The Hommage à Camille Blanc 2023 cuvée from Maison Louis Roederer is a still white wine aged on the Grand Cru terroir of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. It reveals notes of toasted sesame — roasted hazelnut — damp chalk, with a velvety texture on the palate. The chalky, saline and intensely mouth-watering finish pairs beautifully with noble fish and poultry in sauce. Crafted by cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, this rare Coteaux Champenois is produced in quantities of between 1,500 and 3,000 bottles per year.
Description & production
The Terroir
The vineyard is located in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, a village with Grand Cru classification. The grapes come from a single site, the lieu-dit Volibarts, a micro-plot of 0.546 hectares planted in 1997. The roots reach down into the near-surface chalk, a subsoil that gives the wine a pronounced acidic tension and a strong minerality. Louis Roederer thus highlights the identity of each individual plot, a parcel-driven approach that also inspires the creation of a Blanc de Pinots Noirs.
Winemaking
This wine is made entirely from Chardonnay, hand-harvested on 19 September 2023. One third of the harvest undergoes skin maceration (contact between the juice and the skins), which adds density to the must before alcoholic fermentation. Ageing lasts 16 months on full lees, split across three vessels: 46% in new oak barrels, 43% in sandstone tanks and 11% in second-fill barrels. The sandstone provides a gentle oxygenation of the wine, preserving the freshness of the terroir.
The 2023 vintage
The year 2023 was marked by a predominantly oceanic climate, with regular rainfall throughout the growing season. The thick calcareous bedrock of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger absorbed this water intake rapidly, allowing the Chardonnay to ripen slowly and steadily. The 2023 harvest delivers an intensely mouth-watering aromatic profile, a faithful mineral expression of this Grand Cru.
Tasting notes
Appearance
The colour reveals a brilliant yellow hue, with subtly green highlights in the glass.
Nose
The nose opens on fresh aromas of toasted sesame and roasted hazelnut.
Palate
The attack offers a velvety texture, with a profile of candied citrus. The chalky finish is tannic and intensely mouth-watering.
Food pairing suggestions
- Comté gougères
- Scallop carpaccio
- Aged Iberian ham
- Sea bass glazed with yuzu and sesame
- Creamy asparagus risotto
- Poultry with suprême sauce
- Comté aged 24 months
- Thin citrus tart
- Farmhouse Chaource
The Plus de Bulles expert's opinion
Why I love it
What moves me about this cuvée is its velvety, silky texture. I was captivated by its notes of toasted sesame and candied citrus, underpinned by a sensation of damp chalk.
My recommendation
Serve ideally at 8–10 °C, in a wine glass to allow its aromatic concentration to fully express itself.
Advice
How to store this wine?
Plus de Bulles ships this bottle (75cl) in reinforced packaging specially designed for transporting champagne. Once received, we recommend storing the bottle on its side, away from light. Ideally in a wine cellar, or at the very least in a cool, not too dry place with a relatively stable temperature.
Ageing potential
The Hommage à Camille Blanc 2023 cuvée from Louis Roederer will evolve beautifully over many years in the cellar. Its ageing potential is estimated at between 10 and 15 years.
- Until 2033: the cuvée releases its aromas of candied citrus.
- From 2034: the wine develops notes of melted butter and ripe fruit.
- Around 2038: maturity reveals aromas of roasted almond and gentle spice.
Serving suggestions
Serve at a temperature between 11 and 12 °C. Decanting for thirty minutes before tasting is recommended. This prior aeration releases the mineral nuances of the Chardonnay.
An anecdote about this cuvée
This bottle pays tribute to the memory of Camille Olry-Roederer, who led the house during the twentieth century. Her work strengthened the Union des Maisons de Champagne. Her ambition was focused on the strict expression of individual Champagne plots, a philosophy inherited from the region's historic still wines. The house also produces iconic sparkling wines, including its signature blended cuvée. Exploring different terroirs enriches the tasting experience: you can compare this Chardonnay with this great vintage wine made from pinot noir.
Also worth discovering: the house's signature blended cuvée.
