94 JM / 94 JS / 94 FS / 93+ WA / 93 VM / 93 DE / 93 WS / 93 WE / 93 JD / 91 VP
Vinepair Best Champagnes of 2023
Even though 2019 follows the modern trend for warm, ripe vintages, harvesting was a couple of weeks later than in 2018, translating into superior phenolic presence. An aromatic bouquet of flowery-acacia hints at the higher Meunier. The structure is firmer than the 2018 base; the pear-like fruit is streaked with dazzling acidity. With a bit of coaxing, the ubiquitous tangerine aroma (citrus with an added saline condiment) emerges with time in the glass (as the perpetual reserve makes itself known). A faint umami savouriness haunts the finish, an aroma that appears to be the signature of early-release 2019-based champagnes. This edition will take a year or so in bottle to relax, eschew the phenolic bitterness of recent disgorgement, and build fruit. Statistics: 41% Chardonnay, 26% Meunier, and 33% Pinot Noir. 54% 2019 vintage (5% vinified in oak), 36% Perpetual Reserve (2012-2018), and 10% Reserve wines (2009-2018, aged in oak). Disgorged in spring 2023 with a dosage of 7g/l. Drink from 2025-2032. Tasted: January 2024. - Steven Prichard for Jasper Morris' Inside Burgundy
The first impression is as invigorating as a sea breeze. I love the interplay of mirabelle, grapefruit and lychee fruit with minty freshness and waxiness from lees contact. And all this is welded to a beautifully proportioned palate with plenty of structure, the acidity bright and the mousse animating. Very salty finish that pulls you back for more. A cuvee of 41% chardonnay, 33% pinot noir and 26% pinot meunier. Of these, 15% fermented in oak and 85% in stainless steel. The final blend contained 36% reserve perpetual and 10% reserve wines of the 2012 - 2018 vintage from oak. The dosage is 7 g/l. Drink or hold.-Stuart Pigott, James Suckling
(base year 2019) Very pale yellow green, silver reflections. Delicate meadow herbs, some walnut, a hint of pineapple and mango, candied grapefruit zest. Juicy, elegant, ripe fruit nuances, silky, already very well developed and creamy, lingers for a long time, a generous food companion, clear chalky character, the vintage of the base comes into its own. (06/24, PM) - Falstaff
Based on the 2019 vintage, Roederer's NV Brut Collection 244 is the finest release of the house's reimagined non-vintage Brut to date. Offering up aromas of pear, peach and nectarine mingled with notions of white flowers, beeswax, freshly baked bread and buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with a pretty pinpoint mousse, racy acids and a long, chalky finish. The quality of the base vintage really shines through.-William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
The NV Collection 244 is gorgeous. Bright and focused, with a lovely cut, the 244 is immediately captivating. Dried pear, chamomile, herbs, mint and crushed rocks abound. Based on the 2019 vintage with 36% perpetual reserve wines from vintages 2012-2018, this vibrant, wonderfully crystalline Champagne impresses from beginning to end. Saline notes extend the nish eortlessly. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
The powerful, ripe side of 2019 is on shown here, with white peach and mandarin flavours held in place by the toasty, savoury citrus oil snap of the perpetual reserve. Still feels youthful and fragrant with juicy pear, blossom and almond notes. Will show even better with another six months. 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 26% Meunier. 54% from the 2019 base vintage, with 36% perpetual reserve and 10% reserve wines in oak. - Tom Hewson, Decanter
An elegant Champagne, with bright acidity buoying a well-integrated range of ripe pear and white cherry, almond skin, fleur de sel and apple blossom notes. Fine and seamless, with a lingering, spiced finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Drink now through 2028. 21,722 cases imported. - AN, Wine Spectator
The latest iteration of Roederer's nonvintage collection, this is tense with a fine aging character. It has richness and great fruit, a fine line of structure at the end. Drink now. — Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast
A pale silver/straw hue, the NV Champagne Collection 244 has 2019 as its base, with 42% Chardonnay, 26% Meunier, and the rest Pinot Noir. Expressive on opening, it’s fresh with a beautiful floral perfume and reveals pure notes of red berries, cherry, fresh peach, and a lovely fresh bit of primary fruit. It has a fine and refined mousse, and the palate is supple and inviting. Medium-bodied and elegant, with a ripe core, it has a delicate salinity to balance its freshness and has an attractive, lightly tannic feel while retaining a refined and precise profile. Approachable and fantastic now, it will be exciting to see how this develops over time. It continues to be an exceptional value. Drink 2024-2036. They have dialed the dosage back by a gram from the previous edition to 7 grams per liter of dosage. - AF, JebDunnuck
The family-owned Louis Roederer estate shows their enduring commitment to quality with this delicious bottle of wine. While this Champagne house is best known for Cristal, it also has a long line of affordable non-vintage wines like this balanced bubbly. It's a complex blend of the three major Champagne grapes with 54 percent coming from the 2019 harvest and the rest coming from the estate's reserves, 10 percent of which are aged in oak. It has a great density on the nose and palate with hints of pastry dough. The rich flavors are contrasted by bright pear notes and nice active bubbles. Mouth-watering acidity livens up the palate. - Vinepair
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 iodized 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. There is a very juicy and concentrated sensation as if you 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 flavorsome 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.
It is based on the finest wines from the 2019 harvest (54%) and complemented by 36% of the Perpetual Reserve (2012-2018) and 10% of oak-aged reserve wines sourced from young Cristal vines (2012-2018). 35% of the wines undergo malolactic fermentation.
Blend: 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, 26% Meunier
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