Louis Roederer Brut Nature 2012

Champagne Brut Nature is a novelty at Louis Roederer. Wine-wise, the story of this wine started in the unusually warm and sunny 2003, when most vineyards in Champagne showed signs of "stress". At Roederer, however, it was discovered that some of the family's vineyards on very calcareous soils near Epernay, in Cumières, Hautvillers and Vertus, which were originally part of a single estate, proved to cope with the heat and especially the drought without problems. Grapes were harvested which were very aromatic, with intense fruit and a good sugar-acid balance. Since the company's parcels are always vinified separately at Louis Roederer, the wines from these parcels could be analyzed and evaluated separately. Experiments with vintages 2004 and 2005 yielded the same results: Here you were dealing with quite unusual vineyards in a certain part of Champagne. It was therefore decided to make a new Champagne in vintage 2006, exclusively with grapes from these "rediscovered" parcels.

In one of the best vintages for Champagne in recent years, the 2009 Brut Nature is made from 1/3 Chardonnay and 2/3 Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. After the first fermentation, 25% of the wine is aged in wooden barrels and the rest in tanks - without malolactic fermentation. The second fermentation in the bottle (champagneisation) lasts 5 years. The wine is not added with "liqueur de dosage" during degorching and is therefore on the dry end. After disgorging, the wine is further stored for 6 months before shipping.

The long fermentation in the bottle produces beautiful, persistent, small bubbles. The wine has a deep, glossy, golden color. In the fragrance you will find nuances of wild flowers (broom, honeysuckle), citrus fruits, peach and nuts. In the taste, the wine has a fantastic harmony between strength and freshness, with spicy nuances. It is very charming, elegant, crisp and mineral, with good velor and a long, both sweet and spicy aftertaste. 

Comments from a tasting:

"This has a very fresh and pure, lemony nose and is completely mouth-filling. Then it freshens and composes and takes a fine, flinty, acidity-chiseled and dry ride to the finish. Super refreshing and saline. From biodynamically grown grapes – 55% pinot noir, 25% chardonnay and 20% pinot meunier."

94/100

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, July 2019

Product information

Size: 0,75 L 
Grapes: 55% pinot noir, 25% chardonnay and 20% pinot meunier
Dosage: Brut
Notes: wild flowers, honeysuckle, citrus fruits, peach, nuts
ABV: 12.5% Vol.
Made in: France, Champagne
Produced by: Louis Roederer, France
Including: champagne + box
Condition: Brand new, (may have minor imperfections from shipping)
Other information: contains sulfites