Louis Roederer Rosé 2016

Grape Makeup:

62% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay

Sweetness Level:

Brut

Ageing on Lees:

4 years

Price:

$$

Cellar:

5-10 years

Category:

Celebration

What

The maison founded in 1776 and renamed for Louis Roederer in 1833 when he inherited the house from his uncle. Another strong contender for the greatest house in Champagne, Roederer is almost a grower estate with an unusually high percentage of its grapes coming from its own vineyards.

Where

Reims; 240 hectares of estate vineyards spread across the region, all Grands or Premiers Crus. All vintage wines are made exclusively from estate fruit. 115 hectares of it are now certified organic but the whole estate uses organic and biodynamic farming practices.

Why

This rosé is one of the star examples from the region, always much more layered and characterful than the stereotypical, whisper pink rosé of Champagne Past. It is made by a gentle maceration of pinot noir from low-yielding vines grown on clay in Cumières, with a minor portion of chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs Grand Cru Chouilly integrated to increase the finesse. A small portion aged in oak adds another dimension for a beautifully complete package.

What Else

Roederer has had its own vineyard nursery since 2015, meaning it has almost total control on quality from the vine to the finished bottle.

Tasting Notes

Buoyant pear fruit and frangipani ring out on the opening, with some delicate yeast notes in the background murmuring beneath the pungency of the fruit. There is very powerful mousse still, which amplifies the pear notes, pushing them in every direction. With time, the pear acquires a bitterness that helps sharpen it and give it edge, yielding to bready, sourdough yeast notes on the finish.

Try It With

Richer seafood entrées with crab or salmon.

When To Drink

Entrées.

Perfect For

The one whose signature perfume is Hermès Kelly Calèche.

TL/DR

Buoyant and perfumed but precise.

Supplier

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