LouisRoedererCollection243NVJeroboam

As the largest independent family-managed Champagne producer, Louis Roederer rank amongst the region’s absolute finest. Established in 1776, the House today is managed by seventh generation family member Frédéric Rouzaud alongside long-time Chef de Cave and Champagne legend Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. They own an astounding 242 hectares of vineyards many in chalk rich Grand Cru villages covering two-thirds of their grape requirements. Roederer have become pioneers in biodynamic farming & by 2012 all 78 hectares the “Cristal Estatesâ€?are farmed using biodynamic methods. By 2021 Roederer have 115 hectares certified organic. All the grapes in Cristal & other vintage cuvee’s come from their own vineyards. The estate is made up of 410 plots which are fermented separately in one of the 450 stainless steel tanks in their Reims cellars. In 2020 Roederer replaced Brut Premier with “Collectionâ€?allowing each years non-vintage blend to be identified and “re-engineeringâ€?the non-vintage cuvee to maintain freshness in the light of global warming on the Champagne region. Today Cristal is, widely recognised as the world’s most awarded prestige cuvée champagne.rrIn September 2021 Collection 242 was launched, replacing Brut Premier.The idea behind Collection was to address the impact in champagne of global warming, “fighting for freshnessâ€?is how Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon described his mission in creating this new champagne. He set about his task in 2013 building a perpetual reserve, adding into it only those wines that displayed those fresh and minerally characters. He also increased the oak reserves, similar to how we use spices in a kitchen. The end result is the perpetual reserve is the “freshening elementâ€?and 31% of the blend, 10% oak reserve wines and 59% from the 2018 harvest. The Collection number represents the number of times they have made a non vintage since the inception of the house in 1776. Here you can find an in depth article about this new cuvee.rrWeather: 2018 was a warm, continental and truly unique vintage. Summer set many new records in terms of heat, drought and sunshine levels. The Pinot noirs displayed a luxurious texture whilst the Chardonnays were dense and saline where harvested at perfect ripeness and the Meuniers were intensely fruity. The harvests began on 27 August and ended on 8 September.rrTechnical Information:rVineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru | 33% La Riviere | 33% La Montagne | 33% La CoterGrape Varieties: 42% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir & 18% MeunierrReserve Wines aged in oak: 10% from 2012, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17rPerpetual reserve wines: 31% from 2012, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17rLees Ageing: 3 yearsrCurrent base vintage: 2018rDisgorged: March 2022rDosage: 8 g/lrMalolactic Fermentation: 26%rDrink: Now for 8+ yearsrrTasting Note: 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. â€?Tasted by William KelleyrrLouis Roederer Collection 243 NV comes in lightweight antique-coloured bottles that filter out nearly 100 percent of light.