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 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.

L’Ermitage, Roederer Estate’s special tête de cuvée, is a sparkling wine made only in exceptional years from pre-selected, estate-grown grapes. Carrying on the tradition of Champagne Louis Roederer in France, Roederer Estate produces its sparkling wines in the French méthode traditionelle and adds special oak-aged reserve wines to each blend. L’Ermitage debuted with the 1989 vintage.

Roederer Estate wines are made with juice from just the cuvée pressing; no première or deuxième taille is used. The concept of the vintage L’Ermitage is the same one that is used in Champagne: only the best of the vintage is selected. These are exceptional wines that create a “noble” blend that allows for longer aging, which produces a fine wine with elegance and finesse.

The wine for the dosage added to the L’Ermitage 2015 was a 2015 wine liquor aged for 6 years in a French oak cask. Following disgorgement, L’Ermitage 2015 was aged an additional six months (minimum) on the cork prior to release.

Fine tiny bubbles and a long lasting mousse are the usual footprints of the L’Ermitage cuvée. Aromas of hazelnut and roasted pecans opening to some clove spiciness. Vibrant acidity, with notes of Asian pear, baked green apple. Creamy mid palate and clean acid with a dry finish.

The 2015 vintage was at the end of the 2013-2015 drought spell. Winter was mild and budbreak was very early in February. Bloom occurred in early May when it was windy and cool then June got very hot, all pushing for an early harvest starting August 7th. Labor was difficult to secure to harvest quickly enough and the last lots for sparkling were picked September 10th. Overall, the yields in 2015 were good with plenty of maturity for the late picks.