Wine Advisor
Louis Roederer, Brut Premier NV
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The NV Brut Premier (2009 blend) is 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier, with the addition of 30% reserve wines spanning six vintages. This shows lovely balance in a rich, round style I find highly appealing. The Brut Premier looks very promising at this stage.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A very tight nose, quite minerally, a scent of "wet pavement". The palate is typically crisp and apply with racy acidity, quite sharp with a "granite" mid-palate. Just lacking a little lift on the finish, but still a very fine champagne. Tasted February 2006.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The NV Brut Premier is a pretty, perfumed offering redolent of pears, greens apples and flowers. This medium-bodied, refined NV Champagne offers excellent length and a crisp, refreshing finish with notes of sweetness that linger on the close. The Brut Premier is unique among the estate’s wines in that it contains 20% Pinot Meunier in addition to the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Roughly 30-40% of this wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. This is Lot: L 030946A104787, disgorged February 26th 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2010. Roederer is one of the most impressive estates in Champagne. Few houses have managed to reconcile this level production in a negociant operation while achieving such a consistently outstanding level of quality across the entire range. Roederer owns 214 hectares of vineyards, which is enough to meet 65-70% of the house’s needs. The vintage wines are made from 100% estate-grown fruit, while the NV wines are made with the addition of roughly 45% purchased fruit. Generally speaking, malolactic fermentation and oak aging are used to a higher degree for the NV range than for the vintage wines. Dosage varies as well, and ranges from 11-12 grams for the entry-level wines to 9-10 for the tete de cuvee Cristal. Unfortunately because if its rabid following the vast majority of Cristal is drunk upon release, which is ironic, if not downright tragic, considering Cristal is a wine that starts peaking around age 15-20, and that can last much longer under ideal storage conditions. With Cristal, Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon aims to make an ageworthy Champagne that is fresh and floral when young, but that is also capable of considerable development with bottle age, qualities the finest Cristals have in spades. In the best vintages one tank of Cristal Rose is also made that features the exquisite Pinot Noir of Ay. Unfortunately Roederer does not provide disgorgement dates for its wines, but the bottles have codes that can be traced back to dates at the winery. It would be great to see this venerable property add a simple disgorgement date, at least for their top wines, considering the significant financial investment required to purchase them. Importer: Maison Marques & Domaines, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
Based on the 2013 vintage (75%) and complemented with 25% reserve wines going back to 2006, Roederer's NV Brut Premier (2013) has a straw yellow color and offers lovely intensity and finesse on the nose, displaying brioche and honey notes along with ripe white fruit and flowery aromas. Round and fresh on the beautifully balanced palate and with a refreshing citrus flavor in the clear, crisp and pure finish, this is a very elegant, vital and stimulating cuvée made of 35% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay and 28% Pinot Meunier. According to Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, 2013 was a very good vintage for Pinot Noir. "2013 was a late harvest. We picked the grapes only in October," explained Lécaillon, who used 55% own grapes for the Brut Premier. "In wet years, the percentage of Meunier is always higher because Meunier doesn't need to be super ripe. I am happy with 9.5% alcohol here because I need the clear and crisp freshness to balance the vinosity of Pinot." It is the wine of the purchased, less ripe grapes from the Marne Valley that undergoes the process of malolactic fermentation (in total: 40%), Lécaillon said, and he never sends Chardonnay into the second (malolactic) fermentation in order to avoid the butterscotch flavors. To make a long story short: Roederer's NV Brut Premier is a classic aperitif and gastronomic wine that can be served everywhere and anytime. Tasted in Reims in May 2018.
Reviewed by: David Schildknecht
A whiff of sulfur fortunately quickly dissipates from the glass of Roederer’s NV Brut Premier L036325A103612, making way for intimations of the lemony brightness and sappy fruit of peach close to the core that go on to dominate this fruit-forward, mouth-filling blend of four vintages and just over half Pinot Noir. Hints of toasted almond, bitter Seville orange and tangy sweat add interest on an attractively persistent finish. (Roederer utilizes an identifying lot number that is, by a couple of characters, the longest – not to mention one of the least scrutable – in the industry; better this than no lot number!) Owners of vast vineyards (totally some 500 acres) that supply the majority of their fruit, Roederer also presides – by design as well as due to that vastness – over a mind-bending number of micro-vinifications, divided entirely between tanks and foudres, supplemented by a concomitantly deep and diverse range of reserve wines. But for all of the variety that these phenomena entail, scarcely any lots undergo malo-lactic transformation. Importer: Maisons, Marques & Domaines USA, Oakland CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The NV Brut Premier is a gorgeous Champagne at this level. Fresh, perfumed, zesty fruit emerges from this accessible, medium-bodied Champagne. The Brut Premier reveals an irresistible, immediate personality, with terrific balance. It is without question one of the finest NV Champagnes readers are likely to come across as well as one of the best relative values in the region. The Brut Premier is 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier. The Meunier and 10-30% reserve wines along with fruit sourced from mostly south-facing vineyards (40-45% purchased fruit) are all used to create a fairly round, accessible Champagne that can be enjoyed upon release. This is Lot L031404A102195, disgorged in June, 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012. This is another set of exceptional new releases from Roederer, one of the very few of the larger houses that captures the full potential of Champagne as an art of blended wine. Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon and his team have done a marvelous job with these Champagnes. Unfortunately, I was not able to taste the 2004 Cristal, which will be released in the Spring of 2010. Lecaillon is also working on a new wine, a Brut Nature Champagne (equal parts Pinot and Chardonnay, and likely to be a vintage wine) which will also be released next Spring. Readers who want to learn more about this historic house may want to take a look at my vertical of Cristal going back to 1979 available on www.erobertparker.com. Importer: Maisons Marques & Domaines USA, Inc., Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
Roederer's NV Brut Premier is a classic and blends about 40% Pinot Noir (from Bouzy and Ambonnay), with 20-25% Meunier (whose share is declining in this blend) and Chardonnay. Two-thirds of the grapes come from estate vineyards, one-third is purchased. (Mind you that all the other Roederer cuvées are sourced exclusively form their own vineyards!) The newest release of the Premier is based on 75% 2009 and 25% reserve wines, which are, since 1996, single vintage wines aged in large oak casks between 6,000 and 10,000 liters. Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon holds 160 vats of reserve wines that are stored blank, so without lees, which otherwise would dominate the taste, says Lécaillon. "I don't like the reductive yeast flavors. Instead I am searching for a slightly oxidative and oaky style in my reserve wine." Lécaillon's youngest Premier did not undergo malolactic fermentation. The wine opens very bright, precise and refined, with toasty and white chocolate flavors. Absolutely delicate and elegant on the palate, this is a light, silky textured and remarkably finesse-full Champagne that is fresh on the palate, thanks to its structure and slightly oaky flavors. Excellent.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The NV Brut Premier is a gorgeous wine that stands head and shoulders above the vast majority of wines in its price range. Apparently, it is quite possible to make great Champagne that doesn’t cost a small fortune. Ripe pears, smoke, spices, dried flowers and herbs are some of the many nuances that emerge from the glass. The Brut Premier shows lovely mid-palate depth and fabulous overall balance. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has done it again. This is a fabulous Brut Premier. The Brut Premier is based on the 2007 vintage, with approximately 20% 2006 wines and 10% older reserves going back to 1996. The blend is approximately 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 40% Chardonnay. About 50% of the base wines underwent malolactic fermentation. Dosage is 9-10 grams per liter. This is Lot # L034638B102206. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015. Roederer is one of my favorite Champagne houses. Every wine that emerges from this cellar in Reims is impeccable. The attention to detail here is evident from the moment I walk in the door. As usual Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon prepared the most thorough tasting of vins claires of my stay in Champagne earlier in the year. The most fascinating part of that tasting was going through wines from vineyards that had issues and learning exactly why they would be culled out from final blends. As much as I admire Roederer, I wish the winery would be more transparent with readers when it comes to their NV offering. According to Lecaillon, back labels that can be read by smart phones are in the works, but giving consumers more information on NV blends and disgorgement dates really doesn’t require such a complicated solution. There are just a handful of new releases this year, as Roederer has decided to wait a bit before releasing the 2005 Cristal and Cristal Rose. Importer: Maisons Marques & Domaines USA, Inc., Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Based on the 2015 vintage, complemented by 25% reserve wines, the latest rendition of Laurent Roederer's NV Brut Premier is showing nicely, opening in the glass with aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, Anjou pear, white peach, pastry cream and subtle hints of freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and complete, with a delicate pinpoint mousse, ripe but racy acids and exquisite balance, this is a beautiful Brut Premier that will age in style; indeed, it will be even better with some bottle age. This is among the finest examples in its category and comes warmly recommended.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A particularly good value.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The NV Brut Premier is a soft, creamy wine that captures the essence of the house style in its refined mousse, precise aromas and flavors and compelling overall balance. It shows gorgeous inner perfume in an approachable style best enjoyed on the young side. Year after year, this is one of Champagne’s most reliably outstanding entry-level wines. This is Lot L033331B100024. Disgorged November, 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2014. My visit to these historic cellars earlier in the year was an eye-opening experience. I spent several hours with Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon tasting through a wide range of 2009s vins claires. Readers may want to take a look at my feature on www.erobertparker.com for more on those wines. The visit was capped off by previews of the 2004 Cristal and the as-yet-unreleased Cristal Rose. Both were superb. Over the last six months the 2004 Cristal has come together beautifully and is shaping up to be a truly great, monumental Champagne. From top to bottom, this is an impressive set of wines. My only real criticism of Roederer is the estate’s insistence on using lot numbers that resemble missile launch codes in their complexity. Surely something simpler must be possible. Importer: Maisons Marques & Domaines USA, Inc., Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A particulary good value.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The NV Brut Premier is bold, powerful and intense. Hazelnut, smoke, dried pear, mint and savory herbs are all pushed forward. In this release, the Brut Premier is a bit brash and unpolished, with less of its typical finesse. Let's just say I was not surprised to scan the back label and learn that this release is based on the 2011 vintage. Even Roederer could not overcome the significant challenges presented by the 2011 vintage.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Roederer is one of my go-to Champagnes. It was a real pleasure to drink – not taste – a glass of the NV Brut Premier to start off this delicious lunch. The mushroom soup starter was perfect and a great match to the warm, nutty nuances of the Champagne. Sometimes simple is best, and that was certainly the case here.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The NV Brut Premier is a gorgeous wine that stands head and shoulders above the vast majority of wines in its price range. Apparently, it is quite possible to make great Champagne that doesn't cost a small fortune. Ripe pears, smoke, spices, dried flowers and herbs are some of the many nuances that emerge from the glass. The Brut Premier shows lovely mid-palate depth and fabulous overall balance. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has done it again. This is a fabulous Brut Premier. The Brut Premier is based on the 2007 vintage, with approximately 20% 2006 wines and 10% older reserves going back to 1996. The blend is approximately 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay. About 50% of the base wines underwent malolactic fermentation. Dosage is 9-10 grams per liter. This is Lot # L034638B102206.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The NV Brut Premier is a soft, creamy wine that captures the essence of the house style in its refined mouse, precise aromas and flavors and compelling overall balance. It shows gorgeous inner perfume in an approachable style best enjoyed on the young side. Year after year, this is one of Champagne's most reliably outstanding entry-level wines. This is Lot L033331B100024. Disgorged November, 2009.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2009s were being assembled and bottled during my visit. The NV Brut Premier (2009 blend) is 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier, with the addition of 30% reserve wines spanning six vintages. This shows lovely balance in a rich, round style I find highly appealing. The Brut Premier looks very promising at this stage.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The NV Brut Premier is a gorgeous Champagne at this level. Fresh, perfumed, zesty fruit emerges from this accessible, medium-bodied Champagne. The Brut Premier reveals an irresistible, immediate personality, with terrific balance. It is without question one of the finest NV Champagnes readers are likely to come across as well as one of the best relative values in the region. The Brut Premier is 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier. The Meunier and 10-30% reserve wines along with fruit sourced from mostly south-facing vineyards (40-45% purchased) are all used to create a fairly round, accessible Champagne that can be enjoyed upon release. This is Lot L031404A102195, disgorged in June, 2008.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The NV Brut Premier is a pretty, perfumed offering redolent of pears, greens apples and flowers. This medium-bodied, refined NV Champagne offers excellent length and a crisp, refreshing finish with notes of sweetness that linger on the close. The Brut Premier is unique among the estate's wines in that it contains 20% Pinot Meunier in addition to the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Roughly 30-40% of this wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. This is Lot: L 030946A104787, disgorged February 26th 2008.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
(40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier): Pale gold. Spice- and mineral-accented orchard and pit fruits on the intensely perfumed nose, with hints of toasty lees and brioche adding complexity. Sappy, penetrating and floral on the palate, offering juicy Meyer lemon, pear and melon flavors braced by a smoky mineral underpinning. Closes spicy and very long, leaving a sexy honeysuckle note behind.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
(roughly 60% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay and 10% pinot meunier; L037415C108930): Bright yellow-gold. Mineral-accented lemon curd and green apple on the nose, with a spicy topnote. Penetrating and dry on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, offering intense orchard fruit and buttered toast flavors with a touch of bitter cherry pit. Shows impressive focus and lift on the taut, stony finish, which features a suave floral quality. This bottling is consistently among the very best big-house basic NV Champagnes.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
(60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay; L036195A110760): Light gold. Ripe pear and nectarine aromas and flavors, with smoke and sweet butter nuances building with air. Juicy and pliant, with very good depth and notes of butter toast and honey on the back half. Rich but lively, with strong finishing punch and lingering minerality.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
(56% pinot noir, 34% chardonnay and 10% pinot meunier; L0346408100107): Light yellow. Bright, high-pitched aromas of orange zest, ginger, white flowers and white pepper. Racy and focused, with sappy citrus and orchard fruit flavors picking up smokiness and a touch of peach pit with air. Shows good energy on the refreshingly brisk, linear, long finish.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Green-gold. Potent aromas of pear and apple liqueur plus an exotic note of fresh mushroom on the ripe, smoky nose. Deep, rich and concentrated, with a tangy note of white pepper adding interest and lift to the buttery orchard fruit flavors. The full, smoky finish shows a clinging, sappy quality and striking length.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Pale gold color. Fresh, floral notes of honeysuckle and rose petal, with complicating suggestions of beeswax and smoke. Round and nicely concentrated, showing baked apple, pear and subtle maple flavors. Rich and weighty on the finish, which picks up a ripe, exotic passion fruit quality.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright aromas of apple and baking spices. Creamy, fat and rich but not at all heavy. Slightly exotic flavors of baked apple, pear and baking spices. In part due to its substantial body, this wine gives the impression of a fairly full dosage Finishes nicely firm and clean.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright aromas of orange, acacia honey and toast. Brisk and lively in the mouth, with spicy flavors of quince, pear and cinnamon apple. Boasts very good density and extract. Spice notes lift the subtle, lingering finish. Not a wine of great individuality but better than most basic non-vintage brut bottlings.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Aromas of apple, fresh herbs and peppermint. Juicy, fresh and fairly dense, with strong lemony acidity buffering the substantial dosage Plenty of body and extract. Finishes with bracing acidity and very good length. Needs time.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright aromas of green apple, orange peel, ginger, chalk and mint, along with a faint metallic quality. Rich and creamy in the middle but with a firm spine of acidity. Complicating toasty nuance. A medium to full non-vintage brut that perfect for drinking right now. Finishes ripe, persistent and toasty.
About the Producer
When he inherited the Champagne House in 1833, the aesthete and entrepreneur Louis Roederer took a visionary approach to enriching his vines, aiming to master every stage of the wine’s creation. He forged the wine’s unique style, character, and taste. In the mid-nineteenth century, Louis Roederer acquired some of Champagne’s grand cru vineyards—an approach that contrasted sharply with contemporary practices.. While other Houses bought their grapes, Louis Roederer nurtured his vineyards, familiarized himself with the specific characteristics of each parcel, and methodically acquired the finest land. Louis Roederer’s guiding principle was that all great wine depends on the quality of the soil, a passion for tradition, and an astute vision of the future; the fame and reputation of the House of Louis Roederer was firmly established. His heir, Louis Roederer II was equally enlightened and adopted his father’s conscientious approach to the production of champagne, patrimonial estate management, and instinctive audacity.
