Rare Millésime 2012, one of the most exclusive champagnes available today, has been awarded the highest possible score of 100/100 by the respected critic James Suckling. Only the last 16 bottles are now available in the Czech Republic.
Rare Champagne has reaffirmed its exceptional standing among prestigious champagnes. Rare Millésime 2012 received a perfect score of 100 out of 100 in Suckling’s 2026 Champagne Report. James Suckling ranked the 2012 vintage among the best Champagnes of that year, praising in particular its freshness, precision, mineral character and exceptionally long finish.
In his review, he described Rare Champagne 2012 as “one of the best 2012s released” and characterised it as a champagne with “outstanding purity and clarity”, featuring notes of mango, apples, pastry and crushed stone. He concluded his verdict with the words: “Precise on every level. Haute couture. Sophisticated. What a great Champagne can be.”
Its place among the very best comes after more than ten years of ageing. Rare Millésime 2012 is a cuvée composed of 70 per cent Chardonnay and 30 per cent Pinot Noir. The Chardonnay comes from the prestigious sites of Villers-Marmery, Vertus, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Chouilly and Avize, whilst the Pinot Noir comes from the vineyards of Verzy, Aÿ, Verzenay, Ambonnay and Ville-Dommange. The wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation and is then aged for at least 10 years on its lees, followed by a further nine months or more after disgorgement.
From the winemakers’ perspective, the 2012 vintage was challenging but of exceptional quality. The winter and spring were marked by frosts, rain and hailstorms, whilst the summer brought a spell of warm, dry weather. A sharp rise in temperature in mid-July created ideal conditions for the grapes to ripen. Although yields were low, the quality of the harvest was, according to Rare Champagne, outstanding.
The result is a champagne intended not only for a celebratory toast but also to accompany fine dining. According to the house’s recommendations, Rare Millésime 2012 pairs excellently with, for example, veal, langoustines, toasted pain de campagne or poached rhubarb.
In the Czech Republic, Rare Champagne is distributed by Premier Wines & Spirits, which currently has the last 16 bottles of Rare Millésime 2012 in stock. It is precisely this limited availability, combined with James Suckling’s perfect rating, that makes this vintage an exciting opportunity for both champagne lovers and collectors.
Rare Champagne’s history is linked to the French royal court. Its story dates back to 1785, when Queen Marie Antoinette tasted the house’s first cuvée. Since 1976, only a limited number of vintage champagnes have been released, underlining the brand’s exceptionally exclusive character.
Rare Millésime 2012 thus represents a combination of an exceptional vintage, more than a decade of ageing and, now, the highest possible rating from one of the world’s most respected wine critics.
