Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Collection 242 (750ml)

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Producer	Louis Roederer
Country	France
Region	Champagne
Varietal	Champagne Blend
Sku	12405
Size	750ml

 

WA

93+

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.

Created from the Perpetual Reserve and the oak-aged reserve wines, complemented by the finest wines from the most recent harvest, Collection is tied to our Champagne roots and the foundations of our Reims-based Champagne House. We therefore give ourselves the freedom to create the blend on the basis of whatever Nature gives us.

Each Collection blend therefore has its own identity which will gradually and fully reveal itself over time. Collection 242 represents the Champagne House's 242nd blend since its foundation.

Collection is based on a selection of plots located in the heart of the Champagne region that are suited to its identity and where the emphasis is on sustainable growing practices. True to its roots and terroirs, Roederer's historical origins are reflected in the blend:

1/3 "La Rivière" | Vallée de la Marne
1/3 "La Montagne" | Montagne de Reims
1/3 "La Côte" | Côte des Blancs

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).

"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.

So much for the composition and concept of the new NV Brut Collection 242, but how does it taste? 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. Anticipated Maturity: 2021-2035