Founded in 1776, and property of the same family since 1819, Champagne Louis Roederer is today one of the last major champagne houses to be an independent family affair. The annual production of its wines (Brut Premier, Carte Blanche, Brut Vintage, Rosé Vintage, Blanc de Blancs, Cristal, Cristal Rosé) represents just over three million bottles, distributed to 100 countries worldwide.
Fascinated by the diversity of aromas expressed by the Pinot Noir variety, Champagne Louis Roederer decided to base its Vintage Brut on the structure and power of Montagne de Reims Pinot Noir. These north-easterly facing vineyards take longer to ripen, producing wines that can sometimes be rough and confined at the start of the maturing process. However, their personality develops remarkably, becoming more intense over time when matured in wood. From Champagne Louis Roederer owned Verzenay Grand Cru vineyards on the Montagne de Reims.
30% of the wines are matured in oak barrels with weekly bâtonnage and without malolactic fermentation. The Vintage Brut cuvée ages for an average of four years in cellars, and also spends six months resting after disgorging to complete the maturing process.
The bouquet is rich and heady, with a complex succession of juicy pears, red fruit (light raspberry liqueur) and hazelnuts, with even hint of lightly roasted cocoa alongside warm notes of pastries and vanilla. The bite is an explosion of flavours and silky substance. The juicy, fleshy fruit reinforce the soft smooth caress of the Pinot Noir – all with an overwhelming freshness that is wholly part of the wine’s texture, establishing great harmony. The subtle, controlled woodiness adds sweetness, reinforcing the lightly roasted and vanilla flavours – without dominating the Pinot Noir fruit, which remain the focal point of this blend. A fine expression of the ‘measured’ power of the Pinot Noir, in a subtle balance of smoothness and richness, instinctively balanced by freshness and lightness.
Serve at 12°C.
AOC Champagne
70% Pinot Noir
30% Chardonnay
Natural Cork
12%
0.8-1 g/l
