosity of the vintage before a sustained, lengthy finish. The wine is at peak but there is no need to hurry. – Drink 2023-2033”

97 Points - Anthony Rose, The Real Review

“Yellow gold, this Dorian Gray of a Champagne is remarkably fresh with an immediate depth to the aromas combining grilled nuts, ginger/spice and smoky sandalwood notes, and then, on taste, there’s a light underlying sandalwood toastiness, with farm butter, pine and dried apricot, almost like a white Rhône; and thanks to such substantial aromatic depth, it’s almost impossible to stop nosing it but that intensity is reprised in a rich intensity of flavour with underlying stone fruits supported by the bubbling of a gentle pressure and a mouthwateringly dry, almost salty underpinning. Like a Montrachet with bubbles, it has enough life and vibrancy to evolve for at least another five years, possibly up to 10. Piper-Heidsieck Sauvage de Heidsieck 1982”

98 Points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review

“A more golden colour, looking slightly older than the Hors Série, and very little gas pressure remained. Vanilla, crème patissière and nutty aromas: this has more of the toffee, crème caramel notes because of longer time aging on its dosage. The taste is voluminous, with magnificent flavour and mellow richness. Fruit flavours are almost absent due to great age. Very complex, rich and mellow, and more ample than the Hors Série. The rating is purely hedonic. (60:40 pinot noir/chardonnay. The original disgorgement, disgorged in 1992 after 10 years on lees.”