Louis Roederer Collection 245

Brand	Champagne Louis Roederer
Region	Champagne
Varietal	Chard Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier
Size	750ml
Alcohol %	13.5%
Country	France

What’s sets apart Louis Roederer’s Collection NV Champagne from other NV French Champagnes? Almost all NV Champagne consists of a majority of one vintage topped up with reserve holdings of older cuvées... the best examples having circa 20% of reserve wines. These aged cuvées significantly influence flavour complexity and texture. Louis Roederer have upped the bar to the penthouse literally with their Collection releases, almost beyond the reach of others in terms of quality & depth of the base cuvée versus price. Collection 245... is their 245th NV release since the establishment of the Louis Roederer House in 1776. The base cuvée for Collection 245 Non-Vintage is a complex blend of 10-vintages from a combined 36-years of aged multi-cuvées. 35% of the base comes from their Perpetual Reserve Holdings containing an impressive mix of 2012/2013/2014/ 2015/2016/2017/2018/2019 vintages! But wait, that’s not all… an additional 10% of the base comes from their Reserve wines in oak consisting of the 2010, 2013, 2015,2017, 2018, 2019 vintages. The final 55% for this Collection 245 NV release is from the 2020 vintage. It’s fair to call it “Penthouse” Non-Vintage Champagne! Honestly… it’s light years ahead in terms of quality and pleasure of the commercial big brand Champagnes yet almost similarly priced.

A finely interwoven bouquet of green apples and berry fruit and twist of citrus - the complexity and depth of the aged reserve and perpetual cuvées adds threads of honey, beeswax, and freshly toasted sourdough.

Superb balance... the dosage is slightly lower than in previous years, 7g/l allowing the fruit flavours to shine with a lip-smacking texture that is exciting and utterly satisfying. Flavours of fresh apples, lemon peel, hints of raspberries with a dark berry fruit twist... interwoven with subtle brioche, nut and honeyed lees complexities. Seriously expressive Champagne with a lingering freshness that is utterly moreish. Serve with fresh oysters, or fish... or just simply indulge yourself.