2012 Louis Roederer Brut Nature Rose P Starck

Philippe Starck
I long ago got over my anti-designer collaboration prejudice in regard to Champagne, especially given the detail in the case of this Roederer series. Just as well too otherwise I would have looked down on this rather marvellous fizz. It is a pale salmon pink colour and even when first opened the nose was chock-full of red fruit and more than a hint of mature Pinot character. In the mouth the mousse is not at all aggressive but persistent and it is very dry of course, being entirely without any added sugar in the final dosage. But it has a very good balance with really good acidity. On day two, yes, day two - there are other wines to drink in an evening - the mousse was still there and so was that balance of ripemess and fine acidity. There was more of the Pinot character and more of the slightly saline minerality. There is a sense in which these wines are a couple of the best `grower` Champagnes on the market and they are certainly great value. I think for the price it would be very hard to find such complete wines. (CW 16/02/21)
Origin
Champagne, Champagne/sparkling wine FRANCE
Colour
pink
Wine Style
dry
Closure Style
cork
Maturity
drink or keep
Bottle Size
75cl
Case Quantity
3
Wine Score
92+ points, William Kelley, robertparker.com, April 2020
17 points, Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com, June 2019

This product is delisted and unavailable for sale.

Media Reviews

William Kelley

The 2012 Brut Nature Rosé derives from biodynamically cultivated vineyards in Cumières, and this is the first time Roederer has ever released a rosé without dosage. Offering up aromas of warm bread, orange zest, red berries, oyster shell and rose petals, the wine is medium to full-bodied, brisk and incisive, with racy acids and a tight-knit, mineral core, complemented by a pinpoint mousse. Concluding with a penetrating, saline finish, this will unwind with a couple of years` bottle age, though true to the ambitions behind it, it will always remain a more minimalist expression of Champagne. It`s a blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, its hue derived from "cold infusion" before pressing of a small percentage of the Pinot Noir in the blend. 92+ points

Jancis Robinson MW

First vintage, to be launched in October 2019. ‘More fruit from Cumières than the white,’ according to winemaker Lécaillon, who also made a Starck rosé in 2015 and 2018. Same blend as the Brut Nature with a little still Pinot included. Macerated for few days and then co-fermented. Mid salmon. Pungent, reductive, but chock full of fruit. Really fine and transparent. Great balance. (More fruit than the white version.) 17 points