Rare Champagne Millésime 2008

A gorgeous, yet tight, backward vintage for this cuvée, the 2008 Champagne Rare is based on 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir with around 10 grams of dosage. Beautiful crisp citrus and stone fruits as well as flinty minerality and just hint of brioche emerge from the glass, and it takes hours for this to really unwind and show its potential. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has bright acidity, terrific concentration, and a great finish. I wouldn't think about opening another bottle for a solid 5-7 years, but it should have 30 years or more of ultimate longevity.

The 2008 Brut Cuvée Rare, now re-baptized as "Rare Champagne," continues to evolve at a glacial pace. Offering up aromas of citrus oil, freshly baked bread and wet stones, it's medium to full-bodied, taut and incisive, with a tangy spine of acidity and a pretty pinpoint mousse, but much in the way of texture or amplitude has yet to emerge. While I continue to think that this has the makings of a very attractive bottling, continued patience is advised. - William Kelley. 

Superbe jaune ambré, cette cuvée Rare dévoile une grâce inouïe et la transmission sereine d'une grande matière. Ses parfums de fleurs séchées, pâte de noisette, grillés, miel, fruités blonds et pâtissiers sont d'une classe absolue. Ce riche millefeuille dissimule en sont centre un splendide rancio salin sur toile de fines herbes aromatiques. C'est luxueux. Sublissime onctuosité de bouche, pâtes de fruits et agrumes confits sont déposés sur une lumière admirablement sapide. Quelle empreinte ! Grandiose !

Lemon zest frames the creamy richness on the nose that has hints of chalk and coconut macaroon but also reveals a beautiful depth that evokes summer rain on limestone soils. The palate comes with all the precision and exquisite freshness of 2008 but encapsulates a truffle- like complexity at its concentrated core: there is a floral hit of peony, something rich reminiscent of milk chocolate ganache and more of that virile and pervasive lemon freshness. This is glorious and somehow manages to convey great richness within that elegant and characteristic framework set by the amazing 2008 vintage. A.K.

Une effervescence éphémère. Le nez se montre ouvert avec une petite patine du temps. Une définition qui reste assez fraîche sur les fruits secs et une empreinte minérale. La bouche se montre ample, soutenue par une mousse gracieuse. L'ensemble manque peut-être un peu de longueur. Une bonne harmonie d'ensemble, mais ce n'est pas un grand 2008.

Caramelised nuts sprinkled on to a Portuguese egg custard tart pastry. Perfectly judged dosage. Persistent, complex, very complete and perfectly delicious. A revelation!