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Louis Roederer (Louis Roederer) – elite French champagne of the company of the same name, best known for the cult brand Cristal. The company owns the largest area of vineyards in Champagne. The wine house’s product line includes blended varieties and millesimes created from harvests of one year. The company produces 3,2 million bottles of champagne annually, two-thirds of which is Premier brut.
Historical information
The company was founded in 1776 under the name Dubois Pere & Fils and at first remained an ordinary winery. The situation changed radically when Louis Roderer became the owner, who inherited the plant from his uncle. The company was renamed in honor of the owner in 1883 and over the following years it gained worldwide fame. The flagship product of the wine house – Cristal champagne in crystal bottles – accompanied the gala dinners of the imperial families of Europe and Russia.
After the Russian Revolution, things were seriously shaken, as the company lost its main sales market. The brand experienced a rebirth already in the 90s, when Cristal champagne became a popular attribute of secular parties. The period of the crisis did not pass in vain for the company – during this time it was possible to launch the production of a whole line of sparkling wines, which are widely used due to their outstanding qualities and a more affordable price.
Production features
After the First World War, a descendant of the founder, Leon Roderer, had to restore the vineyards, some of which were destroyed. Thanks to the successful selection of varieties, he managed to create wines whose taste did not change depending on the year of harvest. The company’s vineyard area covers 240 hectares in the Champagne region with its unique chalky soils. Vine care methods are selected individually for each site.
The juice is squeezed right at the place of collection, each batch is fermented separately. Every day, tasters take samples and record the results – this is necessary for the correct compilation of assemblages. Then the future champagne is bottled and laid in the cellars for secondary fermentation.
During bottling, the quality of the drink and the integrity of the bottle are controlled by a special machine that removes dubious specimens from the conveyor. The wine is checked again before being sent to the warehouse, but by hand. Each container has its own identification number, by which you can track the history of the batch on the official website of the company.
Interesting Facts
The company owes much of its success to the foresight of its founder, Louis Roederer. While the rest of the wineries sought to expand their vineyards, the businessman focused on studying the characteristics of the soil, caring for the vines and obtaining new varieties with remarkable tastes. As a result, his “prestige cuvée” turned out to be one of the best examples of champagne of that time.
Louis Roederer is still a family business. The company is headed by Frederic Ruzo, a representative of the seventh generation of the family.
Types of Champagne Louis Roderer
Louis Roederer Brut Premier, 12%
The production uses traditional Champagne grape varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Primary fermentation takes place in oak barrels. The company’s specialists carefully work with the base wines so that the taste of the drink remains the same. Champagne matures in cellars for at least three years.
After removing the sediment, the containers are kept at rest for another 6 months. The result is a pale straw-colored drink with aromas of white flowers, fresh berries and pear liqueur. The taste is well structured, at the start you can feel the notes of fresh fruits and berries, which are replaced by caramel and honey.
Louis Roederer Carte Blanche, 12%
A classic semi-dry champagne. Its creators sought to emphasize the noble sourness and add refreshing notes to the drink. The assemblage is made up of wines created on the basis of the same grape varieties as brut. The difference is that no more than five percent of the components are fermented in oak barrels. Aging on the lees – 3 years.
Color – light golden, with a sheen. The bright aromatic bouquet combines the smells of fresh berries, candied fruit and honey. On the palate, hints of ripe fruit, caramel and almonds stand out. The aftertaste is long, with pronounced mineral tones.
