Louis Roederer Brut 2015 (750ML)

96 JS / 94 VM / 94 DE / 94 WI / 94 WS / 93 WA

A great 2015 vintage champagne! Super-elegant synthesis of pinot noir and chardonnay character with a dazzling interplay of complex red apple, citrus and delicate floral aromas with racy acidity and chalky minerality, that is animating for mind and body. Unusually graceful finish for the vintage. 70% pinot noir from Verzy, the highest point of the Montagne de Reims, that’s also very close to the forest. 30% chardonnay from Chouilly, another rather cool location. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - James Suckling

The 2015 Blanc de Blancs is a fabulous choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. Soft and creamy, the 2015 is immediately caressing in its embrace. Citrus confit, white flowers, spice and a hint of pastry all meld together. There is something effortless about the 2015 that is hard to describe. The 2015 is not the last word in complexity, but it is supremely delicious. Terrific for the year. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

From the hot 2015 vintage which produced uneven results across the Champagne region comes this bright and fruity Champagne which benefited from grapes at the highest elevation in Verzy adding freshness and coolness to the palate. Brioche and strawberry patisserie notes on the nose with a touch of black pepper. Filled with red summer fruits on the palate, raspberries and strawberries from the majority of Pinot Noir in the blend (70%), this has a slightly full texture with crisp edges and juicy core. Fun, lovely freshness and exciting acidity but remaining round and wide. A gourmet style and one that Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon calls a ‘climate change’ vintage yet this keeps focus with tang and a touch of spice on the finish too. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

The 2015 Vintage Brut is composed of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. 24% of the wine went through malo-lactic, and 34% was aged in oak. The dosage is 8 grams per liter. It opens with notes of candied ginger, lime blossoms, and beeswax, leading to a core of grapefruit, yellow apples, bosc pears, plus a waft of allspice. The palate delivers decadent spiced apple flavors with citrusy sparks and a crisp, refreshing backbone, finishing long and opulent. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

A bright, chalky Champagne, finely balanced and appealing, with a range of nectarine and strawberry fruit flavors, plus notes of almond biscotti, pink grapefruit pith and elderflower. Packs a vivacious mousse that dances a foxtrot on the palate, carrying the flavors on the racy, lingering finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2030. —A.N., Wine Spectator

Roederer's newly released 2015 Brut Vintage is a strong effort, offering up aromas of freshly baked bread, citrus oil, pastry cream, dried white flowers and verbena, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and pillowy palate framed by bright acids and concluding with chalky grip. This can't quite match the tension or plenitude of fruit of the last few releases, but it is a lovely Champagne. It's a blend of Pinot Noir from Verzy and Chardonnay from Chouilly. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate