Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 2016
£90.69 (Inc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / North Ireland
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Louis Roederer's 2016 Brut Vintage is derived primarily from Pinot Noir from Verzy and incorporates 32% Chardonnay from Chouilly, though this is about to change with the 2019 release, when it will become a pure Verzy, giving stronger identity to the village. The soil here is rich in clay, and the slopes face east, explains Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. Disgorged in June 2024 with seven grams per liter dosage, it wafts from the glass with a bouquet of juicy pear, red berries, hazelnut and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and textural, it has a slightly richer core of fruit compared to the more delicate and citrusy Blanc de Blancs and will richly reward a few additional years under cork.
Features
Type of wine
Pairings
Style
Occasions
Winery
Size
Appellation
Alcohol
12.0%
Grapes
Serving
Between 10ºC and 12ºC
Winemaking
Minimum ageing of 54 months in bottle.
Description
In the heart of Reims, the house of Louis Roederer remains faithful to a philosophy that combines long-term vision, viticultural patience and extreme precision. Louis Roederer Brut Vintage is not produced every year: it is only made in vintages where nature and the vineyard speak with an exceptional voice. This cuvée is composed of 70% Pinot Noir - mostly from the Grand Cru of Verzy, in the Montagne de Reims - and 30% Chardonnay from the chalky soils of Chouilly. Both terroirs, contrasting in character, combine here with admirable tension: power and structure on one side, elegance and verticality on the other.
Winemaking
For Louis Roederer Brut Vintage, handpicking allows only perfectly ripe bunches to be selected. After gentle pressing, part of the wine is fermented in oak vats without malolactic fermentation, while the rest is vinified in stainless steel to preserve freshness and aromatic precision. Louis Roederer Brut Vintage is aged on the lees for at least 4 years, followed by a post-degüelle rest of 6 months, refining its texture and complexity. The dosage is low (8 g/L), respecting the purity of the wine.
Taste
In the glass, Louis Roederer Brut Vintage displays a pale golden colour with coppery reflections and fine, constant, almost hypnotic bubbles. The nose is intense and deep: layers of ripe fruit - yellow plum, vineyard peach and white cherry - open up, intertwined with notes of white pepper, dried flower, and a fine smoky trace reminiscent of hot flint. Over time, nuances of cocoa, dried fruit and candied citrus peel emerge, elevating its aromatic profile to another plane.
On the palate, Louis Roederer Brut Vintage shows a broad, almost enveloping entry, with a sharp acidity that stretches the wine towards a very long finish. The texture is creamy, vinous, with a mineral tension that evokes wet chalk and granite. There is a firm, muscular but refined structure, giving the impression of a champagne of celebration as well as contemplation. The finish is lingering, with resonances of salinity, mild spice and dried fruit, leaving a sense of austere elegance and depth.
Louis Roederer Brut Vintage is a tribute to the great years of Champagne and to the audacity of those who understand that true luxury resides in time, the land and the silence of the cellar.
Shipping to North Ireland
50% discount on orders over £350.94Estimated transit time: 4-5 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over £350.94 |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | £11.32 | £5.66 (-£5.66) |
| 7-12 | £15.35 | £7.68 (-£7.68) |
| 13-18 | £21.50 | £10.75 (-£10.75) |
| 19-24 | £29.39 | £14.70 (-£14.70) |
| 25-30 | £34.13 | £17.06 (-£17.06) |
| 31-36 | £38.17 | £19.08 (-£19.08) |
| 37-42 | £46.06 | £23.03 (-£23.03) |
| 43-48 | £50.45 | £25.22 (-£25.22) |
| 49-54 | £56.98 | £28.49 (-£28.49) |
| 55-60 | £61.24 | £30.62 (-£30.62) |
| VAT included | ||
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