Roederer Brut Premier (and other Uncorked favourites)
On tasting today in the Bishopsgate shop
Family-owned since 1845, Louis Roederer has over time bought up some of the best parcels in the Champagne region. In the early days this was quite rare as most houses relied heavily on buying in their fruit from elsewhere. As a result of this process Roederer has developed a thorough understanding of their terroir, an understanding that is reflected in their meticulous viticulture and hand-harvesting, not to mention the separate vinification of all 400 of their parcels. It is this attention to detail that means Roederer is consistently ranked as one of the finest producers in Champagne.
In April I was fortunate enough to visit Roederer and it has left a lasting impression on me. Walking through one of their biodynamic Pinot Noir vineyards in Ay (they have 240 hectares overall with over half of their vineyards now certified organic) I started to understand the effort that it takes to get the best quality fruit. The men and women who tend the vines know each individual parcel; Roederer has taken a long-term, holistic approach by investing in their vineyard workers. I was also taken on a tour through the cold dark cellars where riddlers and forklifts scurried between rows upon rows of autolytic activity, where the Brut Premier spends 3 years on its lees, the vintage cuvees spend 4 and Cristal between 6 and 8 years, depending on the vintage.
Today we'll be seeing in the Autumn season with a splash of the Brut Premier, alongside a selection of other Uncorked favourites. /JW
Offered subject to remaining unsold; available now online and in the shop
