Piper-Heidsieck Rare 1995

Crushed mint, white pepper and orange zest open with striking clarity, underpinned by a taut, chalky backbone that gives the wine its classical bearing. Fine, persistent bubbles thread citrus brightness through to a penetrating finish that lingers well beyond what you'd expect from a wine nearly three decades old. The freshness here is genuine, not a trick of dosage but a product of real structure. Drink now through 2030.