Product Information:
Welcome aboard Collection 243 NV! The collection number represents the number of non-vintage releases since the inception of the house in 1776. This release is a touch riper than 242, yet maintains wonderful shape and freshness—a truly seductive NV. Enjoy aromas of juicy mirabelle plum, pink grapefruit, and mineral inflections on the nose. The palate offers immediacy and generosity, with a fine, lively mousse, appetising phenolic structure, and bright, rippling acidity for balance. Superb.
Collection 243 NV is based on the 2018 vintage, a warm and continental year that was truly unique. Summer set many new records for heat, drought, and sunshine levels. The Pinot Noir displayed a luxurious texture, while the Chardonnays were dense and saline, harvested at perfect ripeness, and the Meunier was intensely fruity. The harvests began on 27 August and ended on 8 September.
This blend is crafted from equal parts of their estate vineyards: la Rivière, la Montagne, and la Côte. It comprises 59% of the 2018 harvest, 31% perpetual reserve wine from 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, and 10% reserve wines aged in oak from 2012 to 2017. The acidity is softened with 22% malolactic fermentation, and a low dosage of 7g per litre is added before bottling.
Maker:
Louis Roederer is a highly respected Champagne producer located in the historic city of Reims. Founded in the late 1700s, the renowned Champagne house remains owned and operated by the Roederer family. Their signature style consists of an equal blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a touch of Pinot Meunier, which comprises approximately one-fifth of the blend. Louis Roederer's most famous wine is Cristal, a prestigious Champagne that has captured the hearts of wine enthusiasts worldwide. The house was established in 1833, aiming to capture foreign markets, particularly Russia. Roederer became the wine of choice for the Russian royal family, and Cristal was created for Tsar Alexander II. In 1845, Louis Roederer acquired grand cru vineyards in Champagne, a rarity at the time as most houses sourced grapes from growers. Today, Roederer's vineyards encompass around 240 hectares of land, with approximately 25% managed biodynamically. This commitment to sustainable farming practices underscores the house's dedication to producing high-quality wines that are both delicious and environmentally responsible.
The Philosophy:
A visionary intuition led to the creation of this exceptional estate. In 1845, Louis Roederer acquired 15 hectares in the Grand Cru vineyards of Verzenay. The idea—which was quite unusual at a time when grapes had little value—was to become a winegrower to master the entire process of creating vintage wines. Ever since, every Louis Roederer vintage originates exclusively from its own vines, which is rare in the Champagne region. The quest for a diversity of terroirs, crus, parcels, and grape varieties in the vineyards (or climats, to use the Burgundian term) was rapidly integrated by the House of Louis Roederer. A groundbreaking strategy was implemented, which involved buying specific parcels selected for their capacity to produce distinctive wines. This strategy remains a core component of the House’s continuing development. In 2024, Louis Roederer’s vineyards stretch across 250 hectares and include 420 parcels.
Nose - Mirabelle Plum, Honey, Smoky Creamy Notes
Dried herb aromas with richness and ripeness: lemon, honey, subtle nutty overtones and smoky creamy notes.
Palate - Focussed, Stone Fruits, Honeycomb
Champagne evocative of crisp stone fruits, honeycomb, white flowers and buttery pastry.
Finish - Buttery Pastry, Bright Acids, Saline Finish
An ample core of fruit, bright acids and a saline finish, it will offer demonstrative drinking on release.
Light straw colour and a savoury bouquet of straw, dry grass, dried herb aromas with richness and ripeness: lemon, honey, subtle nutty overtones and smoky creamy notes. It's quite full in the mouth and very dry, savoury and well-structured, with evident tannins and acidity that call loudly for food. There is richness and amplitude on the palate, giving it the backbone that is needed for a food wine. The finish is long and insistent, the end-palate crisply dry and loaded with energy. The 8 grams per litre of dosage do not show at all, the wine tastes dry and savoury with a mineral grip that is extremely appetising. It's a wine that would also age very well. A new direction for Roederer, the Collection replaces Brut Premier from now on. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, June 2021, 95 Points
Dried-lemon, apricot, green-apple, salted-almond, walnut and light caramel notes. Vinous and layered, with small and tight bubbles. Excellent focus and intensity. Based on 2018, with reserve wines going back to 2009. - James Suckling, 94 Points.
Based on the 2018 vintage and complemented by reserve wines from a solera established in 2012, as well as younger foudre-aged reserve wines, Roederer's newly released NV Brut Collection 243 is a pillowy, enveloping Champagne evocative of crisp stone fruits, honeycomb, white flowers and buttery pastry. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and generous, with an ample core of fruit, bright acids and a saline finish, it will offer demonstrative drinking on release. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate, 92 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Champagne
Varietal - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Region - Champagne
Country - France
Vintage - Non-Vintage
Size - 3L
ABV - 12%
Closure - Cork
