Piper-Heidsieck Debuts Its Vintage 2018 Champagne

Piper-Heidsieck has released Vintage 2018, a new Champagne that the house says reflects one of the strongest harvests in recent years and marks the debut vintage blend for chief winemaker Émilien Boutillat. The wine is now being sold nationwide and online through Noble Wine Merchants, with a suggested retail price of $120.

The cuvée is made from 50% Chardonnay, 47% Pinot Noir and 3% Meunier, with fruit drawn mainly from Grands and Premiers Crus vineyards in the Montagne de Reims. Piper-Heidsieck said the wine spent more than 50 months aging on lees, a process that adds texture and complexity before release.

The house described the 2018 growing season as unusually favorable, with a mild, rainy winter, a warm spring marked by storms and then a dry, sunny summer that produced grapes with strong ripeness and balanced acidity. In Champagne, producers often point to weather patterns as the main reason a vintage is declared at all, since only years that meet a house’s standards are bottled separately.

Boutillat said in a statement that he wanted the wine to balance Piper-Heidsieck’s established style with his own approach. He called Vintage 2018 “a vibrant celebration of fruit and spice” and said it was especially meaningful because it was his first vintage blend for the house.

Piper-Heidsieck said the wine was fermented in stainless steel to preserve freshness and varietal character. The aroma profile includes nectarine, red berries, mocha and almond, while the palate is said to show raspberry, pineapple and paprika, finishing with what the house describes as an elegant length. With a dosage of 7 g/L, it falls within the brut category and is positioned for pairing with richer dishes such as truffle pizza, anchovy-topped crostini, langoustine tartare and Tomme aux fleurs cheese.

The release comes as Piper-Heidsieck continues to emphasize sustainability alongside its production goals. The house said it was re-certified as a B Corp and has held environmental certifications in its vineyards for years. Founded in 1785, Piper-Heidsieck remains one of Champagne’s best-known names and says it sells in more than 80 countries.