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Brut
Brut Multi Vintage
Wine & Spirits - April 2012
91 Points Rated the #2 most popular sparkling wine by the Wine & Spirits restaurant poll.
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - November 30, 2011
89 Points "Rich and youthful, with delicate aromas of green apple and lime that lead to full flavors of baked pear and toasty anise, laced with cinnamon. The finish is clean and crisp, with a hint of mineral."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - October 2011
91 Points Best Buy One of the 100 Best Buys of the Year -- "This estate-grown blend of chardonnay and pinot noir gains added richness from oak-aged reserve wines. The reserves broaden the texture, contributing almond tones to the clean, fresh apple and pear flavors. A festive aperitif, this delivers far beyond its price."
Brut Multi Vintage Archived REVIEWS
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - December 31, 2010
89 Points "Two of my perennial favorite values also head up the pack. The Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley NV is tart, refined and refreshingly minerally, with Gala apple and lemon aromas..."
Miami Herald - Fred Tasker - December 23, 2010
Recommended "Lots of tiny bubbles; firm structure; spicy, nutty, golden apple flavors"
San Antonio Current - Ron Bechtol - November 24, 2010
"And Best of Bubbly goes to the Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut, at around $18, one of the least expensive in a tasting that ranged from $14 to $40 — and the $40 contender, usually very dependable, didn’t make the cut. ...McHugh thought it had 'a good quality on the nose' and rated it high on appearance, with appealing color and good bubble action."
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - November 15, 2010
89 Points "Crisp and refreshingly minerally, offering tart Gala apple and lemon aromas and focused flavors of yeasty citrus and anise. A hint of cherry lingers on the finish."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - November 01, 2010
92 Points "The latest release, a blend of chardonnay (60 percent) and pinot noir, shows that depth in penetrating flavors of green apple, tart pear and raspberry—the fruit fragrant and fresh against more mature notes of yeast."
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - October 31, 2010
91 Points "The current release ... is the wine's best version ever, with bold, spicy apple aromas and rich, layered flavors of baked apple, pear and crème brûlée."
San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonné - August 29, 2010
"The Roederer nonvintage made in 2002, disgorged in 2004 after two years aging, had as much precision and focused green apple flavors as the winery's vintage 2002 L’Ermitage, with hints of toffee and almond to show its slight age. … Back we moved, to a bottle from 1989, full of floral and ripe golden apple, hazelnut and toast. Here was a fully evolved wine, as evolved as all but the most austere Champagnes of equal age, but holding great acidity and showing distinct opulence (plus a slight taste of wood from about 17 years sitting on a cork). "
National Public Radio (NPR) - June 27, 2010
"It is crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It's also fresh and lightly fruity, with great finesse and depth of flavor."
Wall Street Journal - Lettie Teague - May 21, 2010
"Although it's made in the Anderson Valley of Mendocino, this California sparkling wine might well be mistaken for Champagne. Roederer Estate was, in fact, founded by one of the greatest Champagne houses in France, Louis Roederer, some 30 years ago, and the style of the wines is similarly rich, almost yeasty and tremendously elegant."
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - December 31, 2009
Recommended -- A Top A "perennial favorite": "The Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley NV...is rich and layered, with apple, spicy cinnamon and yeast flavors."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009
92 points, Best Buy "Fragrant fruit ripeness lends this wine penetrating flavors of raspberry essence, tart pear and green apple, a fine mesh of pinot noir and chardonnay. The texture is smooth, the bubbles bringing a touch of yeastiness and almond flavor to balance the freshness of the fruit."
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - November 15, 2009
91 points, Smart Buy "A rich version, loaded with spicy cinnamon notes. Bold apple aromas, with a whiff of yeast, lead to complex, layered pear, crème brûlée and baked apple flavors that linger."
New York Times - Eric Asimov - May 20, 2009
Recommended "One of the best champagne-style sparkling wines made outside of Champagne...Light and elegant with flavors of lemon and grapefruit."
San Francisco Chronicle - Steve Pitcher - February 08, 2009
For Roederer Estate Brut magnum: "Tasted against the standard 750 ml bottle ($22), it's a different wine. Livelier and more plentiful bubbles. Wine in the smaller bottle offered forward aromas of hazelnut cream, apricot and citrus, while this has shy aromas of lemon blossom and toasted brioche, enhanced by green apple and quince. In the mouth, very full and a bit frothy with more citrus flavors showing."
Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2008
92 points "Fully ready to drink now, this dry brut shows the classy elegance of a fine Champagne. The Chardonnay contributes white peaches and apples, while Pinot adds a subtle note of cherries with spicy, yeasty nuances....it’s a notable achievement."
Los Angeles Times - Patrick Comiskey - December 24, 2008
"Take the nonvintage Brut from Roederer Estate ($22), the Anderson Valley satellite of the great Champagne house Louis Roederer, a wine with notes of pear and a feathery wisp of yeast in the aromatics that will make you think of freshly baked dinner rolls."
Press Democrat - Peg Melnik - December 24, 2008
Top Pick "**** An elegant sparkling wine that is crisp and flavorful. The fruit is lively but not too ripe. Aromas and flavors of apple, melon, anise and yeast. Good complexity. Nice mousse."
New York Times - Eric Asimov - December 24, 2008
2.5 stars "Light, dry and Champagne-like with flavors of lemon and grapefruit."
San Jose Mercury News - Laurie Daniel - December 23, 2008
Recommended "My favorite moderately priced California sparklers are from Roederer Estate in Anderson Valley...The non-vintage Roederer Estate Brut...is citrusy, round and a little yeasty..."
Forbes.com - Richard Nalley - December 08, 2008
"The Sure Bet" "This, [Roederer Estate's] cornerstone bottling, is affordable, reliable, sold everywhere and best of all, a treat to drink: fresh, lively and chockfull of juicy yellow apple and pear flavors."
San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonné - December 07, 2008
Top 100 Wines of 200 "It's still hard to believe that this Mendocino offshoot of the Champagne house delivers so much for the money. This widely available bottling is fresh and leesy, with green apple and crushed rock aromas. Buoyant acidity and squeezed orange flavors mix with wild berry, an ever-present edge and a refined bead. Winemaker Arnaud Weyrich uses just a touch of malolactic fermentation, which adds a welcome bit of extra body."
San Francisco Chronicle - Lynne Char Bennett - December 05, 2008
2.5 Stars (Good-Exce "This Mendocino offshoot of the Champagne house delivers a remarkable wine for the money, outpacing many Champagnes. Widely available, this latest bottling is fresh and leesy, with green apple and crushed rock aromas. Buoyant acidity and squeezed orange flavors mix with wild berry. The bubbles are refined and the body is ample enough to avoid sharpness while maintaining a precise edge."
New York Times - Howard D. Goldberg - October 19, 2008
Recommended "Experts consider nonvintage Roederer Estate brut, from Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, California’s best sparkling wine. This balanced blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, a favorite among Francophiles, offers bright pear and green apple flavors."
Wine & Spirits - June 2008
Critics' Pick "I've always liked this wine, and it's one of the best sparkling wines made in the US." -- Jared Heber, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles, CA
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - February 2008
90 Points "Complex minerality runs through this sparkler, tinged with sweet vanilla and strawberry flavors, but not overtly fruity. With light richness and firm acidity, it's suited to poached prawns."
Wine & Spirits - 2008
90 points, A Best Bu "Complex minerality runs through this sparkler, tinged with sweet vanilla and strawberry flavors, but not overtly fruity. With light richness and firm acidity, it’s suited to poached prawns."
Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2007
Editor's Choice, 92 "This is an absolutely first-rate bubbly, dry, smooth and rich. Has complex flavors of peaches, limes and strawberries, accented by doughy yeast and smoky flavors. Really defines the balanced elegance and pedigree you want in a great sparkler."
Quick, Dallas-Fort Worth - D.M.N - December 27, 2007
"Made with estate-grown grapes, this is a crisp, medium-bodied sparkler with a nice core of apple-pear flavors."
Dallas Morning News - Tina Danze - December 26, 2007
"Made with estate-grown grapes, this is a crisp, medium-bodied sparkler with a nice core of apple-pear flavors. 'It’s rich and complex without being yeasty,' Mr. Pinnell said. 'The finish is so refreshing — it leads you on to another sip or to another bite of food,' Mr. Howald said. 'This is what I hope they serve when I go to a New Year’s party,' Ms. Frances said. She added that the sparkler would make a great pairing for sole menieure meunière at a New Year’s Eve dinner party."
Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - Dave DeSimone - December 19, 2007
Highly Recommended "As the product of Louis Roederer Champagne's investment in Mendocino County's cool climate, this is one of California's most consistent, high-quality non-vintage sparkling wines. The wine has complex, elegant aromas leading to crisp citrus and rich pear flavors well-balanced by fine acidity through a complex, dry finish with excellent finesse. Highly Recommended."
Press Democrat, Santa Rosa - Michele Anna Jordan - December 19, 2007
Wine of the Week "The wine is crisp, clean, austere in a good way and delicate. Although it is not overly complicated, there is a lingering complexity that engages the drinker on both a sensual and cerebral level. ...Grapes are rarely offered up as one of the flavors in wine, but they are there in every sip, alongside a suggestion of green fruit -- Asian pear, green apple and not-quite-ripe cherimoya. In the background, standing solid like a bass player -- John Entwistle, let's say -- is an appealing bedrock of toast, from which tiny bubbles meander toward the surface, where they burst like tiny sea stars."
Today Show - Ray Isle - December 13, 2007
Ray Isle, Food & Wine senior wine editor, featured Roederer Estate Brut NV as one of the wine super steals in a segment on the Today show on NBC.
MSNBC - Ray Isle - December 12, 2007
"Roederer, the French company that makes Cristal, also owns a property in California’s Anderson Valley. From it they produce this top-notch sparkling wine....[T]the Roederer team’s experience shows, and it’s a steal for the price."
Wall Street Journal - Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher - December 01, 2007
"$15 to $25. At this price range, we'd look for California bubbly: ...Roederer Estate Brut..."
Cooking Light - Karen MacNeil - December 2007
"This is one of my all-around favorites and fantastic for the price. Rich and yeasty like many French Champagnes, it's also bright and citrusy like many California wines."
Wine News - December 2007
92 Points "Baked apple and toast aromas with a hint of vanilla. Very lively mouth-feel with croissant, honey and orange zest flavors. Crisp acidity reflects a tart, youthful finish."
San Francisco Chronicle, Orange County Register - Lynne Char Bennett - November 30, 2007
3 Stars "Roederer is one of California's several French-owned sparkling wine producers. Jean-Claude Rouzaud, owner of Roederer's parent "house" - Louis Roederer - established his Anderson Valley vineyards in 1983. Though this is Roederer's workhorse wine, it is perfect to trot out for company. The wine's subtle nose opens with gentle mineral, brioche toast and citrus hints then moves to bigger aromas and flavors that are fresh, layered and brimming with mineral and ripe white grapefruit acidity."
Cincinnati Enquirer - Jim Knippenberg - November 21, 2007
Kevin Keith, wine buyer for Liquor Direct's Covington and Fort Thomas locations, said Roederer Estate Brut NV was one of the best wines for a dinner party. "Roederer Brut NV is probably one of the best California sparklers under $30 with an impeccable balance of fruit and effervescence."
NY1 Magazine - November 17, 2007
Recommended as a starter to the Thanksgiving meal and to go with appetizers
Sacramento Bee - M.D. - November 14, 2007
One of the Year's Gr "Year after year, this is the best buy in sparkling wine for its caressing fruit, taut spine and refreshing acidity."
Daily Press, Newport News, VA - Kathy Van Mullekom - November 12, 2007
"This sparkling wine comes from the same people that make Cristal, so you know the quality is exceptional!"
Star Chefs Magazine - Jim Clarke - November 2007
Recommended "At $20, the Roederer Estate Brut is a steal; the blend is dominated by Chardonnay, which brings crisp lemon, pear, and green apple notes, but judicious use of oak-aged reserve wines add in toastiness and vanilla; brioche touches from lees-aging knit everything together."
The Plain Dealer, Cleveland - Donald Rosenberg - October 31, 2007
Wine Buy of the Week "A fine bead rises from this straw-colored sparkling wine, which has aromas of yeast and citrus. The citrus also dominates the flavors, which have a touch of creaminess while remaining quite dry with good acidity. Drink it as a sipper or with a meal. It's ideal for celebrating any occasion..."
Press Democrat - Tasting Room - July 25, 2007
2.5 Stars "A sparkler with toasty, bready aromas. Notes of caramel and toffee."
San Francisco Chronicle - December 01, 2006
3 Stars "Roederer’s wines are defined by a sharpness that comes from almost no malolactic fermentation. Unlike most of the California bruts, this is heavier on the Chardonnay--60 percent to 40 percent Pinot Noir, with a small sweet, woodsy note on the nose, like candy in a cedar forest, with sweet apple and nectarine, then a yeasty note that emerges in its middle. Balanced and biting, with a gripping ending."
Wine & Spirits - December 2006
91 Points “A pale, platinum gold color and clean scent of Asian pear introduce this cool, Anderson Valley sparkler. Crisp pear flavors meld with chamomile through a mineral-tinged finish, the wine’s supple texture growing richer with air. For any roast fish, consider Chatham cod served over braised fennel.”
Sunset Magazine - December 2006
Recommended "Complex, creamy, and citrusy. A great all-around sparkler."
The Press Democrat - M. Jordan - December 2006
Wine of the Week "Our Wine of the Week, Roederer Estate Anderson Valley NV Brut, has a pleasing austerity to it, as many of the finest sparklers do. By austerity, I mean a leanness, a focus and a crispness that makes me think of a bright yet cold winter day at the sea. The delicate bubbles dance in your mouth like little bursts of sea spray against your skin, leaving behind brief impressions of green fruit, apple, kiwi and, it's true, not-quite-ripe grapes. The wine is delicate and beautifully balanced. You can enjoy it with just about anything but red meats. It is especially suited to seafood such as raw oysters and clams, petrale sole and sand dabs , and to salads with arugula, citrus fruits and fresh chevre. But given that it's Dungeness crab season, I suggest pairing it with winter's shellfish. And to show both the wine and the crab to best advantage, serve the crab chilled. For today's recipe I've chosen to pair crab with a vinaigrette I 've been making for a couple of decades. It is best when made with a whole Meyer lemon but you can make it with any lemon as long as you taste the vinaigrette and balance the acid with more olive oil and more salt if needed. I can't think of a better way to welcome in 2007."
The Wall Street Journal - December 2006
Good/Very Good One of the favorites in separate blind tastings of widely available bubblies under $30.
Wine Spectator - April 2006
Distinguished as one of the "Most Popular Sparkling Wines" with a 5th place ranking.
Wine, Food & Friends - Karen MacNeil - 2006
"...So as the seductive smells of the roasting turkey fill the room, I pour chilled flutes of California sparkling wine for everyone to enjoy while I'm putting the finishing touches on several dishes. I love many sparklers, but often for this dinner I'll put one of my favorites: Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut."
Wine & Spirits - P. J. C. - 2006
"It's tricky to make sparkling wine in the California heat, but it's easier if the heat's moderated by Mendocino fog. Roederer's sparklers remain among the finest in the state."
The San Francisco Chronicle - Linda Murphy - December 15, 2005
Two and a half stars "Here's a widely available wine that's lean and racy, with a tight core of lemon, lime, Granny Smith apple and marzipan aromas and flavors, and a creamy mid-palate."
Food & Wine - October 2005
Best Sparkling Wine "Credit the combination of crisp, cool-climate Anderson Valley grapes and the considerable wine making experience of parent company Champagne Louis Roederer, a centuries-old French Champagne house, for making this Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend one of the most Champagne-like sparkling wines produced in California. Roederer Estate winemaker Arnaud Weyrich adds a portion of oak-aged reserve wine to give this bottling additional complexity."
New York Times - Howard G. Goldberg - February 06, 2005
Recommended Wine Und "Its fine bubbles, toasty flavor and complexity have made it a leading sparkling wine since 1988. A nonvintage blend of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes grown in the Anderson Valley in cool Mendocino County, Calif., it resembles expensive champagne. Its inspiration comes from the French parent company Louis Roederer, which produces Cristal."
Wine News - January 2005
90 Points "Pale straw hue with a frothy mousse. Toasty aromas of grapefruit, apricot, biscuit and white bread. Crisp flavors of citrus, apple, hay and a Sherry nuance. Lengthy close features tart lemon drop."
San Francisco Chronicle - Linda Murphy - May 2004
Top 100 Wine of 2004 "Excellent and very attractive. Zesty, yet with creamy peach and citrus and nut aromas and flavors, with some dry mineral; fresh, lively and foamy; clean finish."
Wine & Spirits - December 2003
88 Points "Persistent effervescence carries the floral scents of apple blossom up out of the glass. This light golden wine is firm and fresh, layering the apple flavors over a redder cherry tone. A simple sparkler with a drive; a lively aperitif."
Wine Enthusiast - S.H. - December 31, 2002
90 Points "You’d almost think you were drinking fine Champagne when you sip this intricate bubbly, which, after all, is owned by a French Champagne house. It’s dry and yeasty, with suble citrus flavors and an aftertaste of almond skin. Feels fine and elegant on the palate."
Brut Rosé
Brut Rosé Multi Vintage
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - December 15, 2011
91 Points Smart Buy "Lush and rich, with bright cherry and red apple aromas and crisp, layered flavors of raspberry and cinnamon that finish on a note of crisp minerality."
Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 15, 2011
92 Points Editors' Choice "Great price for a sparkling wine this refined, and the fact that it’s a rosé makes it an even better deal. It’s rich in strawberry, orange and lime flavors, with that savory yeastiness that marks the best bubblies."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2011
91 Points "There's lovely precision to the light strawberry notes in this wine, a clean parallel to its pale pink color. The finish is spicy and gentle, with a creamy undercurrent that lingers on fruit. Chill it for prawns."
San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonné - January 02, 2011
#2 Most Memorable Wine of 2010: "Not just any Roederer Rosé, mind you, but a bottle from the 1989 vintage, disgorged around 1992. ... Filled with scents of ripe butterscotch, dried roses, wild strawberry and heather, it was just old enough to have taken on a mellow pastry-dough sweetness, yet bright enough to burst with all the energy that great bubbly should have. For all the love of vintage California fizz, there's great and unheralded talent in the nonvintage versions."
Brut Rosé Multi Vintage Archived REVIEWS
Miami Herald - Fred Tasker - December 23, 2010
Recommended "Salmon hue, hint of oak, very crisp, black cherry flavors"
San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonné - November 14, 2010
Recommended for Thanksgiving: "The regular Roederer Brut remains perhaps the best deal in California bubbles, but the Rosé is the standout [...]. Woodsy notes add to a dark-stone minerality that underlines cranberry, tangerine and pear flavors. It's got that quintessential brightness, with a bit of creamy vanilla at the end."
Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - November 01, 2010
90 Points Bargain Sparkler "A beautiful rosé bubbly, from the copper-salmon color to the final finish. Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it's dry and refined, with complex orange, raspberry, vanilla cream, mineral and brioche flavors. Gains extra points for the smoothness of its bubbles."
Saveur - November 2010
"This smooth, nonvintage sparkling rosé is dominated by pinot noir, which adds lovely fruit to the flavor and a nice dose of blush to the finish. It includes up to 20 percent oak-aged reserve wine and is characterized by subtle herb and red raspberry accents, but with a stiff mineral backbone."
Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2009
92 points "Almost as pale as a brut, with a touch of salmon color, and deeply flavored, this Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend has subtle, inviting flavors of cherries, strawberries, orange zest, vanilla and freshly baked brioche. It's very fine in the mousse, with a silky mouthfeel. Really marked by elegance and structure."
RealSimple.com - Sara Schneider - December 29, 2009
Recommended "For the Limo: Super-fizzy California bubbly Roederer Estate Brut Rose NA is full of flavors of spicy sour cherries, lemon, lime, and herbs."
San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonné - December 07, 2009
A Top 100 Wine of 20 "This accessible and remarkably well-crafted pink bubbly is both stony and yeasty, with robust nectarine skin and toasty pastry crust. Elegant and yet edgy, like a fresh splash of seawater spray."
San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonné - November 22, 2009
"Not to cast a shadow on Roederer's regular brut but this accessible and remarkably well-crafted pink bubbly remains a major outperformer. Both stony and yeasty on a nose that hits you like seawater spray, with robust nectarine skin and toasty pastry crust."
Oregonian - Matt Kramer - November 15, 2009
"This is superb rose sparkling wine, a blend of pinot noir (60 percent) and chardonnay (40 percent) with a textbook-perfect hue of pale salmon and an indisputably pinot noir-ish scent and taste of red berries. The acidity is brisk and refreshing. ...Few sparkling roses from anywhere --and I include France's Champagne region in this assertion --are better than this bottling from California's Roederer Estate."
San Francisco Chronicle - Steve Pitcher - February 08, 2009
For Roederer Estate Brut Rosé NV magnum: "A blend of 60 percent Pinot Noir and 40 percent Chardonnay, with the lovely salmon hue coming from the addition of a small amount of still Pinot Noir. Full and round in the mouth with lively, tiny bubbles and a remarkable balancing act of elegance and austerity contributed by the Chardonnay."
Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2008
91 points "Full-bodied and rich, this slightly orange-colored bubbly offers forward flavors of cherry vanilla and Chardonnay with mashed ripe strawberries. It’s very good, an addictively drinkable bubbly that finishes clean, dry and yeasty."
San Jose Mercury News - Laurie Daniel - December 23, 2008
Recommended "My favorite moderately priced California sparklers are from Roederer Estate in Anderson Valley...the non-vintage Brut Rosé...offers plenty of bright fruit, some toasty and yeasty accents and a fine texture."
San Francisco Chronicle - Lynne Char Bennett - December 05, 2008
2.5 Stars (Good-Exce "The beautiful pale pink-orange in color is from 5 percent Pinot Noir. This wine has a fresh nose of white flowers, rhubarb and loamy musk. Orange and wild raspberry flavors with a chalky undertone; soft, evocative mousse. 60 percent Pinot Noir, 40 percent Chardonnay, of which 10 to 20 percent is reserve wine."
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - November 15, 2008
91 points Recommended recent release from Mendocino -- "Crisp with appealing cherry and graham cracker aromas that lead to lively strawberry, vanilla and spice flavors."
Gourmet - Gerald Asher - November 2008
Recommended "My favorite California sparkling rosé is Roederer Estate's Brut Rosé. The color is light--almost amber rather than pink--but the wine has a fine and persistent effervescence and an enticing aroma and flavor. The blend includes a little oak-aged reserve wine that gives the depth and complexity that make every sip a surprise."
Seattle Times - Paul Gregutt - June 04, 2008
Recommended "For the wedding guests, you can ramp down your costs, while still keeping the quality pretty high. Look to Champagne-style bubbly from California ... Roederer Estate Brut Rosé."
Food & Wine - Lettie Teague - June 2008
An "All-Season Favor "This sparkling-wine producer, based in Anderson Valley, is the California branch of French Champagne house Louis Roederer. This rosé is every bit as refined and well-balanced as its French counterparts."
Washington Post - Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg - February 13, 2008
Karen Page's Pick of "From among our three California sparkling rosé recommendations, Karen netted her pick of the week: The N.V. Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine...is the effort of an offshoot of Champagne's Louis Roederer, maker of famed Cristal Champagne. The nose is strawberry cheesecake: ripe, round strawberries with hints of cream cheese, vanilla and graham cracker crust. With its lush body, constant stream of tiny bubbles and long, creamy finish, this is a sparkler with impressive finesse. We found it all the more impressive that it paired so well with food, especially sauteed salmon, which perfectly echoed its color."
San Jose Mercury News - Charles E. Olken - February 13, 2008
"A Roederer Rose, whether made in France or in the winery's Anderson Valley property, is likely to be austere in style and crackling with fresh acidity."
San Francisco Chronicle - Lynne Char Bennett - February 01, 2008
3 Stars (Excellent) "This wine - included in our 2007 Top 100 wines - continues to impress for the price. There's complexity to both nose and palate, which has toast, Meyer lemon, raspberry and touch of herb. One panelist even detected butterscotch. The focused palate has a richer texture with a touch of marmalade and orange zest flavors and a long, slightly minerally finish."
Wine Spectator - J.L. - December 31, 2007
91 Points, One of th "Crisp and festive, with appealing cherry and graham cracker aromas and lively strawberry, vanilla and spice flavors that take on richness and length on the finish."
Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2007
91 Points "From the pretty, pale amber color to the long, distinguished finish, this is a great rosé sparkler. To begin with, it's dry, a point in its favor, while the flavors are subtle and complex. They suggest pink grapefruits, tangerine zest, a squeeze of white peach, vanilla, and the smoke and dough of oak and lees. With its low alcohol and very low pH, it's a balanced wine of great structural integrity."
San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonné - December 02, 2007
One of the Top 100 W "Roederer's nonvintage Brut is very good, but its Rosé is a hidden strength. Made predominantly of Pinot Noir, with about 40 percent Chardonnay, it harnesses still Pinot for color and up to 20 percent oak-aged reserve wine for depth. The result surpasses many Rosé Champagnes: subtle herbal, raspberry and cherry scents, with slight mushroom and mineral, and a grip to the finish."
Wine News - December 2007
91 Points "Light copper hue. Aromas of carved pumpkin and vanilla. Very creamy on entry with a meld of cherry and tart strawberry with great integration of citrus-laced acidity. Tangy grapefruit and cherry juice flavors in the cleansing finish."
Sunset - Sara Schneider - October 2007
Recommended "Tiny, creamy bubbles carry wild strawberry, bright cherry, and refreshing lemon-lime flavors."
Food Arts - Jeffery Lindenmuth - June 2007
Nadine Brown, of Charlie Palmer Steak, Washington, D.C., recommended the Roederer Estate Brut Rosé NV as her sparkling wine pick.
Sunset Magazine - February 2007
5 Indulgent Sparkling Rosés
"Practically an albino as rosés go, Roederer's mainstream version (its 1999 L'Ermitage is for slightly deeper pockets) is a fantastic value--wonderfully yeasty and minerally, with the liveliest bubbles."
Forbes - Nick Passmore - December 29, 2006
Rated as one of the "The Anderson Valley, north of Sonoma, is gaining a reputation for elegant, cool climate wines, and this fresh, lively and fun fizz is a fine example. It is a gold rather than a true pink color, and it's vibrant with the flavors of freshly sliced strawberries."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2006
90 Points "Floral scents of strawberries and deeper raspberry tones fill this wine with ripe fruit. Its sweetness melds into the tense acidity and fine mousse as the wine develops in the glass, elegant in a fruity, California style."
Wine & Spirits - Barbara Haimes - November 2006
"You can't go wrong with a dry sparkling rosé from the Anderson Valley. Roederer Estate Brut Rosé has five percent still pinot noir added. It is big and tilts towards smoke and cloves, making it particularly good with potstickers and Beijing spareribs."
Wine News - January 2006
92 Points "Champagne-like aromas of baked apple, lemon curd and dough are beautifully integrated. Very refreshing flavors of raspberry, apple, minerals and flint are bracing without being painfully so. Clean minerally close."
L'Ermitage
L'Ermitage 2003
Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 15, 2011
96 Points #17 of Top 100 Editors' Choice -- "2003 was a great vintage for Roederer Estate. This, their top vintage wine, is very great, and the price is an absolute steal for this world class sparkler. It’s enormously rich in the strawberries from Pinot Noir and the limes from Chardonnay, while the toast and rich lees combine for a perfect Champagne-style smokiness. And so smooth, it’s like a kiss of silk. At the age of eight years, this wonderful wine is just getting started."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2011
94 Points "This wine captures the cool tones of Anderson Valley fruit in a sophisticated sparkler, the marriage of pinot noir and chardonnay flavors transformed into lemon curd, white raspberry, bright apple and lasting spice. The tight balance keeps it fresh, while reserve wines add to its richness (the blend includes four percent of reserves from 1999). There's nerve underneath the luscious texture, extending the sense of richness into finesse."
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - November 30, 2011
93 Points #55 of Top 100 "Elegant and sleek, yet complex, with cinnamon and green apple aromas that lead to rich flavors of pear and lemon custard layered with brioche and mineral."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - November 2011
94 Points White Wine of the Month - "This wine captures the cool tones of Anderson Valley fruit in a sophisticated sparkler, the marriage of pinot noir and chardonnay flavors transformed into lemon curd, white raspberry, bright apple and lasting spice. The tight balance keeps it fresh, while reserve wines add to its richness (the blend includes four percent of reserves from 1999). There's nerve underneath the luscious texture, extending the sense of richness into finesse."
L'Ermitage 2002 Archived REVIEWS
The Week - December 17, 2010
Splurge Bottle "This 'elegant' sparkler is the result of heavy investments in California vineyards by the top Champagne houses."
Bon Appetit - Heather John - November 2010
A "Hot Bottle" -- Notes of vanilla, brioche, and spice blend with baked apple and apricot."
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - October 31, 2010
91 Points "L'Ermitage 2002 ... is sleek and creamy, with pinpoint focus and long, complex apple and spicy, yeasty flavors."
Quarterly Review of Wines - June 01, 2010
Co-Best of Show "Elegant, rich, complex, powerful, well-focused."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009
93 Points Best Sparkling Wine Buying Guide 2010 -- "This wine combines remarkable freshness with elegant richness, so that even after it's been open for several days, the flavors are still evolving, the fruit still brisk as an autumn breeze. It needs that time for the blunt chalkiness of the structure to mellow, for the cool apple and pear flavors to develop and lengthen. Built to age, this is an exceptional vintage of L'Ermitage."
L'Ermitage 2000 Archived REVIEWS
Sunset - Sara Schneider - May 2008
A Wine for Any Colle "For Celebrating: Soft peach, zesty lime and elegant bubbles."
Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2007
94 Points, Cellar Se "Always one of the top sparklers in California, L'Ermitage defines the rigorous selection that marks the best vintage-dated, ageworthy wines. The 2000 is...very rich and flavorful in yeast, smoke, strawberry, citrus and vanilla flavors, but it's also a very young wine, tight and minerally. It wants bottle age."
San Francisco Chronicle - December 28, 2007
One of the Top 6 Win "Roederer's vintage-dated reserve remains, consistently, the most impressive sparkling wine in America. This latest, with 53 percent Chardonnay and 47 percent Pinot Noir, opens with a musky snap and aggressively yeasty nose. Subtle berry and forest notes are followed by explosive flavors of dough, citrus and a whole spectrum of red fruit, plus brandy and pie crust. It's all kept in harmony by sharp acidity, which makes for a mouthwatering finish."
Wine Review Online - Linda Murphy - December 11, 2007
"The Roederer has a nutty, spicy nose with a gentle yeastiness and a palate that explodes with energetic citrus and red-berry fruit. It's long and rewarding."
Wall Street Journal - Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher - December 01, 2007
"$30 to $60. At this price, you can try some of the high-end domestic bubblies...Look for ...Roederer Estate L'Ermitage."
Epicurious.com - Nick Passmore - December 2007
Recommended "Widely considered to be the best American sparkler (from California), and with good reason, this one has a big, satisfying mouthfeel along with notes of hazelnuts and hot buttered toast, followed by a long, lingering tart finish."
Wine News - Jeff Cox - December 2007
94 Points "This cool-climate tête de cuvée...was aged for six years on the yeast, which imbued the wine with a lush roundness and long, creamy finish. Aromas of apple and peach underpinned by a bread crust note. Baked apple flavors flattered by subtle hints of toasted notes. A simply outstanding California sparkler."
San Francisco Chronicle - Lynne Char Bennett - November 30, 2007
3 Stars "The first vintage of Roederer L'Ermitage was released in 1993 - this is another great wine from a consistently stellar producer. The 2000 vintage has a multitude of explosive flavors: bread dough, ripe lemon, fresh apple and stone fruit, which follow enticing yeasty musk, mineral, berry and forest-like aromas. A harmonious finish of the ripe, rich palate lingers with echoed flavors and minerally acidity."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - June 2007
92 Points "An elegant vintage of L'Ermitage, it has taken some time for this 2000 to evolve. But it was worth the wait: Its austere flavors of peach and nectarine meld with incipient minerality to create depth and complexity without reliance on superripe fruit. Long lees aging has given it a creamy softness to balance that complexity. Cellar this for another year or two; it will only get better."
Quarterly Review of Wines - QRW Tasting Staff - June 2007
5 Stars, Co-Best of "Outstanding: Wines of such remarkable character and quality as to be in a class by themselves." "Big, rich, nutty, bread dough, pear and almond flavors; deep, long, steely finish."
L'Ermitage 1999 Archived REVIEWS
Press Democrat - Tasting Room - July 25, 2007
3.5 Stars "A rich bubbly, yeasty, toasty and nutty. This sparkler has a great mouth-feel and a lively mousse. Medium-bodied."
Quarterly Review of Wines - March 2007
5 Stars, Co-Best of
"Outstanding: Wines of such remarkable character and quality as to be in a class by themselves
Big, rich, ripe, brioche and pear flavors buoyed by excellent acidity; long, authoritative finish."
San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonne - December 08, 2006
3 and 1/2 Stars "Roederer's top-level American wine, with 55 percent Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, more than holds its own with its French cousins. Scents of gray flint dominate amid the dough and yeasty fruit. Its has sharp oxidative notes (the dosage wine was aged 9 years in oak casks) and it's vibrantly, almost alarmingly, tangy. The sharpness lingers, with a compelling mix of red fruit, mushrooms and sherry."
Wine News - January 2006
93 Points "Mature, lively aromas of citrus and red apple with a pleasing oxidized note. Creamy texture and softer acidity than many of its California brethren frame flavors of baked apple and flint."
The San Francisco Chronicle - Linda Murphy - December 15, 2005
Three and a half sta "From its tiny bubbles to its creamy mousse to a finish that goes on forever, this is a tremendous wine, rich and full, yet with the finesse and complexity of Champagne. Aromas of brioche, hazelnut and marzipan lead to a citrus, tropical fruit and nectarine palate."
Wine Enthusiast - S.H. - December 2005
94 Points - Top 100 "Extraordinarily fine for its smoothness and finesse, and the way the wine glides over the plate with a yeasty creaminess that turns smoky and spicy on the finish. The dosage stands out, yet this bubbly is also very acidic now. It should age well for at least 10 years."
L'Ermitage 1998 Archived REVIEWS
Wine News - January 2005
90 Points "Light gold hues with lnies of pinpoint bubbles and an ample mousse. Very perfumed scents of apple, blossom and an exotic ylang-ylang nuance. Rich flavors of citrus peel, beer, straw, toast and a gunpowder note. Crisp, beery finish."
L'Ermitage Rosé
L'Ermitage Rosé 2003 Archived REVIEWS
San Francisco Chronicle - December 05, 2010
Top 100 Wines of 2010: "While Roederer's nonvintage Rosé is impressive, this is only the second release of a limited top pink version (1999 was the previous). After nearly a year, it has finally softened into an opulent, deep thing: full of strawberry skin, peach, stoic white mineral, and hints of deeper red fruit and sweet dough. Subtle, precise flavors that outpace many far more expensive Champagnes."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - November 01, 2010
95 Points Best Sparkling Wine "...racy, as well as delicate, layered, savory and gently sweet. ...This is a breakthrough wine for California...Don't miss it."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - November 01, 2010
95 Points "[...] it is delicate and precise as a fine Champagne, but rather than being grounded in Kimmeridgean limestone, it’s marked by the coastal, forested hills of Mendocino. This is also one of our 100 Best Wines of the Year—for its own refreshing reasons."
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - October 31, 2010
93 Points "L'Ermitage Rosé 2003 ... has delicate floral aromas of strawberry and peach, but also deep, opulent raspberry, toasty vanilla and mineral flavors."
Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2009
94 points "This is as fine a rosé sparkling wine as has ever been produced in California. Almost 50-50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, it has rich flavors of cherries, raspberries, vanilla, toast and creamy lees, in the style of Champagne, and is completely dry and very crisp in acidity."
Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - December 31, 2009
Recommended -- A Top "The top rosé-and one of the best sparkling wines of the year overall-is the Roederer Estate Brut Rosé Anderson Valley L'Ermitage 2003...The 2003 is a prime example of what makes rosé so appealing. It's rich yet delicate, with graceful aromas of strawberry, peach and yeast and flavors that build complexity, finishing with an opulent texture and toasty vanilla and mineral notes."
WSJ. Magazine - Owen Phillips - December 2009
"I'm really into California sparkling wines. I love when you pour the glass and sniff the bubbles coming off carrying that yeast smell. Roederer is the one I go for when I splurge." -- Bill Niman
L'Ermitage Rosé
L'Ermitage Rosé 1999 Archived REVIEWS
San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonne - December 08, 2006
3 Stars "Floral hints, with fresh strawberry and caramel. A hint of sweetness in the mix, but it's lively, with precision and a fruity ending."
Wine Enthusiast - August 2005
94 Points "The first ever blush vintage bubbly from this winery, this could be the greatest brut rosé ever made in California. With 46% Pinot Noir, the wine is full-bodied and rich in vanilla-tinged strawberry flavors, with yeasty, pastry-dough finish. High acidity. Toast with this beauty now or in 10 years; it has a long life ahead."
Winery
Winery Archived REVIEWS
San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonne - March 22, 2009
Highlighted as a top tasting room in Northern California: "This remote outpost of a top Champagne house is friendly but focused on wines; they serve their brut from magnum so you can compare the effect of larger bottles. * Good for connoisseurs * Fee for tasting * Tour available"
San Francisco Chronicle - Stacy Finz - December 07, 2007
Winemaker to Watch: "Although Roederer Estate's nonvintage sparkling wine has long been regarded as one of the best in the country, in the last few years, when Weyrich took over, the bubbly has become even more impressive in its balance and finesse."
Wall Street Journal - Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher - November 16, 2007
A producer of "very good sparkling wine at excellent prices"
Fish Friendly Farming Environmental Certification and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance - August 2007
Excellence in Water Quality Improvement and Protection
California State Assembly - August 2007
Certificate of Recog Recognizing Dedication to Environmental Stewardship and Improvement
Arthur Fromner's Budget Travel - Jaime Gross - April 2007
Johnny Schmitt, owner and chef at the Boonville Hotel in Anderson Valley, recommended visiting Roederer Estate.
The New York Times - Eric Asimov - December 20, 2006
“The first barrage in the invasion of California by French Champagne producers also took place in the 1970s, and eventually included such famous names as Moët & Chandon, Piper-Heidsieck, Mumm, Deutz and Roederer. Despite all their expertise, only Roederer Estate, in the Anderson Valley, has consistently produced great sparkling wines.”