Louis Roederer Collection 242 Brut Champagne

Description

Louis Roederer Collection 242 Brut Champagne is the 242nd blend since its foundation in 1766 (named Roederer in 1833 – born in 1776). The seventh generation of the Roederer family is responsible for this masterful blend* which boasts delicious fruit, floral and delicate citrus notes, beautifully balanced by the perfect amount of acidity and striking concentration, all coming together in a fresh, new take on one of our favorite, centuries-old beverages. For a decadent breakfast, sip it with warm brioche accompanied by salt-flecked butter and an apricot jam. How could you not have a good day after that??James Suckling: “Aromas of cooked apple, bread dough and lemon tart follow through to a full body with round, delicious fruit and a rich, flavorful finish. Yet, it remains tight and fine with lovely, compressed bubbles. New energy and freshness. Medium-to full-bodied with layers of fruit and vivid intensity. 42% chardonnay, 36% pinot noir and 22% pinot meuniere. 8 grams dosage. Four years on the less. A new-format non-vintage that designates the year of the 242nd harvest, 2017, plus reserve wine of 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Drink or hold.” Jul 2021Robert Parker, Jr.’s Wine Advocate: “This debut release is very impressive indeed, wafting from the glass with notes of pear, peach, ripe citrus fruit, toasted almonds, fresh pastry and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and textural, it’s concentrated and layered, with lively acids, an enlivening pinpoint mousse and a long, sapid finish. Brut Premier was already a very persuasive wine, but the new Brut Collection nevertheless represents a step up. Drink 2021-2035.” Sep 2021Winery: “The Collection 242 blend is dominated by Chardonnay which was of exceptional quality in the 2017 vintage. The perfectly ripe Chardonnay grapes lend the wine its aromas of ripe, sweet fruit complemented by subtle oaky notes. The palate is rich and ripe with a luxurious texture that coats the palate, the signature of an outstanding Chardonnay. The Pinot noir and Meunier grapes from the Vallée de la Marne complete the wine’s broad, luscious, smooth and juicy character. The finish is energetic and fresh. Collection 242 represents the Champagne House’s 242nd blend since its foundation. It is based on the finest wines from the 2017 harvest and complemented by 34% of the Perpetual Reserve (2012-2016) and 12% of oak- aged reserve wines sourced from young Cristal vines (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016).”*The Collection: “Roederer’s Brut Premier was created in the 1980s to prove to consumers that we could deliver consistent quality with a blend that compensated for less than perfectly ripe vintages,” explains Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. “We were blending in pursuit of maturity, of ripeness. The concept behind the Brut Collection is the opposite: we’re looking for freshness-and we are embracing singularity, something we’re emphasizing by enumerating each year’s blend.” This project has been in the making since 2012, when Lecaillon set aside 21,000 liters of wine to constitute a perpetual reserve aged in large tanks without malolactic fermentation. Sourcing has evolved too: less must is coming from cooperatives, and only vineyards cultivated without the use of herbicides inform the blend. A dedicated team oversees all this, visiting every grower three times per year. And vinification is parcel by parcel to deliver a maximum of blending components. Iteration 242 is based on the 2017 vintage (56%), supplemented by 34% reserve wines from the perpetual reserve established in 2012 and 10% foudre-aged reserve wines. Bottle750ml, corkVarietal42% Chardonnay, 36% Pinot Noir, 22% Pinot MeuniereAlcohol~12.7%Dosage8 g/LRegionChampagne, France