The Louis Roederer Collection 247 demi-bottle embodies a new chapter in the history of this illustrious family-owned House. Replacing the legendary Brut Premier, the Collection range expresses a desire for freedom and precision, breaking free from constraints to seek out the best possible blend each year. Guided by sustainable viticultural practices and a respect for living organisms, this cuvée bears the number 247, marking the 247th blend since the House was founded. Dominated by the freshness of Chardonnay and the structure of Pinot Noir, it offers a velvety and juicy texture, ideal for an intimate tasting or a refined discovery.
The production of the Roederer Collection 247 cuvée
The architecture of this cuvée is based on a precise blend of 41% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 24% Meunier. The uniqueness of the "Collection" approach lies in its complex composition, designed to transcend the vintage effect while capturing the spirit of the times. The base of this wine comes from the 2022 harvest, a sunny and generous year, which forms the beating heart of the blend. To bring the depth and patina characteristic of the "Roederer style," the Cellar Master complements this base with two distinct types of technical reserves.
On the one hand, 35% of the House's Perpetual Reserve is included in the blend. This reserve, a veritable liquid memory stored in stainless steel vats, brings constant aromatic complexity and a silky texture. On the other hand, 10% of reserve wines aged in wood, from rigorous parcel selections, enrich the whole. This partial aging in wood gives the wine subtle woody notes and a denser texture, without ever masking the freshness of the fruit.
The Terroir
Louis Roederer is a pioneer in the application of sustainable viticultural practices on a large scale in Champagne. The grapes come from a mosaic of terroirs located in the heart of the Marne, selected for their ability to produce ripe fruit while retaining a mineral tension. This attention to the soil and the vines results in a raw material of great purity, essential for producing a multi-vintage champagne of this caliber.
Vinification
The philosophy behind Collection 247 is to create a champagne that is unique each year, but faithful to a guiding principle of elegance. The clear wines are vinified with precision to preserve the brightness of the fruit. The strategic use of oak barrels for reserve wines allows for micro-oxygenation, which ages the wine even before it takes on its effervescence. The dosage is adjusted to support the generosity of the wine without weighing it down, ensuring that characteristic freshness on the finish.
The base vintage: 2022
Although "multi-vintage," the soul of Collection 247 is forged by the 2022 harvest. This year's climate was marked by a hot, sunny summer, promoting the full ripeness of the grapes. The harvested fruit was sun-kissed, offering aromatic profiles of ripe, sweet fruit. The art of blending here consisted of tempering this solar richness with the tension of the Perpetual Reserve, creating a perfect balance between richness and liveliness.
Tasting notes
Color
The color is a brilliant, clear gold. The dynamic, fine effervescence attests to the quality of the second fermentation and aging.
Nose
The bouquet is immediately seductive, marked by aromas of ripe, sweet fruits such as yellow peach and apricot. With aeration, complexity develops with delicate woody notes and hints of dried fruit, the signature of reserve wines aged in wood.
Palate
The attack on the palate reveals a generous and velvety texture, gently enveloping the palate. The mid-palate is juicy, carried by the fruit of the 2022 harvest. The tasting ends with a lingering finish, marked by great freshness and an appetizing salinity.
Serving suggestions
- Cheese gougères
- Salmon tartare
- Fresh goat cheese toast
- Grilled fish
- Seafood platter
- Sea bream sashimi
- 18-month Comté
- Summer Beaufort
- Sheep's milk Tomme
Storage and serving tips
How should this champagne be stored?
As this cuvée is sold as a half-bottle without packaging, it is particularly sensitive to light. It must be stored immediately in total darkness, lying down, in a cool cellar (40-54°F). The small volume of wine accelerates gas exchange; this format is therefore intended for consumption sooner than a standard bottle.
Aging potential
The Collection 247 half-bottle is delivered at its peak, ready to offer its full aromatic potential. Its format leads to faster evolution: enjoy its freshness and juicy fruit within 2 to 3 years of purchase. Beyond that, it will develop more honeyed and evolved notes, moving away from the initial freshness sought by the blend.
Serving suggestions
Serve this champagne chilled but not ice cold, ideally between 9 and 10°C. The half-bottle format chills faster than a standard bottle, so be careful not to "break" it by over-chilling. A tulip-shaped white wine glass will allow you to appreciate the duality between ripe fruit and woody notes.
Anecdote about this cuvée
The name "247" is not a marketing code, but a genuine historical counter: it signifies that this is the 247th blend produced by the House since its creation. This name change, from "Brut Premier" to "Collection," marks a cultural revolution at Roederer, placing the freedom of the Cellar Master above consistency of taste, to create a unique wine each year that reflects the climate of the base year.
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