Champagne Louis Roederer 

21, boulevard Lundy

CS 40014

51722 REIMS Cedex

Tél. : +33 (0)326 404 211

com@champagne-roederer.com

https://www.louis-roederer.com

Champagne Louis Roederer 

All you need to know about the Louis Roederer Champagne House, based in Reims, Champagne, France

The Tsars' champagne

Founded in 1776 by Dubois et Fils, it wasn't until 1833 that Louis Roederer took over the business, giving his name to the famous Maison de Reims. The company is present in all three of Champagne's great terroirs (Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, Vallée de la Marne), with 410 of its own plots, or 240 hectares of vines, 2/3 adequate to meet its needs. Renowned for the consistent quality of its champagnes, the company's status as official supplier to Tsar Alexander II has earned it a place of choice on the world champagne scene, with its flagship prestige cuvée “Cristal”, a champagne specially created for the Tsar back in 1876. 

Independent family-run Champagne company

Founded in 1776 as Maison Dubois Père & Fils, Louis Roederer inherited the company from his uncle in 1833. Officially launched in 1833 with Louis Roederer at the helm, the company is family-owned and has remained totally independent for over two centuries. Louis Roederer is not owned by a multinational like other Champagne houses, but by the same founding family, where generation after generation has advanced the House by contributing their know-how and expertise. It is precisely this independence that has always led it to think in terms of production quality - as evidenced by the consistency of its champagnes - rather than in terms of volumes and the conquest of market share. And the Champagne House soon distinguished itself by purchasing vineyard plots - a rare occurrence at a time when the trend was to buy grapes (supply) from other winemakers - to ensure quality and control the entire process from vineyard to bottling and shipping. 

Then in 1870, Louis Roederer II, who succeeded his father, continued the dynamic development of the house. In 1873, shipments to Russia reached 2.5 million bottles (or 10% of total Champagne production), making Russia Champagne's main market. A major event propelled the brand into Russia. In 1876, at the request of Tsar Alexander II, the company created the “Cristal” cuvée for the exclusive consumption of the Tsars of Russia. Louis Roederer has invented the first “prestige cuvée” in the history of Champagne marketing. In 1880, Léonie Olry-Roederer replaced her brother Louis Roederer II at the head of the Champagne House.

In 1908, Maison Théophile Roederer was bought by Louis Roederer. At the same time, the “Cristal” cuvée temporarily disappeared from the price list, but Tsar Nicholas II paid tribute to the house by awarding it the title of “Official Supplier to the Court of His Majesty the Emperor”. Thanks to this distinction, Louis Roederer was authorized to use the Tsar's coat of arms on its bottles.

When Léon Olry-Roederer died in 1932, the context was not easy and the financial situation was complicated for the first time, leaving the company practically on the brink of bankruptcy. Major historical events such as the First World War, the Russian Revolution of October 1917, Prohibition in the United States in 1922 and the October 1929 Wall Street crisis all took their toll on the company's business, as well as that of other Champagne players. Camille Olry-Roederer (widow of Léon Olry-Roederer) was the Roederer company's first turning point. The latter took over the reins of the company and, for over 40 years, succeeded in turning the company around and breathing new life into the business. 

In the 70s, a new era began with Jean-Claude Rouzaud (Camille's grandson). Jean-Claude Rouzaud arrived at the helm in 1975 with a wealth of experience as an oenologist (rather rare among Champagne House managers). His background and expertise led him to rethink the company's vineyards (by exchanging plots), and he took the opportunity to buy new land outside Champagne, making the Roederer group one of the first to invest abroad in the early 80s. The most striking example was the purchase of bare land (to plant vines to produce effervescents) in Anderson Valley, in the heart of California, to produce one of the first, if not the first, sparkling wines made in France by Champagne growers outside France. In 1982, Roederer Estate was born, followed by Scharffenberger in 2004. In the meantime, the family invested in Portugal, acquiring Maison Ramos Pinto in 1990, followed by Château Haut-Beauséjour in 1992 in the Bordeaux region, Maison Delas in the Northern Rhône Valley in 1993, and Maison Deutz in Champagne. In 1995, Roederer group returned to the Bordeaux region with the purchase of Château de Pez in Saint-Estèphe, followed by Domaines Ott in Provence in 2004. 

Since January 1st 2006, Frédéric Rouzaud (Jean-Claude's son) has been at the helm of the prestigious House. Assisted by the talented in-house cellar master (and general manager), Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, the Rouzaud family continues to ensure that the famous brand prospers serenely but dynamically, ensuring both tradition and innovation while expanding the group with new acquisitions in Champagne and other vineyards in France, with remarkable new investments including the 2nd Cru Classé en 1855 in Pauillac, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and Château Bernadotte in Haut-Médoc. All these investments are part of a long-term vision to pass on the values of the House to future generations, who will be responsible for perpetuating the spirit of Roederer and the Rouzaud family. 

A high-quality personal vineyard, managed organically and biodynamically and of considerable size.

From the outset, Roederer's philosophy has been to master the elaboration of great champagnes with a holistic (360-degree) vision, from vine to market. Few Champagne houses, even in the first half of the 20th century, have taken the same stance, not to say the same boldness, so early on: i.e. a substantial vineyard with a diversity of zones and parcels to ensure the flawless quality of the House style embodied in each type of champagne (BSA, vintage, cuvée prestige). It was indeed Louis Roederer, the founder, who, like a pioneer, set out in 1845 to purchase plots of land, including 15 hectares in Verzenay (one of the best spots for Pinot Noir).

Roederer can therefore rely on its own 240-hectare vineyard (410 plots) to control 2/3 of its supplies. In fact, the House's harvests account for 70% of its needs, enabling it to be autonomous in the production of its vintage champagnes, since over 2/3 of the vineyards are classified as Grands Crus. The remaining third is made up by buying grapes from quality winegrowers with whom Roederer has worked for many years. Located on the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs (around 80 hectares), This vineyard, which stretches from the Montagne de Reims and its Pinot Noir, the south-facing slopes of the Marne Valley, in Mareuil, Aÿ... to the best Chardonnay parcels of the Côte des Blancs located in the best areas of the Grands Crus - and which focuses largely on Pinot Noir - guarantees the brand total control to produce over 3 million bottles a year of champagnes of all types, with harmonious, consistent and uncompromising quality. Viticulture is undoubtedly a key point at Roederer, with demanding soil management. 140 hectares are organically farmed, and 100 hectares have been biodynamically farmed for over twenty years. This makes Maison Louis Roederer the largest Biodynamic Champagne estate in France. This viticultural approach is reflected in the champagnes, which are energetic, straightforward and precise.

Manual grape management and the secret of "reserve wines" in oak barrels

To manage its harvests, Maison Roederer employs 700 people every year to pick and assemble the beautiful grapes in 50 kg baskets, before transporting them to be pressed in presses that are never far from the harvest site (the grapes' aroma precursors being fragile). The shorter the travel time, the better all this will be preserved. Then, once the musts have been obtained, this barely transformed material is transferred to the cellars, where the musts are vinified separately, on a plot-by-plot basis (lot by lot) in small stainless steel vats or in oak foudres (a real house particularity, since oak gives volume, complexity and depth to the wines by working the lees). The same 150 oak tuns will also be used to store the "reserve wines" for further "ripening" or ageing. These "reserve wines" (a great technical principle in Champagne) are a veritable treasure trove for blending the different parcels (terroirs) to ultimately produce the "Brut Premier" cuvée so emblematic of Roederer's consistency.

The style, spirit and range of Roederer champagnes

All the Champagne Houses are banking on a varied range, where the challenge is never to betray the style, whatever the quality of the years, and this applies equally to "Brut Sans Année" (BSA) champagnes, the blend of which is made up of several years' worth of "reserve wines", for the elaboration of vintage champagnes (a single annual harvest deemed worthy to produce a vintage champagne) or, in a more "confidential" way, in exceptional cuvées such as the famous "Cuvée Cristal". At Roederer, the same high standards apply. In this great House, whose champagnes are harmonious and full-bodied, it's clear that its "reserve wines" (aged for a very long time in oak foudres) are the strong mark of respectability and consistency in its champagnes. As mentioned on several occasions, Roederer's strength lies in its own vineyards made up of plots in the best crus (zones), enabling it to select the best grapes from areas and terroirs it knows perfectly well.
In the range of champagnes produced, a common denominator clearly emerges: freshness on the palate, balance and aromatic clarity, all of which are made possible by the low dosage in these champagnes. As you can see, frankness is the key. And judging by the grape varieties planted in the vineyard (53% Pinot Noir, 41% Chardonnay and 6% Pinot Meunier), the champagne house has made Pinot Noir its main focus. Indeed, it's Pinot Noir that gives his champagnes their vinous (and round) character. A recognizable hallmark. The line-up ranges from Roederer Brut Premier, Blanc de Blancs millésimé, Louis Roederer Rosé millésimé, Brut Nature édition Starck Blanc millésimé (a collaboration with the famous French designer Philippe Starck) to its celebrated cuvée d'exception, Cristal Roederer millésimé.

The Roederer champagnes in detail

Roederer Brut Premier :

This champagne (made from a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier, all from the different crus selected by Roederer) embodies Louis Roederer's constant signature to express a consistent, timeless taste whatever the character of the vintage. It was the brainchild of Léon Orly Roederer, who in the 1920s (at a time of great economic difficulty for Maison Roederer, with its vineyards severely depleted and partly destroyed by the First World War) decided to source grapes to keep the company's business going. This champagne is composed of a vintage (75%) plus 25% "reserve winesIt ages in the cellars for 3 years, with a minimum 6-month rest period after disgorging. It is appreciated for its freshness, vinosity, balance, nervousness and youthfulness. But a champagne that can age for several years (which is not generally the case with BSAs). In 2022, this champagne was renamed Champagne Roederer "Collection".

Blanc de Blancs Millésimé :

This is a 100% Chardonnay (hence the "Blanc de Blancs" category) grown on limestone soils. Produced from two exceptional Côte des Blancs grands crus (Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger), this champagne reflects Roederer's mastery of terroirs and the art of parcel-based vinification. We're looking for the finesse, aromatic richness, intensity (dynamics and energy), olfactory and gustatory tension of champagne. Aged for 5 years on lees, with a minimum 6-month rest period after disgorgement, this champagne is absolutely fresh and airy.

Louis Roederer rosé millésimé:

A highly aromatic champagne with luscious fruit and a subtle floral character, Louis Roederer rosé millésimé comes from Cumières, where the grapes benefit from full southern exposure to facilitate ripening. Pinot Noir (65%) and Chardonnay (35%), this blend uses wines vinified in wood (around 20%). Aged for 4 years on lees, with a minimum 6-month rest period after disgorgement, this vintage rosé champagne is one of Champagne's finest rosé champagnes.

Cristal Roederer, a supreme cuvee:

By around 1870, Maison Roederer was already selling well internationally, in the United States, Russia and the United Kingdom (the most important champagne-consuming markets in the second half of the 19th century), Roederer is the inventor, somewhat in spite of himself, of the prestige cuvée concept. Cristal Roederer, today a world-famous cuvée, launched the Champagne concept of exceptional cuvée at the end of the 19th century. The anecdote surrounding the launch of this cuvée is far from trivial. And the Russian monarchy was his best ambassador and most loyal customer until the fall of the monarchy in October 1917. At the initiative of Louis Roederer II (son of Louis Roederer, the founder), and in response to a clearly expressed request from Tsar Alexander II, the House launched the "Cristal" cuvée in 1876. The Tsar's request was clear: a transparent bottle, made of Baccarat crystal (more noble than glass, allowing it to stand out from other bottles at imperial banquets) with a flat base (rather than the deep bottom of other classic Champagne bottles). The Tsar feared being trapped by possible attacks (hence the flat bottle bottom to avoid concealing explosives such as a grenade) or possible poisoning attempts (hence the transparency of the bottle with an untinted glass to better verify the contents). The Tsar even sent his own cellar master to Roederer to help create this cuvée, the glass for which was made by a Flemish master glassmaker. This prestigious cuvée was tailor-made for the Imperial Court of Russia, making Roederer the official Champagne supplier to the Russian monarchy.
The cuvée, which even today can be afforded by a wealthy clientele, is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from the finest plots in Verzenay, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Verzy, Aÿ, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize and Cramant villages. Vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with a dosage of 7.5 grams per liter (compared to 120 grams in the days of the Tsars), the cuvée is aged for 6 years in the cellars and then rested for 8 months after disgorging. Aiming to "extract the magic of the grand cru", in the words of owner and Roederer Group Chairman Frédéric Rouzaud, this cuvée is the object of great care and in-house expertise. Cristal de Roederer is a champagne of character, generous in fruit and floral expression, subtle and mineral on the nose, pure, balanced, deep, broad, powerful, complex, straightforward (sharp) and with astonishing length on the palate. Since the 2012 vintage, the grapes used in its blend have been organically grown. The cuvée is obviously designed for long ageing, depending on the typicity of the vintage, but at least 20 years without suffering. A rare moment when tasted. An aesthete's champagne.

Brut Nature édition Starck Blanc Millésimé:

This modern champagne has quickly established itself in the world of champagnes. A vibrant, uncluttered and architectural Champagne, Brut Nature Starck Edition Blanc Millésimé was born in 2006 (the first vintage to be marketed) from the encounter between Maison Roederer and the famous French designer Philippe Starck, who invested a great deal of time and effort in the development of this cuvée (from the creation of the label to the blending). Produced exclusively from Premier Cru hillside plots in the village of Cumières, where the grapes sublimate an expression of freshness in warm years thanks to the cold clay, it is this contrast that this champagne intends to express in the years that allow it. With a base of Pinot Noir (55%), 25% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, all aged in bottle and on its lees for 5 years, with a minimum resting period of 6 months after disgorgement, this lively Brut Nature Blanc, with its marked expressions of citrus zest and white flowers, is an accessible champagne that is also more complex than it appears.

Champagne Roederer « Collection » (242, etc.):

In 2022, Maison Roederer decided to revamp its historic "Brut Premier" cuvée by giving it the code name "Collection. A bold decision for some. Far from being a simple facelift or name makeover, Roederer's approach is based on a selection of parcels carefully chosen between those belonging to the Louis Roederer estate and those from historic partnerships with winegrowers supplying grapes. "Collection" is therefore the expression of the identity of the singularity of each parcel and vintage in terms of location and exposure, expressed in a blend of perpetual reserve and "reserve wines". Made from 40% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir and 18% Pinot Meunier (a blend of "Collection" 242), this champagne plays on depth, freshness and finesse, while proving capable of aging for several years.

Great vintages of Louis Roederer champagnes

1876-1924-1959-1988-1989-1990-1995-1996-1999-2002-2008-2012-2013-2014-2018