Description & elaboration
The Vintage 2016 cuvée from Louis Roederer is an exceptional vintage champagne. It showcases notes of burlat cherry, hazelnut and candied citrus, underpinned by the chalky minerality that is so characteristic of the Montagne de Reims. On the palate, the texture is juicy and creamy, with a long, saline finish. This magnum (1.5 L), presented in its gift box, is the fruit of the exacting work of cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon.
This Vintage illustrates the aromatic concentration of a remarkable harvest. The blend, dominated by 68% Pinot Noir, draws its tension from preserved malic acidity and its richness from a sunny summer that brought the grapes to full expression.
The Terroir
The vineyard stretches across the soils of the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. The plots are located in Verzy and Chouilly, two Grand Cru-classified villages. The chalk close to the surface — a marine geological remnant — allows the roots to reach deep and draw minerals from the subsoil.
The porosity of this Campanian sedimentary rock retains winter water, keeping the vines hydrated throughout the summer. The vineyard holds the official Viticulture Durable en Champagne certification, attesting to responsible management of inputs and mechanical soil maintenance.
Winemaking
Around 33% of the musts undergo their alcoholic fermentation in oak foudres, promoting gentle micro-oxygenation of the juice. This approach adds a subtle oxidative patina to the wine and supports the depth of the mid-palate. Malolactic fermentation is blocked on 95% of the tanks, thus preserving the natural malic acidity and the wine's taut profile.
Ageing on the lees concludes with disgorgement (expulsion of the yeasts after maturation in bottle), followed by a mandatory six-month rest in the cellar. The dosage liqueur added before final corking places this magnum in the Brut category.
The 2016 vintage
The 2016 growing season was marked by significant climatic variations. A cool, rainy spring delayed budburst and then flowering. Summer then asserted itself dry and warm, with a confirmed heat peak during the last week of August.
Harvest ran from 15 September to 1 October 2016. The moderate summer drought encouraged the ripeness of the Pinot Noir, generating a light tannic structure. The Chardonnay, resilient to the heat, retained a low pH that ensures the characteristic tension of this edition.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
The colour reveals a golden yellow with brilliant highlights, enlivened by fine bubbles rising in regular streams.
Nose
The powdery bouquet reveals expressive aromas of burlat cherry, hazelnut and candied citrus, lifted by warm chalk mineral notes.
Palate
The attack is marked by a juicy, creamy texture dominated by nectarine, while the saline finish lingers long on notes of oak and spice.
Food Pairing Suggestions
- Aged Comté gougères
- Foie gras toasts
- Aged Iberian ham
- Roast poultry with ceps
- Braised veal sweetbreads
- Beef tenderloin en croûte
- Aged Chaource
- Roasted Breton lobster
- Scallop carpaccio
The advantages of the magnum
This 1.5-litre bottle is the equivalent of two standard bottles, or twelve flutes. The reduced air-to-liquid ratio slows the wine's evolution, limits premature oxidation and encourages the development of tertiary aromas over the years. The gift box protects the glass during transit and underlines the ageing potential of this release from Louis Roederer.
The Plus de Bulles expert's opinion
Why I love it
The juicy, caressing substance of this cuvée won me over immediately. I loved its silky bubble, which draws out notes of candied citrus, hazelnut and warm chalk.
My advice
Serve at 8–10 °C in a wine glass to fully reveal its generous character.
Practical advice
How to store this champagne?
Plus de Bulles ships this magnum (1.5 L) in reinforced packaging specially designed for champagne transport. After receipt, we recommend storing the magnum on its side, away from light — ideally in a cellar, or at the very least in a cool, not too dry place with a relatively stable temperature.
Ageing potential
The Louis Roederer Vintage 2016 in magnum is built for approximately twenty years of ageing. This format slows the wine's evolution, allowing the aromas to grow in complexity over time.
- Until 2028: the cuvée is ready to drink, showing stone fruit flavours such as nectarine.
- From 2029: evolution under cork develops roasted hints reminiscent of hazelnut.
- Around 2031: the wine enters a phase of full bloom with tertiary notes of gentle spice.
Serving suggestions
The ideal serving temperature is 10 °C. Ten minutes of aeration in the glass reveals the full aromatic spectrum. A tulip glass provides sufficient space to concentrate the red fruit aromas and allows the carbon dioxide to dissipate naturally.
A note on this cuvée
The first land acquisitions by Louis Roederer on the Montagne de Reims date back to the nineteenth century. Partial fermentation in large oak vessels perpetuates historic Champagne practices that predate the introduction of stainless-steel tanks. Through this winemaking approach, this gift-boxed magnum follows in the tradition of this vintage cuvée from the same house.
The naturally high alcohol level of this harvest gives the juice a wonderful richness. The tension preserved on the finish brings this edition close to this vintage Grand Cru from the Côte des Blancs, which claims a similarly rigorous approach to pressing.
