NV Louis Roederer Collection 243
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Tasting Notes
This is the second release of Roederer’s re-incarnation of Brut Premier. Forget non-vintage, Collection is a numbered, multi-vintage release – meaning, as for Krug and several other wines – you know exactly which vintages are in your bottle. The 243 is based in the warm 2018 vintage, which represents almost 60% of the blend, bringing a round richness that is quite different to 242’s cooler, more mineral and linear style. This is complemented by reserve wines – most of which is a perpetual reserve kept in stainless steel to retain prevision, and a portion (10%) that is aged in oak. With wines back to 2012, this has layers of depth and complexity that are impressive for the price. It opens with a ripe nose of plum and ripe citrus – lemon tart with flaky all-butter pastry, yet a vibrant freshness. Structured with savoury depths and the fine mousse you’d expect from the makers of Cristal, this is serious Champagne that is drinking beautifully now – but will only benefit from additional time in bottle. With just 8g/l, the finish is dry, the vibrant acidity leaving you craving another glass.
Critic Scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Stephen Pritchard, Inside Burgundy
More reviews and scores
5 Star Wine - In magnum format. A riot of toasty-ripe citrus fruit! Supreme balance and focus, and lovely dry extract lurking on the finish. Long and mineral, this needs a couple of years for the reductive character to fade in and out before we get to the real drinking window of this champagne. Complexity and precision on another level, and for me, the best Roederer Collection release in any format. I will not say much more than "Back up the truck folks"! Statistics: 40% Chardonnay, 18% Meunier, and 42% Pinot Noir. 59% 2018 vintage, 31% Perpetual Reserve (2012-2017), and 10% Reserve wines (2012-2017, aged in oak). Disgorged in summer 2023 with a dosage of 8g/l.
NV Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 243 Brut The NV Champagne Collection 243 Brut is the third release and is based on the 2018 vintage, with the addition of 30% of the perpetual reserve started in 2012 and 10% reserve wine that has been aged in oak. It is ripe and balanced, with yellow flowers, honeycomb, and plum, and it has elegant concentration and underlying tension, precise mousse, and rich salinity, with lingering notes of croissant and delicate smoke. This will be an exciting wine in the range to follow. Drink 2022-2037.
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About the producer
Champagne Louis Roederer remains one of the last independent, family-run Grande Marque Champagne houses. It is best known for creating the first prestige cuvée and one of the region’s most celebrated wines, Cristal.