Régis Camus, Head Winemaker, At Piper-Heidsieck, Launches New 2006 Vintage Brut

Champagne Piper-Heidsieck announced the launch of its new Piper-Heidsieck 2006 Vintage Brut, which was introduced during an exclusive tasting. Hosted by Piper-Heidsieck Head Winemaker Régis Camus, guests had the opportunity to taste the full Piper-Heidsieck range including their Cuvée Brut, Rare 2002, Rosé Sauvage, Cuvée Sublime, and the winner of this year’s IWC Sparkling Wine of the Year: Piper- Heidsieck Rare 1998. The tasting finished with the introduction of the new 2006 Vintage Brut, a balanced and elegant wine
The year 2006 was marked by highly variable weather, which heavily influenced the grapes in the region: July brought a heat wave, which was followed by heavy rain, storm and hail in August. A year that demanded patience that has finally paid off to create the perfect balance of the 2006 Vintage Brut.
The Pinots Noirs were exceptionally intense and impetuous while the Chardonnay was ready for a long maturation. The unusual weather vagaries obliged the winemakers to adapt: reducing the proportion of Pinot Noir compared to past years, thus reaching parity between Pinot and Chardonnay to moderate the Pinot Noir’s intensity. The blend required finesse and time: the 17 crus selected to build the vintage ( 9 Grands Crus, 7 Premiers Crus – 8 Pinots Noirs, 9 Chardonnays) had patiently waited 6 years in the House’s cellars to reach the perfect balance, and express the wine’s elegance and charm.
As Régis Camus describes it: “Despite the challenging conditions in 2006, we managed to create a beautifully balanced wine which is very enticing on the nose, dense and structured on the palate, with an incredibly long finish and freshness.”
The Maison’s renowned Head Winemaker, who recently was crowned “Sparkling Winemaker of the Year” by the International Wine Challenge for the eighth time (seven years consecutively) joined Piper-Heidsieck in 1994 and has since been mastering the consistent excellence and quality of the Piper-Heidsieck wines.
Régis Camus has strived to remain true to the promises made by founder Florens-Louis Heidsieck 200 year ago: “to create a cuvee worthy of a queen”.
The Piper-Heidsieck 2006 Vintage Brut will be available at Harrods in November 2013 for RRP £49.49.
Tasting Notes
To the eye: A clear, golden Champagne robe par excellence. Delicate and fine bubbles resulting from an extended maturation time.
To the nose : aromas of dried apricots, notes of raspberry and blackberry with a hint of spice. Intense and enticing, Intense and captivating. a full bodied, generous harmony
On the palate : a particularly dense and structured wine, whose generous structure is plush with candied orange peel highlighted with a touch of smoked tea and toasted almonds. A very long finish in which the freshness of the Chardonnay tames the intensity of the pinot noir. well balanced and elegantly charming. To be drunk between 2013 and 2020.