LOUIS ROEDERER Collection 244, Lea & Sandeman

LOUIS ROEDERER

Collection 244

IN STOCK
Grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Colour White
Origin France, Champagne
Other Bio-dynamic, Practising Organic
ABV 12%

33% pinot noir, 41% chardonnay, 26% meunier; one-third 'La Rivière, one-third 'La Montagne' and one-third 'La Côte'; 50% estate and 50% purchased fruit from growers; 2019 base vintage (5% vinified in oak); 36% reserve perpetuelle of every vintage from 2012 to 2018; 10% oak-aged reserves from 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018; 35% malolactic fermentation; 7g/L dosage; 70% of production, hence around 2.2 million bottles

2019 was an amazing vintage of magic that represents the ultimate level of Collection and the third phase of the Collection evolution. The dry, continental year broke all previous temperature records in a succession of scorching heatwaves! It was a ripe vintage with high sugar, but with elegance, precision, saltiness and almost a blanc de blancs definition, though we relied heavily on Montagne de Reims pinot noir and meunier for its lower alcohol. Is this result the product of our methods for creating Collection or the harvest? I would say it’s both. To me this is the future of champagne: great fruit, sense of place, sense of vintage, supported by the know-how, the vision and the fantastic tools that we have to face climate change.' - Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon

The freshness and energy of Collection 244 are on grand display and has not diminished one iota since its first release. The magnificent 2019 base was in a more confident place when it first landed than 242 and 243 before it, which both blossomed after an additional year on cork. Do not underestimate 244, and don’t miss a moment of the spectacle set to unravel over the coming months, years and even decades. This is a masterful interplay of primary fruit, with the spicy, honeyed, roast nut layers of substantial reserves and oak fermentation and maturation, energised equally by malic tension and saline chalk minerality, nudged with just the right level of phenolic tension that lends neither graininess nor bitterness. This is not only an exceptional Collection, it is also a grand declaration of the fine-tuned detail of the evolution of Collection and the triumphant achievement of upholding the holy grail of freshness and tension even in such a warm season. Tasted in 2024 Rating: 95 Tyson Stelzer - The Champagne Guide (Jul 2024)

*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.

VINTAGE

The dry, continental year of 2019 broke all previous temperature records in a succession of scorching heatwaves! Moderate yields and magnificent maturity resulted in wines that were dense and fresh. The harvest took place from 10 to 21 September

TASTING NOTE:

Lovely golden yellow, very champagne-like, hue. Dense and steady flow of extremely fine bubbles. Deep, broad bouquet of ripe fruit (wild peaches, william pears) combined with citrus (lemons, blood oranges). The iodised and smoky notes, associated with the autolysis and the ageing in wood, add aromatic freshness. Then come notes of chalk and a hint of reduction, suggesting that the wine will be concentrated and powerful. The entry to the palate is delicious showing a rich and robust texture. We have a very juicy and concentrated sensation as if we were biting into a ripe fruit. The substance is caressingly soft, coating the palate but is then immediately lightened by the delicate bubbles. The length is created by a lovely backbone of chalky freshness. The wine is both delectably rich, with a slightly roasted character, and super fresh thanks to a salivating finish. The smoky notes then take over to underpin a very flavoursome finish. Collection 244 marks the return of the texture of the Meunier from the Marne and the Montagne, which adds a lovely richness to the well-structured and saline Pinot noir and Chardonnay grapes!

PRODUCTION

ORIGINS: 1/3 our “la Rivière” Estate 1/3 our “la Montagne” Estate 1/3 our “la Côte” Estate Grapes grown on Louis Roederer's own estates are complemented by grapes from our partner winegrowers plots selected from the "Heart of the Terroir". GRAPE VARIETIES: 41% Chardonnay 33% Pinot noir 26% Meunier 244th BLEND : PERPETUAL RESERVE: 36% ( 2012/2013/2014/ 2015/2016/2017/2018) RESERVE WINES AGED IN OAK: 10% ( 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) 2019 HARVEST: 54% (with 5% vinified in wood ) MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION: 35% DOSAGE: 7g/l

Winemaker's notes (Mar 2024)

Louis Roederer

Louis Roederer is one of the largest remaining independent Champagne Houses, owned by the same family since it was founded in 1776. The house firmly established its reputation through its guiding principles: great wine depends on the quality of the soil. A passion for tradition, and an astute vision of the future.

Louis Roederer lays claim to 250 hectares to call their own (a rarity among the Grand Marque Houses) which has been cultivated organically and Biodynamically since 2000. Through these sustainable farming practices, Louis Roederer have a greater understanding about how champagne may be made to deal with ecological concerns, consumer taste and climate change. These vineyards are located in three classic Champagne districts: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, and the Côte des Blancs. The diversity of these sites provides the House with an extensive and rich palette to fashion the wines from.

In 1876, Nicholas II of Russia requested Louis Roederer to reserve the house's best cuvée just for him in a crystal bottle, leading to the now famous 'Cristal', the very first Cuvée de Prestige. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir produced only in the best years, with long cellar aging.

At the centre of Louis Roederer is Collection. A multi-vintage blend of wines from selected vineyard plots in the Cœur de Terroir (the heart of the terroir). Each Collection's number represents the number of blends since the birth of the Louis Roederer Champagne House. Working with lower yields and riper fruit, the dosage is lower to balance the wines after long cellar aging, producing finer bubbles and a creamy, yet dry texture.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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