2012 Louis Roederer Brut Champagne

This beautiful wine, with its poise, elegance and balance, has both a steely mineral core and an outer ripe-fruit character. It has citrus, tight acidity and rich apple and green-plum flavors. (RV)

Roederer’s white golden 2012 Vintage is a classic Millésime. Based on 70% cool-climate Pinot Noir from Verzy and Verzenay (Montagne de Reims) and 30% Chardonnay from a very warm, south/southwest-facing vineyard in Chouilly (Côte des Blancs), the 2012 represents the mineral terroirs of its origins beautifully—pure, refined and fresh. Fermented 8% in oak and with just 16% of the volume having done malolactic fermentation to make the Roederer Vintage Brut a classic gastronomic wine, the 2012 shows a deep, rich and ripe but also fine, precise and elegant chalky nose with hazelnut, toasted almond and blossom flavors. The palate is profound, round, highly elegant and fresh, and the long, remarkably salty finish is very complex and terribly fresh in its persistent mineral expression. This is an impressive, ripe and almost creamy textured but precise and finessed 2012 with power, body and structure. A true, highly stimulating classic. Just love it! Disgorged in January 2017 after four years of bottle aging (dosage: nine grams per liter). (SR)

This is one of my very favorite champagnes in the company. I've had other bottlings that are double this price and not as tasty. First of all, there is that classic, classic, Roederer whiff of white flowers, pastry dough and (light) toast. On the palate, white peaches, dried cherries and ginger spice. Zippy and clean finish. A very high quality effort from the renowned 2012 vintage. Don't forget that Roederer is now the largest holder of biodynamic acreage in Champagne.

Another example of why they call 2012 "The Miracle Vintage," Roederer's 2012 Brut boasts gorgeous structure and an elegant, long-lasting finish. Marrying light brioche toast, orange marmalade, soft floral aromas and pleasing minerality, it is easy to see why this house commands such respect. Their vintage bruts serve as a bench-mark for champagne year after year, and this iteration could be the best yet. A credit to the winemakers, the wine feels impressively deft on the palate despite the weight of its pinot-heavy blend. This bottle is a consummate companion to any celebration, as it is a celebration in and of itself.