Roederer Estate Brut
Anderson Valley, California, United States
Vintage:Multi-Vintage (Current)
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Reviews
Wine Spectator 93 Points
“Dynamic yet sleekly elegant, with rich strawberry and apple flavors that are accented by spiced cinnamon and yeast roll as this dances toward the vibrant finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2026.”
View From the Cellar 91 Points
“The new release of Roederer Estate non-vintage Brut is composed from a blend of sixty percent chardonnay and forty percent pinot noir, with ten to fifteen percent of the vins clairs barrelfermented. The wine spent a minimum of two years aging sur lattes and offers up a fine nose of lemon, apple, bread dough, a touch of almond, dried flowers and a lovely base of soil. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a good core, frothy mousse, lovely balance and a long, classy finish. This is really quite lovely for the entry level bottling from the estate and a fine value. 2023-2035.”
JamesSuckling.com 94 Points
“Extremely fresh and floral with sliced apples, stones and some white peach. Bread dough, too. Fine bead. Medium to full body with crisp acidity and a steely finish. Hints of phenolics provide a fine texture. Vibrant acidity. About 15% reserve wine (mostly chardonnay) in this, from five vintages. 2.5 years on the lees. 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir. Drink or hold.”
JancisRobinson.com 17/20 Points
“Meyer lemon, lemon verbena, a touch of tarragon, sharp, mineral, green apple, bitter lemon-peel aroma, orange oil, riper palate with ripe citrus and chalk, fine mousse with a bit of spice and toastiness. Quite lovely for an entry-level bottling.”
The Wine Advocate 93 Points
“The current release of the NV Estate Brut is made up mainly of fruit from the 2015 vintage. It is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir and was made with about ten grams per liter dosage. Disgorged in October of 2018, it has a fresh, open nose with pure fruit expression: crushed apples, pears and lemon peel mingle with touches of stone, flowers and toast. The medium-bodied palate offers a lovely dichotomy of toasty fruits with uplifted citrusy, minerally accents with a finely beaded mousse, and it finishes long and ultra fresh.”
Decanter 93 Points
“The iconic blend of Chardonnay (60%) and Pinot Noir (40%) with two years in contact with the lees. From fog-shrouded Anderson Valley this shows supreme elegance, balance and poise. Pale straw colour. Attractive notes of citrus fruits, fresh dough, cashew nuts, star fruit, Mirabelle plum and fresh biscuits on the nose. The palate dry with a lovely creamy texture, amazing finesse and sophistication, followed by an assertive and refreshing finish.”
Overview
Founded in 1982, Roederer Estate is nestled in Mendocino County’s fog-shrouded, Anderson Valley. As the California property of Champagne Louis Roederer, Roederer Estate builds upon a centuries-old tradition of fine winemaking. The premium grape growing region's proximity to the Pacific ocean gives rise to a gentle cycle of warm days and cool nights, allowing grapes to mature slowly on the vine and develop full varietal character.
Among the very few California sparkling wine houses that only sources estate-grown fruit, Roederer Estate is also meticulous about all its farming decisions. The winemaking process begins with in-depth knowledge of the Estate soils to introduce open lyre trellis system or high density plantation, extends to the decision to farm vineyards organically and biodynamically, and finishes by painstakingly tracking grape maturity to achieve perfect balance at harvest.
Winemaking
Roederer Estate’s winemaking style is based on two elements: ownership of its own vineyards and the addition of oak-aged reserve wines to each year’s blend or cuvée. All the grapes for the Anderson Valley wines are grown on the estate. Oak-aged wines from the estate’s reserve cellars are added to the blend (10% to 15%), creating a multi-vintage cuvée in the traditional Louis Roederer style.
Only the cuvée (first pressing of 120 gallons/ton) is used; no première or deuxième taille. The fermentation takes place in high-grade stainless steel tanks at 65°F. Zero to minimal malolactic fermentation is used in order to ensure the wines age well and retain the fresh, precise and well-defined style that is one of the characteristics of Roederer Estate wines.
Tasting Notes
Roederer Estate Brut is crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It is fresh and lightly fruity with great finesse and depth of flavor.
Technical Information
Varietals: Approximately 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir
Wine Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 10 g/L
Aging: Aged a minimum of two years on the yeast