The Louis Roederer Collection 246 Champagne in a half-bottle expresses the House's quest for balance and freedom. It is the 246th blend in the history of the Roederer House. This cuvée embodies the art of long aging and the pursuit of perfect taste. Collection 246 is a champagne that is precise, airy, and vibrant.
Presented here in a half-bottle format, it offers all the complexity and freshness of a great champagne in an ideal volume for two people to enjoy. Its caressing texture, mineral sparkle, and mouthwatering tension make it a cuvée of immediate pleasure and natural elegance.
The making of Louis Roederer Collection 246 champagne
Collection 246 is a blend of wines from three of the House's major vineyards: La Rivière, La Montagne, and La Côte. The aim is to express the diversity of Roederer's heritage while preserving a bright and straightforward identity. The grapes come in equal parts from the family vineyard and carefully selected long-standing partners.
- Chardonnay brings finesse, freshness, and salinity.
- Pinot Noir brings structure, fullness, and aromatic complexity.
- Meunier brings suppleness, white fruit, and harmony.
Terroir and origins
Collection 246 draws its substance from three complementary worlds: the limestone hillsides of the Montagne de Reims, the sandy-clay soils of the Vallée de la Marne, and the chalky plots of the Côte des Blancs. Each terroir contributes to the aromatic mosaic: power, depth, and brilliance. Soil cultivation, organic farming, and rigorous grape selection ensure exemplary purity of expression.
Vinification
The blend for Collection 246 comprises 55% wines from the 2021 harvest, complemented by 35% perpetual reserve (2012 to 2020) and 10% reserve wines aged in wood. Approximately 24% of the wines are vinified in oak casks. Partial malolactic fermentation (30%) softens the structure without altering the freshness. The dosage of 7 g/l balances the whole naturally.
This precise architecture gives the wine its brilliance and depth: a pure Roederer style, without artifice, where chalk dialogues with ripe fruit. Collection 246 is distinguished by its clarity and silky texture, the signature of patient aging and masterful vinification.
The base vintage: 2021
2021 was a challenging vintage, marked by cool weather conditions and low yields. Vigilance and rigor in the vineyard resulted in grapes of beautiful maturity and exceptional freshness. The energy of this vintage contrasts with the roundness of the reserve wines, creating a subtle balance between tension and fullness.
The result is a lively, precise, and delicately fruity champagne, where hints of noble reduction (oyster shell, light smoke) signify the Chardonnay's signature and the house style.
Tasting of the Collection 246 cuvée
Color
Bright light gold with silvery highlights. Fine, regular effervescence. The disc is brilliant, clear and lively. The color reflects the youth and purity of the vintage.
Nose
Precise nose, blending yellow fruits (mirabelle plum, nectarine) and candied citrus. Toasted and vanilla notes from aging in wood. Upon aeration, salty and floral touches (pollen, white flowers) enhance the complexity.
Palate
Fresh and straightforward attack. Fine, silky and chalky texture. The Chardonnay dominates with its tension. Creamy bubbles lengthen the palate. Pure, mouth-watering finish, marked by a subtle smoky note inherited from the perpetual reserve.
Pairing suggestions
This Collection 246 pairs well with delicate cuisine based on fresh, slightly salty ingredients. Its balance between richness and tension makes it a champagne for aperitifs or meals.
- Fine oysters
- Sea bream tartare
- Light gougères
- Pan-fried scallops
- Roasted poultry with clear gravy
- Vegetable risotto
- Poached peach with verbena
- Baked apple with honey
- Light lemon tart
Storage and serving
Storing this vintage
The half-bottle of Collection 246 should be stored at a stable temperature between 10 and 12°C, away from light and vibrations. When laid down, it keeps its cork moist and preserves the finesse of the bubbles. This format evolves a little faster than the bottle, revealing the complexity of the wine sooner.
Ageing potential
Optimal window: 2024–2028. Enjoy within three years to appreciate its balance between freshness and texture. With time, the wine gains volume and develops brioche and toasted notes without losing its minerality.
Serving
Serve at 9°C in tulip glasses. No decanting. Allow to breathe for a few minutes before tasting to release the aromas of yellow fruit and wet chalk.
Anecdote about this cuvée
Each Collection is a new chapter in the tasting history of Louis Roederer. The number 246 corresponds to the 246th harvest since the House was founded. Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon imagined this range as a breath of fresh air: freedom of blending based on observation of life and mastery of time. A cuvée in perpetual motion, faithful to the spirit of Roederer.
