Louis Roederer Collection 246 (NV)

Champagne Louis Roederer, founded in 1776 in Reims and still guided by the Roederer family, has built its reputation on a long tradition of uncompromising quality. The house expanded significantly after Louis Roederer took the helm in 1833, and today Jean‑Claude Rouzaud and his son Frédéric continue that philosophy. Roederer is one of the few Champagne producers to own nearly 75% of its grapes, farming 450 acres across the prized villages of the Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne, where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir achieve exceptional balance and finesse. With vineyards averaging 98% on France’s 100‑point classification scale, the estate draws from as many as 40 reserve wines—tasted and selected by a dedicated team—to craft blends that remain consistent while preserving the house’s signature character.

Collection 246 is a precise, soft and lively champagne. Its thirst-quenching lightness comes from the exceptional proportion of Chardonnay, which creates finesse, elegance,chalkiness and salinity. It is not unlike the character of certain Blancs de Blancs.

Champagne colored with bright, luminous reflections. Very fine, even bubbles. The bouquet reveals yellow fruits (mirabelle plum and nectarine) and candied citrus (lemon), complemented by toasted, oaky notes (vanilla) which come from the 24% of wines vinified in our French oak foudres. The fine reductive notes (shellfish) weave their spell, giving the wine a very chiselled character sculpted by the Chardonnay. The palate is very light and delicate with fruity (peach) and floral (pollen) flavors. The gently releasing bubbles are soft and creamy, creating a mouth-watering impressionthanks to the savory and dry-chalk sensations created on the tongue and lips. The texture on the mid-palate is fresh, oily, powdery and vibrant. The finish is serene and graceful, and lifted by some smoky and toasty reductive notes that are very definitely from the Perpetual Reserve.

Blend: 54% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 11% Meunier