;)
Wine of the Week. 5 stars. Louis Roederer has long been one of the best of the great Champagne houses of France. Quality is exemplary throughout the range. The outstanding non-vintage wine has has recently been repackaged with a less flamboyant label than before but it’s still one of the top NV’s. This recently arrived 2002 vintage wine is still labelled in Roederer’s elaborate old style, and it’s supurb, a creamy, smooth drop with a deliciously complex personality that epitomises Champagne’s magic. The bouquet combines subtle biscuity notes with suggestions of crème brulee, white flowers and citrus. It tastes mellow and rich with superfine texture, a firm backbone and great pleasure. Expensive, but sheer luxury. (12% alcohol; cork.)
Ageing? Drink over three years. Food ideas: Chicken breasts with wild mushrooms; cured salmon blinis.
Ralph Kyte Powell – The Age Epicure, Uncorked 7th Oct 2008
Champagne Louis Roederer, founded in 1776, remains one of the very rare family Champagne businesses. For two centuries, six succeeding generations have been inspired by the same concern for quality. Frederic Rouzaud took up the reins in early 2006 from his father Jean-Claude Rouzaud who remains Chairman of the Board. Jean-Claude, grandson of Madame Camille Olry-Roederer and himself a trained Oenologist had led the company for 38 years, and is referred to as the ‘Sage’ of Champagne (the wise man of Champagne).
Frederic has spent the past 10 years working with his father in all areas of production and business and will bring his great business acumen and academic background to the company. Louis Roederer is unique in Champagne owning two-thirds of the vineyards for their total production covering the Pinot Noir sub regions of “Montagne de Reims” and “Vallee de la Marne” with Chardonnay from the “Cotes des Blanc”. By 1995, recent acquisitions had increased Louis Roederer's holding from 180 hectares to almost 190 hectares, ranking 97.5% on the offi cial classifi cation scale.
Region: Champagne
