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Piper-Heidsiek Essentiel by Wright Brothers
22 Nov 2024 by Wright Brothers Team
Uncork Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel by Wright Brothers
This Extra Brut Champagne has been crafted to perfectly complement our seafood menu. It pairs beautifully with oysters and shellfish as it’s fresh and mineral-driven on the palate, while its complexity allows it to shine alongside white fish and rich, buttery sauces.
Essentiel by Wright Brothers is a blend of 44% Pinot Noir, 34% Meunier, and 22% Chardonnay, aged for four years before release. With 27% reserve wines, it offers depth and a creamy texture. After blind tastings, we carefully selected the liqueur d’expédition and a 6g/l dosage (Extra Brut), featuring Pinot Noir from Ambonnay for added elegance.
Try at home
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Seared scallop Champagne risotto recipe
This luxurious Champagne Risotto with Hand-Dived Scallops is made even more special with our exclusive Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel by Wright Brothers. Crafted to complement seafood, its fresh, mineral-driven profile enhances the creamy risotto, which is infused with two glasses of this Extra Brut Champagne. The base of finely diced leek, onion, celery, garlic, and bay leaves is gently sweated, then combined with Arborio rice, champagne, and fish stock, creating a rich, flavorful dish. Finished with parmesan and topped with perfectly a seared scallop, this indulgent dish is paired beautifully with the remaining bottle of Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel by Wright Brothers - perfect for a special occasion.
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The Process
We were lucky enough to visit Champagne in January to create our signature blend, Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel by Wright Brothers. Working alongside Émilien Boutillat, Piper-Heidsieck’s renowned Chief Winemaker, we gained invaluable insight into the entire winemaking process.
Wright Brothers is proud to be part of Piper-Heidsieck’s prestigious Essentiel programme. The Essentiel collection features champagnes crafted to meet the demands of fine cuisine, designed exclusively for independent merchants and the on-trade, with only 35 Essentiel By cuvées available worldwide.
These exceptional champagnes are defined by extended maturation, low dosage, prolonged lees aging, and the use of reserve wines, resulting in complex, elegant wines with remarkable ageing potential. The result is a truly one of a kind champagne - a seamless union of two creative worlds, proudly crafted by us.
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A partnership to be proud of
Since 1785, Piper-Heidsieck have showcased innovative excellence in winemaking. Their history is marked by passionate men and women, who dared to be different. Chief Winemaker Emilien Boutillat is one of them, and he maintains the House’s unique style with his open-minded approach. Joining the B Corp global community also reaffirms their pioneering spirit and sense of commitment. Today, true to its values, Piper-Heidsieck continues to celebrate audacity and demonstrate a spirited defiance of convention, inviting reimagined traditions and exploring new paths, while respecting their founder Florens-Louis Heidsieck’s ambition: “Seriously crafting wines that smile.”
Piper-Heidsieck, alongside Rare Champagne and Charles Heidsieck, belong to the EPI group. As a collective, they are committed to sustainability and have implemented several initiatives relating to carbon footprint reduction, vineyard operations, social impact, and supplier management. These initiatives aided EPI receiving B-Corp status in 2022, and they join a community of companies leading a global movement for inclusive, equitable, and regenerative change. Achieving this reflects the desire to drive positive environmental and social change within Champagne.
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Merroir
"An oyster’s habitat is crucial to its flavour, very much like wine." In wine, “terroir” describes how a vineyard’s environment, like soil, sunlight, and climate influences the grapes. Similarly, oysters have “merroir,” where factors such as water, algae, currents, and sea floor minerals influence their taste. Even oysters of the same species can vary in flavour depending on their location, highlighting the importance of their habitat. The term “merroir,” derived from the French word for sea, captures this connection between oysters and their environment.
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The Piper-Heidsieck ‘terroirs’
Piper-Heidsieck work with exceptional vineyards, located mainly in the areas of Montagne de Reims and Côtes des Bar. Relationships with the growers date back generations and contributes to the high quality of grapes and commitment to respect of the environment.
Piper-Heidsieck are working with the growers to ensure higher environmental standards and work towards sustainable certification. Piper-Heidsieck champion Pinot Noir within their blends, this offers a fruit forward, refreshing profile, that is Piper-Heidsieck’s signature.
- 34 300 Hectares
- 319 Crus
- 4 Main regions:
- Montagne de Reims
- Côte des Blancs
- Vallee de la Marne
- Côte des Bars
