LouisRoedererRose2016

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.rrA great Rosé champagne must be made from very ripe grapes â€?sometimes difficult to obtain in the Champagne climate. As a result, Louis Roederer has chosen to invest in one of the earliest Champagne crus villages, Cumières, for which the steeply-sloping, shallow clay and limestone soils face south and benefit from additional light reflected from the river Marne, enabling great phenolic maturity to be achieved. In these select terroirs, Louis Roederer applies the precision wine-making methods required to craft a saignée rosé. The Chardonnay is from the north facing slopes in Chouilly, bringing bright and fresh notes. 21% vinified in oak casks. A small percentage of Chardonnay juice is fermented with the Pinot Noir maceration to help with the hamonisation in the final blend.rrWeather: The 2016 vintage was characterised by particularly marked weather variations: spring was cool, wet and relatively late whereas summer was warm and dry with a heatwave in late August followed by dry and sunny weather over the harvest period which was highly beneficial to the ripening of the grapes. Our Pinot noirs thrived in these dry, sunny conditions and the heat has given them an intensely fruity character and silky smooth texture. The Chardonnays are just as outstanding although more chiselled and saline in character. Harvests from 15 September to 1 October 2016. rrTechnical Information:rVineyards: Pinot Noir from Cumières & Chardonnay from ChouillyrGrape Varieties: 62% Pinot Noir38% ChardonnayrLees Ageing: 5.5 yearsrDisgorged: September 2022rDosage: 8 g/lrVinified in Large oak casks: 21%rMalolactic Fermentation: 4%rDrink: Now to 5+ yearsrrTasting Note: The intensely aromatic nose blends fruity fragrances (vine peach, redcurrant) and citrus fruit (blood orange) with delicious notes of red Roussillon apricot. The concentrated and smooth palate reveals a superb freshness and a silky feel. Fruity aromas (vine peach, nectarine) and citrus fruit (lemon) stretch out elegantly to a long finish.rrWatch Essi Avellan MW & Nick’s video tasting review of this champagne here.