Rare-ified Piper champagnes

Image
When a product range is launched in an imposing marble-clad room featuring towering mahogany thrones, ornate gold-plated friezes and a ceremonial organ, it had better live up to the hype. The Masonic Temple is one such venue, and Piper-Heidsieck’s new super-premium Rare Vintage collection is one such range. But was this a case of gilding the lily? Or, perhaps, polishing the turd?

As a piece of public relations, it was certainly impressive – the ostentatious venue was perfect to complement the elaborate and rather beautiful bottle, pictured. The base of the bottle, incidentally, is a sheet of laced metal wrapped...