Driven by a new ambition and desire for freedom, the Louis Roederer Champagne House is entering a new phase in its history with the creation of Collection. Current times, climate change and the importance of sustainable and respectful winegrowing practices that accentuate the qualities of the terroir have become central to our ethos and our work.

The finest works are often forged by constraint and adversity. Driven by a new energy, the Maison decided to reinvent its blends, reshape its expertise and rethink its methods in order to fall into step with Nature's new tempo and continue to evolve, advance and adapt.

THE VINTAGE

Created from the Perpetual Reserve and the oak-aged reserve wines, complemented by the finest successes of the 2018 harvest, Collection 243 is tied to Louis Roederer's Champagne roots and the foundations of their Reims-based Champagne House. They give themselves the freedom to create the blend on the basis of whatever Nature provides.

This decidedly Epicurean champagne is the Louis Roederer’s multi-vintage champagne par excellence! Collection’s number represents the number of blends created since the birth of the Louis Roederer Champagne House and enables wine lovers to select their wine based on the level of youth or maturity that they desire and appreciate.

TASTING NOTES

On the eye: Bright, golden hue with shimmering highlights. Fine, lively mousse with lingering threads of bubbles.

On the nose: The bouquet is open and rich yet also wonderfully fresh. It offers an explosion of ripe, delicate fruit with intense notes of yellow fruit (mirabelle plum) from the Pinot noir complemented by sweet citrus fruits (lemon meringue pie) and delicate notes of white flowers (jasmine) from the Chardonnay. The nose opens up to reveal autolytic characters and evolves towards smoky, roasted notes and freshly baked pastries.

On the palate: The palate is deep and dense with a big, well-structured backbone. The texture is simply mesmerizing with its fleshy mouthfeel from the Pinot Noir that coats the palate before giving way to an incredible saline freshness with a pleasant hint of bitterness. This wine combines the strength, intensity and power of the delectably ripe Pinot Noirs which are balanced to perfection by the chalky freshness and density from the Chardonnay which forms the majority of the blend.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Varietals: 42% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 18% Pinot Meunier

Appellation: 1/3 "La Rivière" vineyards, 1/3 "La Montagne" vineyards, 1/3 "La Côte" vineyards

243rd BLEND

Perpetual Reserve: 31% (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)

Reserved wine aged in oak: 10% (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)

2018 vintage: 59%