Champagne Louis Roederer - Brut Premier

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A pure, slender style; remarkable, elegant liveliness; and a clean, flowing stride. An impeccable specimen.

About the estate:

Founded in Reims in 1776, Roederer is still owned by the same family, represented today by Frédéric Rouzaud. For several years now, the estate has been breaking new ground by being the first to gradually convert its vast 242-hectare vineyard to organic and biodynamic farming (126 hectares). Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, an eminent cellar master and agronomist, never ceases to impress with his intimate knowledge of every plot on the estate and the decisions he makes. “Cristal,” an exceptional prestige cuvée, comes exclusively from vines growing on chalky soils. The vintage wines and the core of the non-vintage brut—now called “Collection,” with a number indicating the base year of the blend—come from soils that are still calcareous but more clay-rich. The wines intended for the longest aging do not undergo malolactic fermentation, which requires harvesting the grapes at a high level of ripeness, often close to 11°. The current wines are certainly the most remarkable ever produced, including the astonishing red and white Coteaux-Champenois, along with the highly exclusive Camille cuvées.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Composed of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (40%) with a touch of Meunier, all vinified in large oak casks, the estate’s signature cuvée is aged for three years in the cellar. It boasts a luminous golden color enlivened by fine bubbles; an intense, complex, and delicate nose of white flowers and ripe exotic fruits, enlivened by a hint of mint; a prelude to a full-bodied palate that is both rich and fresh, where exotic fruits blend with citrus notes. A truly delicate wine.

About the estate:

A house founded in Reims in 1776. Louis Roederer took over as owner in 1833, expanded the business, and acquired vineyards. In the 1870s, the house—which produced 2.5 million bottles—had Russia as its main customer; there, Tsar Alexander II asked Louis Roederer to create a prestigious champagne for him: the famous Cristal cuvée was launched in 1876. With a vineyard of 240 hectares (comprising Premier Cru and Grand Cru plots) accounting for two-thirds of its supply, the company is still run by the founders’ descendants. The most recent descendant, Frédéric Rouzaud, now heads a group that owns Deutz Champagnes and numerous prestigious wines, from the Médoc to Provence, and from Portugal to California.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Based on the 2015 vintage, supplemented by 25% reserve wines, the latest release of Laurent Roederer’s Brut Premier shows great promise, opening up in the glass with aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruits, Anjou pear, white peach, pastry cream, and subtle notes of freshly baked bread. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, well-integrated and complete, with a delicate mousse, ripe yet racy acidity, and exquisite balance, this is a beautiful Brut Premier that will age with style. It will be even better with a few more years in the bottle. It is one of the best in its category and comes highly recommended.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Once again, it stands out as one of the very best wines from Champagne. An energetic, intense, and deep wine with admirable body.

About the estate:

Here is one of Champagne’s finest standard-bearers. This family-owned estate is built on a vineyard comprising 420 plots, predominantly planted with Pinot Noir, 70% of which are classified as Grand Cru. Viticulture is a true priority here, particularly through the transition to biodynamic farming. Soil management practices are becoming widespread. Only a vineyard as exceptional as this can account for the unique level of harmony and concentration found in such large volumes. It is no coincidence that the cellar master, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, is not only an oenologist but also an agronomist—just like Jean-Claude Rouzaud, who built the current empire of Roederer’s major international vineyards. In a wise move, he entrusted the reins of the group early on to his son, Frédéric Rouzaud, the current president. Here, malolactic fermentation is only partial and varies (between 25% and 50%). The wines are aged on their lees in tanks and oak casks to give them body.

James Suckling

About the wine:

This wine features a fresh body with extremely full-bodied and appealing notes of peaches and lemons from a ripe vintage. The finesse and purity of this Champagne are breathtaking, as is its gently powerful character. There’s tremendous purity here. It’s in top form! Ready to drink now!