Ultimate Guide to Champagne (Piper Heidsieck) ‘Rare’ Vintages / Price Values

Though Piper Heidsieck might be a relatively well known brand in the world of Champagne, it’s prestige cuvée called ‘Rare’ is somewhat lesser known and as per its namesake, rare! Founded back in 1785 – Florens Louis Heidsieck launched the now globally famous house in Reims. Piper Heidsieck of recent years is very much associated with movie / TV awards being a main sponsor of the Oscars and Cannes Film Festival, Marilyn Monroe was a big fan and was said to have always had a month’s supply of the Champagne in her kitchen and famous faces continue with a bottle of Piper Heidsieck appearing in the 1933 Laurel & Hardy movie, Sons of the Desert.

As with nearly all Champagne houses, they have their prestige (tête de) cuvée which signifies their best expression from the best of their grapes and terroir with many released as either vintages or a blend of vintages during exceptional years. For Piper Heidsieck they have their brut vintage range though alongside these vintage releases and it’s own independent brand is Rare which over the last forty years, has only declared eleven vintages, with the most demanding standards in Champagne, all in limited production.

The guide prices below are assuming a 75cl bottle is in good to excellent condition with evidence of correct storage and with no damage. The price is a realistic selling price assuming the buyer will be in between the ‘price point’ of an end consumer / fine wine merchant. Professional selling format comes in to play for the older vintages and we must consider options such as placing them within fine wine auctions, the younger vintages most likely the price is set and selling avenues such as online communications or even via eBay / Facebook marketplace / Amazon / Facebook Champagne Collecting groups or selling to your wine friends and family will be used.

 

Champagne Rare 1976 – The first vintage shows little availability online, notably iDealWine estimates at £185, Vinentuasiasten.dk has a bottle for sale at 3,900 DKK (£452) and wine-searcher estimates the price per bottle at £458. Estimate price per bottle would be £350 – £475

Champagne Rare 1979 – Vivino is listing a magnum at $599.99 (£475), Chelsea Vintners state they have a bottle in bond at £500, wine-searcher estimates at £465 and Vinentuasiasten.dk is selling one for 3,950 DKK (£458). Estimate price per bottle would be £450 – £475

Champagne Rare 1985 – Another $599.99 (£475) price for a magnum sized bottle via Vivino, wine-searcher estimates at £442 and SoDivin has a bottle priced at €618 (£533). Estimate price per bottle would be £450 – £500

Champagne Rare 1988 – Quelle surprise in that we see the price of $599.99 (£475) for a magnum via Vivino, a £410 estimate via wine-searcher, €450 (£388) at DevineCellar, $459 (£363) with Acker Wines and £399 at Hedonism. Estimate Price per bottle would be £400 – £425

Champagne Rare 1990 – Via wine-searcher the estimate is just £268, this might be due to the 1990 vintage being seen as one which has aged quicker than expected thus it’s best years are now behind it? Estimate price per bottle would be £300 – £350

Champagne Rare 1998 – Plenty of magnums about online to purchase still of the 98 release and I have enjoyed many myself! Estimated at a somewhat lowly £224 via wine-searcher, £320 for a magnum via Corney & Barrow, £1,455 for three magnums at cruworldwine and Selfridges shows £460 a bottle though out of stock. Estimate price per bottle would be: £350 – £400

Champagne Rare 1999 – Vinentuasiasten has a boxed bottle for 2,125DKK (£246),  The Finest Bubble has magnum bottles at £488 and again boxed bottles this time at Champagne Direct for £475. Estimate price per bottle would be: £275 – £300

Champagne Rare 2002 – £212 estimate via wine-searcher, cropandvineselling for £184 a bottle and Vins Grands Crus selling for €190 (£164) a bottle. Estimate price per bottle would be: £185 – £200

Champagne Rare 2006 – £165 is the estimate per bottle via wine-searcher, £188 a bottle on The Finest Bubble, £195 at Champagne Direct and £175 a bottle via NDJohn. Estimate price per bottle would be £160 – £180

Champagne Rare 2007 – Sothebys Wine lists bottles at $150 (£119) and going back over to Vivino we get the usual $599.99 (£475) a magnum. Estimate price per bottle would be: £160 – £175

Champagne Rare 2008 – £199 with The Champagne Company in a gift box set, £184 with The Finest Bubble, estimated at £169 via wine-searcher, Berry Bros & Rudd selling at £142 and £145 via Speciality Wines. Estimate price per bottle would be: £160 – £180

Champagne Rare 2013 – On wine-searcher the estimate is £153, North & South Wines selling for £180 a bottle and £190 via The Finest Bubble. Estimate price per bottle would be £165 – £180

Champagne Rare rosé 2007 – £275 per bottle with The Finest Bubble, £275 and boxed via Champagne Direct, £265 boxed via The Champagne Company and £280, though out of stock, at Selfridges. Estimate price per bottle would be £265 – £285

Champagne Rare rosé 2008 – The Whisky Exchange is listing boxed bottles for £299, estimate of £322 via wine-searcher, £304 per bottle via Berry Bros & Rudd and £75o for three bottles (£250) with Lay Wheeler. Estimate price per bottle would be £250 – £300

Champagne Rare rosé 2012 – Via wine-searcher the estimate is £333 and £320 via Hedonism. Estimate price per bottle would be £300 – £320