Louis Roederer Brut Premier Champagne, 750ml

Product Information

In 2017, following that year’s harvest, the Collection 242 was created (242 being the number of harvests since the house was established in 1776). The blend consists of 12% Reserve wines aged in oak (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), 34% Perpetual Reserve (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) and the remaining 56% made up of juice from the 2017 vintage. Dosage is 8g/l (1g/l less than the Brut Reserve). Time on lees: 36 months and a further 6 months on bottle post-disgorgement. The question is, how does it taste?

A smoky-reductive nose, biding its time, with hints of the lemon grove and the vestry. Ripeness, somewhat paradoxically, sings in a minor key; this is all about flinty resilience, length, and precision. A soft mousse and lively acidity contribute real elegance; approachable (more so already than the 2013, say) but subtly complex, somewhat enigmatic at the moment. Let’s see! | 95

We experimented with a few soft and hard kinds of cheese. As always, soft French cheese Fromager d’ Affinois Triple Cream paired well. We also enjoyed Brut Premier with Sapore del Piave, a rich, full-flavored cow’s milk cheese from Veneto, Italy. It’s similar in texture to Parmigiano Reggiano. As each new numbered collection is released, the theory is that it will be more complex as the perpetual reserve has had time to develop and has been topped up with new vintages. Exciting times at Louis Roederer and I, for one, am looking forward to seeing how the Collections compare. As the largest independent family-managed Champagne producer, Louis Roederer rank amongst the region's absolute finest. Established in 1776, the House today is managed by seventh generation family member Frédéric Rouzaud alongside long-time Chef de Cave and Champagne legend Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. They own an astounding 242 hectares of vineyards many in chalk rich Grand Cru villages covering two-thirds of their grape requirements. Roederer have become pioneers in biodynamic farming & by 2012 all 78 hectares the “Cristal Estates” are farmed using biodynamic methods. By 2021 Roederer have 115 hectares certified organic. All the grapes in Cristal & other vintage cuvee’s come from their own vineyards. The estate is made up of 410 plots which are fermented separately in one of the 450 stainless steel tanks in their Reims cellars. In 2020 Roederer replaced Brut Premier with “Collection” allowing each years non-vintage blend to be identified and “re-engineering” the non-vintage cuvee to maintain freshness in the light of global warming on the Champagne region. Today Cristal is, widely recognised as the world's most awarded prestige cuvée champagne. Weather: 2018 was a warm, continental and truly unique vintage. Summer set many new records in terms of heat, drought and sunshine levels. The Pinot noirs displayed a luxurious texture whilst the Chardonnays were dense and saline where harvested at perfect ripeness and the Meuniers were intensely fruity. The harvests began on 27 August and ended on 8 September.

For the past few decades, Louis Roederer has focused its efforts on a strong commitment to sustainable practices. After taking over the company in 2006, Rouzaud implemented a biodynamic farming process – and now 155 hectares of the brand’s vineyards are certified organic and farmed using biodynamic principles (the remaining land is farmed using the same methods, but it is not yet certified). And, impressively, the entire estate is sustainably certified Haute Valeur Environnementale Level 3 (High Environmental Value) – the highest level available, awarded on factors like biodiversity, fertilization, phytosanitary protection and water management. hectares of its historic vineyards have now become eligible for organic growing certification – the grapes of the 2021 harvest issued from these plots will have official “AB” organic certification (the organic certification symbol in France).

What is the difference between a Non-Vintage and a Multi-Vintage,” asked Alice, looking intently into the glass of the smart Champagne bottle in front of her. “It’s obvious, my dear,” replied the White King kindly, as he proceeded to explain the difference, in some detail, over the next couple of hours. In Champagne, a vintage Champagne (Champagne Millésimé in French) is a champagne composed entirely of wines of the same year. the base vintage for Collection 243, was a warm, continental and truly unique vintage. Summer set many new records in terms of heat, drought and sunshine levels. The Pinot noirs displayed a luxurious texture whilst the Chardonnays were dense and saline where harvested at perfect ripeness and the Meuniers were intensely fruity. Anson, Jane & Lechmere, Adam, Decanter.com (November 1, 2006). "Roederer takes over Pichon". Archived from the original on August 2, 2009 . Retrieved April 29, 2008. {{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( link) Grapes grown on Louis Roederer’s own estates are complemented by grapes from our partner winegrowers plots selected from the “Heart of the Terroir”.

The Roederer portfolio also holds Bordeaux estates Château de Pez and Château Haut-Beausejour in Saint Estèphe. [9] In late 2006, the Rouzaud family acquired majority share in the second-growth estate Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. The deal also included the Cru Bourgeois estate Château Bernadotte. [10] As the largest independent family-managed Champagne producer, Louis Roederer rank amongst the region's absolute finest. Established in 1776, the House is currently managed by seventh generation family member Frédéric Rouzaud alongside long-time Chef de Cave and Champagne legend Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. Today, Champagne Louis Roederer own an astounding 240 hectares of vineyards in the very best locations that cover two-thirds of their grape requirements and are pioneers in biodynamic farming, having converted a total of 50% of its holdings to accommodate production using biodynamic methods. Their portfolio begins with Brut Premier, one of Champagne's most seductive non-vintage cuvées and ends with Cristal, perhaps the world's most recognised prestige cuvée champagne. a b Marthinsen, Tom, Dagens Næringsliv (April 28, 2008). "Superelegant kjendis-champagne" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on February 8, 2012 . Retrieved April 30, 2008. {{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( link)There are three dedicated, equally contributing vineyards from which the Collection 243 fruit is sourced: For Collection, Louis Roederer has taken the fine art of plot selection even further. From the heart of the Champagne terroir and with a focus on sustainable growing, it has selected the vineyard plots that are perfectly suited to the identity of the new wine and the most appropriate for the year’s specific blend.

A “fast and furious” vintage in 2017, pace Jean-Baptiste, with frost, tropical rain, and botrytis. “There is the most Brut Premier style in the 242,” we are told. The generous proportion of Réserve Pérpetuelle (34%) lends notes of hazelnut and quince; an intimation of maturity in what is essentially a reductive style. Honey, smoke, crystalized lemon, and candlewax; already symphonic. | 92 Brut Premier had fines bubbles, just what we expect from Champagne. Interestingly, there was not much mousse as we would expect in the first glass, but it had no impact on effervescence.

This is certainly a wine to watch.

Cristal is produced during the best years, when the Chardonnay (40%) and Pinot Noir (60%) grapes have attained optimum maturity. Cristal is aged for six years in Louis Roederer's cellars and left for a further eight months after disgorging ( dégorgement). The company we know as Louis Roederer was founded in 1776 as Dubois Père & Fils. In 1833 Louis Roederer inherited the company from his uncle and changed the name. Crucial to the early success of Roederer was its targeting of foreign markets. The Russians in particular became enthusiasts of Roederer Champagne, so much so that in 1876 a special sweet cuvée was created at the request of Tsar Alexander II. Bottled in clear crystal, rather than ordinary glass, it was appropriately named Cristal. After the Russian Revolution, a new blend of Cristal was made commercially available and remains the original prestige cuvée for which Louis Roederer is perhaps best known today. Louis Roederer Champagne is available at The Champagne Company and is most well-known for its prestigious, award-winning Louis Roderer Cristal Champagne which is of exceptional quality, aristocratic elegance and distinct style. In 1833, the aesthete and entrepreneur Louis Roederer took a visionary approach to enriching his vines, aiming to master every stage of the wine’s creation. He forged the wine’s unique style, character, and taste. In the mid-nineteenth century, Louis Roederer acquired some of Champagne’s grand cru vineyards—an approach that contrasted sharply with contemporary practices.