Champagne Louis Roederer - Collection 244 Brut

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Founded in Reims in 1776, Roederer still belongs to the same family, represented today by Frédéric Rouzaud. In recent years, it has been a pioneer, 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 each parcel of the estate and the choices he makes. Cristal, an exceptional prestige cuvée, comes only from vines growing on chalky soils. The vintage wines and the heart 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 clayey. Wines intended for longer aging do not undergo malolactic fermentation, which requires the grapes to be picked at a high level of ripeness, often close to 11°C. The current wines are certainly the most remarkable ever produced, including the astonishing red and white Coteaux-Champenois, with the very exclusive Camille cuvées.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

A house founded in Reims in 1776. Louis Roederer became its owner in 1833, developed it, and acquired vineyards. In the 1870s, the house, which delivered 2.5 million bottles, had Russia as its main customer, where Tsar Alexander II asked Louis Roederer to create a prestigious champagne for him: the famous Cristal cuvée was launched (1876). With 240 hectares of vineyards (first growth or grand cru) representing two-thirds of its supplies, the company is still run by the descendants of its founders. The latest, Frédéric Rouzaud, is now at the head of a group that owns Deutz Champagnes and numerous prestigious wines, from the Médoc to Provence, Portugal to California.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About wine:

A lovely Collection 244. The 2019 base brings a maturity and fullness on the palate that commands respect. Too few great houses can boast of producing such a full and deep signature cuvée.

About the estate:

This is one of Champagne's finest standard-bearers. This family-owned estate is based on a vineyard comprising 420 plots, mostly Pinot Noir, 70% of which are classified as Grand Cru. Viticulture is a real priority here, particularly through the transition to biodynamic farming. Soil cultivation is becoming widespread. Only such an exceptional vineyard can explain the unique level of harmony and concentration achieved with such large volumes. It is no coincidence that the cellar master, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, is an oenologist but also an agronomist, just like Jean-Claude Rouzaud, who built the current empire of Roederer's great international vineyards. In good faith, he entrusted the reins of the group to his son, Frédéric Rouzaud, the current president, at an early stage. Here, malolactic fermentation is only partial and random (between 25% and 50%). The juices are aged on lees in vats and oak casks to give them body.

Wine Spectator

James Suckling

About wine:

The first impression is as invigorating as a sea breeze. I love the interplay between mirabelle plum, grapefruit, and lychee, the minty freshness, and the waxy character from contact with the lees. All of this is bound together by a beautifully proportioned, well-structured palate with lively acidity and lively effervescence. The very salty finish keeps you coming back for more. A cuvée composed of 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 26% Pinot Meunier. Of these grape varieties, 15% were fermented in oak barrels and 85% in stainless steel. The final blend contains 36% perpetual reserve wines and 10% reserve wines from the 2012-2018 vintages from oak. The dosage is 7 g/l. Drink now or keep.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

With a pale silver and straw color, Champagne Collection 244 NV is based on the 2019 vintage, with 42% Chardonnay, 26% Meunier, and the rest Pinot Noir. Expressive upon opening, it is fresh with a beautiful floral aroma and reveals pure notes of red fruit, cherry, fresh peach, and a lovely hint of fresh primary fruit. The mousse is fine and refined, and the palate is supple and welcoming. Medium-bodied and elegant, with a ripe core, it has a delicate salinity to balance its freshness and an appealing, slightly tannic sensation, while maintaining a refined and precise profile. Accessible and fantastic today, it will be exciting to see how it evolves over time. It continues to offer exceptional value for money. Drink between 2024 and 2036. The dosage has been reduced by one gram compared to the previous edition, to 7 grams per liter of dosage.