Louis Roederer

Collection 243 | Jeroboam 300cl - Wooden case

Description

Louis Roederer'sCollection 243 illustrates the house's modern vision of blended champagne: precision, balance, and depth. Presented here in a jeroboam, this large-format edition magnifies the wine's freshness and texture. Each Collection reflects a chapter in the Roederer style, with 243 corresponding to the 243rd harvest since the house was founded in 1776.

This rare and carefully crafted jeroboam celebrates the union between the richness of the 2018 vintage and the complexity of the house's perpetual reserves. It is a champagne that is both refined and indulgent, designed for aging and gastronomy.

The production of Louis Roederer Collection 243 champagne

Collection 243 is based on a blend that reflects the Roederer style. A style based on the purity of the fruit and the balance between freshness and vinosity. The aromatic objective is to create a vibrant champagne, carried by chalk, maturity, and energy. This jeroboam in a wooden case enhances the slow evolution of the wine thanks to its ideal volume for aging.

• Chardonnay (42%) brings brightness, tension, and verticality.
• Pinot Noir (40%) brings structure, fullness, and red fruit.
• Meunier (18%) brings suppleness, white fruit, and sweetness.

The terroir

The grapes come from the best crus of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne, and the Côte des Blancs. The deep chalk and fine clay soils impart a unique mineral tension. The 2018 vintage, sunny and generous, produced grapes of balanced maturity. The integration of perpetual reserve wines (since 2012) brings complexity, while wines from old vines reinforce the density.

Vinification

Each cru is vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats or casks to preserve the purity of the aromas. 34% of perpetual reserve wines and 10% of reserve wines aged in wood are used in the blend, ensuring consistency with the house style. Partial malolactic fermentation is carried out to preserve tension and balance. Dosage: Brut at 8 g/L, ideal for expressing freshness and texture.

The base vintage: 2018

2018 was a year of abundance and exceptional ripeness. The grapes offered richness and intensity, balanced by the natural liveliness of the chalky soils. The Pinot Noirs are fleshy, the Chardonnays precise and straightforward, and the Meuniers silky. This vintage, combined with the perpetual reserve, produces a complete wine: full-bodied, mineral, and finely spiced.

Tasting notes

• Color

  Light gold with silvery highlights. Fine, regular effervescence. Brilliance and purity characteristic of the Roederer style.

• Nose

  Initial nose of pear, fresh almond, and brioche. After aeration, notes of white flowers, toasted hazelnut, and candied lemon zest. Refined and harmonious overall.

• Palate

  Straightforward and silky attack. Chalky texture, ripe fruit, mineral tension. Long, precise, salty finish, revealing the house's vibrant signature.

Pairing suggestions

This champagne combines energy and fullness. It pairs perfectly with pure, elegant cuisine: grilled fish, delicate poultry, or seafood-inspired vegetable dishes. Its structure also allows it to accompany mature soft cheeses.

Appetizers

• Gougères with aged Comté cheese
• Sea bass tartare
• Crab rillettes

Maindishes

• Grilled scallops
• Roasted free-range poultry
• Risotto with porcini mushrooms

Desserts

• Roasted apple with honey
• Pear and almond tart
• Lemon madeleine

Storage and serving

Storing this jeroboam

Store the jeroboam at 10–11°C, away from light and vibrations. The large format promotes slow and controlled evolution. Over time, Collection 243 will develop more toasty nuances and an even creamier texture. Ideal for long aging in a wooden cellar or natural chalk cellar.

Aging potential

Optimal window: 2025–2045. Between 2025 and 2030, the cuvée will offer freshness and citrusy tension. From 2031 to 2038, buttery and toasted almond notes will appear. From 2039 onwards, the texture will become more enveloping, with a clean, salty finish. The jeroboam will extend the aging potential by 5 to 10 years compared to the bottle.

Serving

Serve at 10–11°C in large tulip glasses. Open 15 minutes before serving to allow the bubbles to soften. Collection 243 reveals its full complexity when it breathes slowly in the glass.