2002 Louis Roederer, Brut Vintage

"An outstandingly good Vintage Roederer; to some as good as Cristal, to some even better! In 2002 the grapes in Champagne achieved their highest levels of natural ripeness since 1990. Grosso modo, the vintage has also achieved the highest praise since 1990, although 1996, stylistically different, has its advocates too. Roederer is fortunate ( to put it mildly) in owning over 215 hectares of vineyards and is one of the few grandes marques that can lay claim to make all of its own vintage Champagne from its own vines.The results are astonishing...

The 60% Pinot Noir sourced largely from a 15 hectare plot in the famous village of Verzenay and the Chardonnay from some of the great villages of the Côtes des Blancs.The wine is partially oak fermented and aged on its lees for four years; the dosage is 11 g/l. The wine has a wonderfully complex nose of acacia and stone fruits, with hints of spice and sweet baked apples; then the palate marries ripe oak-fermented fruit with a characteristic creamy opulence, and poised finely-sculpted finish."


(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)